Elliott Smith - Gibson's - September 16th, 1996 [Full Show]

This was filmed by Joe Rockwell at Gibson's in Tempe, AZ on September 16th, 1996.
no confidence man
needle in the hay
angeles
coming up roses
between the bars
condor ave
some song
biggest lie
waterloo sunset

[@Blue-0605]

Can't imagine my day without his songs. I am totally obsessed with him.

[@dhsjakhdsajk]

me too, I can go most of the day without listening to him but in the last 5 minutes I'll feel like somethings missing. his music is practically part of my daily routine now haha.

[@AcidRavelEffect]

dang

[@Eimerej]

00:37 No Confidence Man 04:28 Needle In The Hay 09:09 Angeles 12:00 Coming Up Roses 15:00 Between The Bars 17:37 Condor Ave 21:30 Some Song 24:25 Biggest Lie 27:30 Thirteen [Big Star Cover]

[@user-df9kd4kq7o]

Thank you

[@jamesheath7601]

Thanks

[@JonShade-fy2gm]

No Confidence Man is one of the most unbearably beautiful songs of his. Every time I hear it I instantly begin crying. This and No Name # 5. How such beauty existed in one human being is almost incomprehensible to me. And all the voices and chit-chat from the audience somehow make the song even lonelier.

[@Eimerej]

@@JonShade-fy2gm So well said. 😊

[@Christopher.Marshall]

Based on how Elliott looks in this performance I'm pretty sure the photo of Elliott from the front of his album Either/Or was taken at that club that night.

[@DanRelayer_Ukraine]

yeah, amazing.. isn't it?

[@lexremillard2549]

I think the photo taken on the cover of Either/Or was taken at the Capitol Theatre in Olympia, WA but I may be mistaken.

[@shakeyperspective3981]

Good observation as it was in fact taken at Gibson's this same day/evening. It was taken by Deb Pastor - manager/photographer of Sebodah.

[@stevek004]

What does it say on his hat?

[@keithhutchison7657]

az421 that's a great observation! It totally is the outfit from either/or. Which is my favorite album.

[@muuuzaklistener]

the holy grail of elliott live performances

[@marktaylor23]

When he says he wrote Condor Ave at age 17, ready to throw myself out a window

[@reptilia_]

that's just crazy.

[@kide9747]

It's hard to believe how that full sound came from one guy's voice and his acoustic guitar.

[@josephedwards4325]

I hope he knew how good his songs were. Watching these live shows, you never see much confidence or self-belief, which is what often makes it a much more painful experience than listening to the records. One of those people who's talents so starkly contrasted with his modesty, which is what makes him probably the most likeable rock star ever to have existed.

[@ThePacemaker45]

he might've been a somewhat shy dude but I think he genuinely believed in the strength of his songs.

[@knuckle12356]

@@ThePacemaker45 from his discussions and interviews, as well as stories told by friends and producers from various albums, it sounded like he had a definite vision for his music, you could tell he appreciated the freedom to be a singular voice executing his musical vision, not having to concede in collaboration, nor be willing to accept a corporate pop "plan" for his roll-out and sophomore followup on TRL-Live with Carson Daly...🙄😬 You don't fight to direct an entire room of production, or produce your entire first album recording yourself on every track, or turn down contracts for autonomy. And while it is pretty drug-diva bitchy, it's still a bit of a big dick move to actually _SEND_ the letter to your record company which tells them to immediately void your contract or you will kill yourself. Full stop. More than a little addled ego (like Freud, not like full of yourself,) for ya. But no shortage of confidence in his music as his discography deepened and matured. And you don't continue on demanding drug rants without believing you're talented enough for the suits to put up with your bullshit.

[@jeremyhopkins577]

@@knuckle12356 I don't think any of his overall character should be judged by his behavior in the early 2000's when he was consuming thousands of dollars of crack and heroin every day and barely eating. Outside of that time he was not known to do that sort of thing.

[@MatthewMcRowan]

he sent the letter to record company? @@knuckle12356

[@patrick4833]

Damn, No Confidence Man is super affecting as an opener

[@artsometimes]

was just thinking that

[@1887jo]

Flawless performance, image getting to witness that by such a genius and talking all the way through it, what's wrong with people!

[@WalterWhite-sx7jg]

@Either Or he actually wanted people to talk while he was performing, due to his nervousness. Source, heaven adores you

[@misterbuttersworth9904]

Elliott Smith from 1996-1998 is prime..he seemed so on his game during these years...how Can people blabber on when this guy is pouring his heart out on stage?

[@rcdowdy]

This was before he started doing smack.

[@itsgonnbeok7249]

@@rcdowdy Was it? was always under the impression Needle in the Hay was about smack... that was written in 94-95. I might be wrong

[@manhattanfl]

@@itsgonnbeok7249 Elliott was only drinking and smoking during the self-titled/Either/Or era, he didn't start doing heroin and crack until the Figure 8 era he chose to write about drugs on the self-titled as a way to write about dependency so a lot of people (understandably so) got the impression from that album though that he was an addict

[@itsgonnbeok7249]

@@manhattanfl Youre wrong about him ONLY smoking and drinking during that era. He had been experimenting with drugs since high school. Yeah the heroin and crack only came around then but he had been experimenting long before then

[@manhattanfl]

@@itsgonnbeok7249 I didn't know that, thanks for telling me

[@spacealienjesus709]

Bern posted 8 years and I am now just seeing this..i love how i keep finding gems of his.. He left such a wonderful trail of breadcrumbs .. Miss you , Mr. Smith

[@RustinChole]

What an amazing show to catch on video. This is almost the exact same set he played in Seattle a few months later. Cept no one said a word while he played.

[@expeditionfilms1]

I'm playing my first gig at a bar in one week, and this show gives me strength

[@kevinreynolds7514]

Expedition Films Howd it go

[@ipsurvivor]

Hope it went well... Open mics are also a good way to get experience and confidence... Especially the alcohol free variety like at a music store...

[@oldaccount5217]

Find the show where he was wearing the “I 🤍 METAL” t-shirt. It grew into my favorite show.

[@andrewwabik5125]

Hey, I know this comment is 5 years old, but I'd love to hear how it went. I played at bar once. I had nothing prepared and was playing a few nirvana covers with. friend who could sing. Then at the end I just randomly played some bullshit on my guitar. It wasn't the best, but no one booed me (too loudly), so it was all good, lol.

[@realexkav]

00:37 No Confidence Man // 04:28 Needle In The Hay // 09:09 Angeles // 12:00 Coming Up Roses // 15:00 Between The Bars // 17:37 Condor Ave // 21:30 Some Song // 24:25 Biggest Lie // 27:30 Thirteen [Big Star Cover]

[@tasm9234]

i just dig the either/or outfit. there was a special air in this show. his voice is also at one of its emotional peaks around this time. LOVE LOVE

[@expeditionfilms1]

20 years ago today, still makes so much sense

[@bluchallis7672]

When he is playing Angeles, look how happy he seems. and throughout most of it.

[@oli4735]

‘All the rest are happier’, goes on to play Between the Bars and The Biggest Lie…

[@joturner5709]

Thanks for posting! Too bad more people in the audience didn't show some respect and stop chattering...Great that the show got recorded though...Always such a pleasure to hear this great talent.

[@chadjohnson5825]

I wish them tools in front would sew thier lips shut. Such an excellent show. I love you Elliott . We're all so lucky to find so much treasure. Musician are.the unsung singers

[@catherinea2918]

Tellement doux, tellement talentueux. Je suis complètement dingue de lui...

[@finnkyourface8958]

wish it was waterloo sunset instead of thirteen. Thirteen is one of my favorite songs, but I have overheard it, and I like Alex Chilton playing it more, Waterloo sunset by Elliot is a gem.

[@placeholder23]

I used to just go out on my way out i'd listen to elliott and shit would get really dark. it was late 90's early 00's up until 2010 or so and I would drink as much Jameson as possible and listen to Elliott. Put Elliott on at the Bar if they had a Juke Box too. My liver probably isn't in great shape and I'm 50 now and I no longer drink. But I wouldn't trade in those days of blackout drunkenness for nothing. Thanks for being there in my ears Elliott best soundtrack for my depression and alcoholism :)

[@UglyMiko]

oh my god, this is phenomenal. thank you so so so much for uploading this. XO

[@killedbykato]

Best live version of needle in hay

[@andrewwabik5125]

If you take notice, you hear less and less of the crowd as the night goes on. Elliot is just starting out here, but wow is he tip top.

[@lostandfound7372]

People talk to much. They should have listened carefully. xo8

[@ipsurvivor]

Tom Pearce - Agree with you... it is unfortunate but background talk tends to come through more on bootlegs like this... Agree... It would be better if people listened to the artist- especially someone of Elliott’s caliber... Some of these bars have people that are getting sloppy every night the bar is open so it’s possible that not everyone there was an Elliott Smith fan but his shows were often plagued by “talkers”... At some point People started seeing music as “the soundtrack for their life”... People also talked a lot at Grateful Dead shows... it gets better if you can get the mic/mics up about five to ten feet above the crowd... Also If this was recorded through the “board” the audience would be almost inaudible...

[@OhMyGodHeAdmitIt]

I read somewhere he liked when people talked during his sets, said he preferred it if people weren't paying so much attention to him when he played. I think that way performing was something very personal for him. Shy guy

[@RustinChole]

He did like the talking - when I saw him on the same tour people were DEAD silent in awe, and it made him super uncomfortable. Those shows are on KZbin too thank god.

[@mrpilly21]

Amazing show! He's incredible

[@ericdoe2318]

almost 24 tears ago

[@m83ikael]

love finding new stuff with this guy lol , thx

[@nitetimerxdio2762]

like a month before I was born damn

[@riffraffrichard]

He's on form here!

[@robcole6785]

Mad respect to the individuals there talking incessantly

[@glace7738]

the album cover for either/or was actually shot backstage at this venue either before or after this show ! pretty crazy that theres footage of it.

[@RustinChole]

🙏wow. The Gibsons show. 🖤

[@MatthewMcRowan]

coool

[@uij8439]

Anyone know what he says before starting Some Song? Something about the song’s name is something else

[@mitarmusic]

great video, thanks

[@alejandrovelasquez6017]

I like the people talking

[@mglenwright09]

THE LAST SONG IS THIRTEEN NOT WATERLOO SUNSET....GOSH WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? kidding. but it is Thirteen (Cover of Big Star)

[@gabrielsantana2367]

Yes

[@gabrielsantana2367]

mglenwright09 pillireiiii

[@jake_villanueva]

Personally to me this set list is near perfect. Loved pre 98 ES. love the rest but either/or was my first album I listened to.

[@alejandrovelasquez6017]

The first song is amazing

[@kobylee911]

Rip

[@gratata.enchilada]

in my opinion elliott smith may be the greatest guitarist of all time. overlooked when it comes to cringy rolling stone ratings where they decide who is best.

[@nitetimerxdio2762]

about a month before I was born

[@Alyssa-js4ms]

2pac's last day.. RIP 2PAC

[@steveneppie1806]

this song touches on those front row cluckers.....they are "on all time". ...

[@riffraffrichard]

Hes on form here

[@killedbykato]

thirteen not listed in desc?

[@sosurreptitious]

Almost too much

[@nameisemery5292]

t. marie agreed

[@vertyisprobablydead]

I feel bad for the guy who wanted him to play Southern Belle but he never did.

[@imanoakyboy]

#OneChairLeftMan