Elliott Smith - Westbeth Theater - July 20th, 1996 [Full Live Show]

[@zoeslounge95]

Elliott's guitar technique is one of the wonders of the world

[@jackodom1387]

People always lump him into the sad-sack folk player genre. Elliott was a serious player with amazing finger picking skills. The John Lennon of my generation, with a firm, punk background. His music doesn't age, it's simply timeless. What a truly unique talent.

[@taynesbo]

Fucking spot on.

[@andrewcarpenter6069]

+Jack Odom You are correct. Absolutely amazing music.

[@miquel3657]

Jack Odom That's why people suck. Most people tend to reduct everything just to stupid labels. It pisses me off when people consider musicians like Elliott to be just "sad" songwriters. They go beyond conventional feelings, and rather than singing about "cool" stuff to make some easy friends, they sing about life contradictions and some other complex feelings very hard to describe with words. Just because it's not all the way happy, or not a feeling you can easily describe, people tend to call it just "sad" music. Kurt Cobain is another example. "The sad guy who commited suicide". Listen to fucking Nevermind or In Utero and tell me that that stuff is sad... Same with Elliott. I honestly have never seen such a poetic songwriter. Elliott's music drives your feelings through a very weird but beautiful trip. Elliott's lyrics call things into question and make you think. But how not, the media, so then the people, consider him to be just a sad musician who commited suicide. This is actually an example of how this world isn't made for people like these artists. I hate it, but smart and sensitive people like Elliott always end up fucked up and with people having a wrong conception of their art. Fuck it.

[@LeavingCaladan]

fuck yeah. this aint no jeff mangum

[@josemiguelcarrizo7373]

In the nineties, when people claimed that Oasis were the new Beatles I just got sick. Is that a joke? But, although I don't like comparisons, I agree that both Lennon and E. Smith were truly geniuses.

[@marktaylor23]

I love the guy that goes "Whoa" after Between the Bars

[@JunkBondTrader]

His whole career was under appreciated lol. But yes, his guitar playing in particular. He was a phenomenal, unique, and original guitarist.

[@ganchinho]

I would like to have a discussion with those who say that his guitar skills were poor...

[@JunkBondTrader]

@@ganchinho Has anyone ever said that? maybe if they watched a rough live show as their introduction to Elliott. People either seem unaware, or they love it. Not much dislike.

[@undefeat2000]

​ @Junk Bond Trader When I heard him the first time I was like "Hmm, not bad" but only after listening to more songs over and over again I began to truly appreciate him. Btw, all cause of your channel :D

[@akeithing1841]

@@ganchinho This is maybe my favorite period of his, just a dude touring the country solo and writing an immense amount of great songs.

[@ChrisBarnette-zk8iy]

​@@akeithing1841right there with you ..best Elliott period

[@brendanbuhhhh]

This man means the world to me even though I never met him. He’s such a blessing words can’t do his existence and music justice

[@perfectoid8376]

Right there with you bruh

[@jamesheath7601]

Wow he did easy way out in 1996 when it was on figure 8 in 2000

[@knuckle12356]

One of my absolute FAVORITE renditions of St. Ides Heaven. It was an extraordinary rendition. *_EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION! EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION!_*

[@chrisbowers7336]

Very cool. I was at this show. It was the last time I saw him in NY that wasn’t fully packed and sold out. I vividly remember Say Yes (which wasn’t out yet) and being completely floored. Definitely a show that changed everything for me. Good to know that this wasn’t just a glossed over memory, but a damn good show.

[@fleetingpersuasion]

Was it supporting Sebadoh?

[@Dreambruver]

Elliott makes my heart bleed. Never connected to music on such an emotional level before

[@davidboguzes9576]

A lot of comments about his playing. On a scale of 1 to 10 he was a 10. Some of the stuff he came up with is extraordinarily. Truly brilliant and timeless stuff. His legend will only grow in the years to come.

[@stabyourblood]

His stuff is extraordinary.

[@josevillarreal9920]

This is my favorite Elliott Smith era. Him and his guitar were one.

[@boylilikoi8037]

Jose Villarreal i agree, think that 95 to 97 was the golden age in ES carrer

[@tyleragnew]

Self titled, then Mic City Sons then Either/Or - just a crazy string of great tracks

[@knuckle12356]

That point where the high water mark keeps rising... before the discomfort of fame and the lurid lure of dope began to claw it back down inch by inch, le sigh.

[@ChrisBarnette-zk8iy]

💯

[@alexanderaultman]

Those chord changes on Southern Belle absolutely blow me away. How did he do that? They were changing so fast.

[@doomrat]

Setlist: 1. (0:0) Clementine 2.(4:32) Angeles 3.(7:28) Easy Way Out 4.(10:30) Southern Belle 5. (14:07) Between the Bars 6. (16:32) Division Day 7.(19:24) Alphabet Town 8.(24:00) The Biggest Lie 9. (27;00) See You Later 10.(30:40) Needle in the Hay 11.(35:38) Say Yes 12. (38:27) The White Lady Loves You More 13.(41:00) St. Ides Heaven 14. (44:20) Thirteen (Alex Chilton/Big Star)

[@knuckle12356]

0:00 1.Clementine 4:32 2. Angeles 7:28 3. Easy Way Out 10:30 4. Southern Belle 14:07 5. Between the Bars 16:32 6. Division Day 19:24 7. Alphabet Town 24:00 8. The Biggest Mistake 27:00 9. See You Later 30:40 10. Needle in the Hay 35:38 11. Say Yes 38:27 12. The White Lady Loves You More 41:00 13. St. Ides Heaven 44:20 14. Thirteen (Big Star)

[@eatingmiguel4455]

@@knuckle12356thanks

[@RustinChole]

God I’m glad this footage is up. He was such a meticulous guitarist. I couldn’t believe it watching him, he rarely if ever looked at his fret board.

[@TheSomnambule]

I'm so happy that more and more of him keeps coming up! His skill, lyrics, and overall musical quality and creativity was (and still is) vastly under appreciated. My dad saw his Oscar's performance on tv and remembers everyone wondering who he was afterwards.

[@hihello-sx1sx]

Easy way out is just absolute genius, each time i play it it puts me in utter disbelief

[@ganchinho]

one of Elliott's best performances, truly amazing

[@jcroc1419]

Most beautiful thing ever

[@BulletImperium1]

So wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

[@Yuriolav]

I think his guitar work is underappreciated. awesome.

[@projekctgonzo]

Thank you so very VERY much for this upload

[@saucepanification]

awesome..i'm really happy to see new videos of elliott on youtube. thanks a lot buddy!

[@matthewsolina4920]

Awesome video. Thanks for uploading.

[@satanarmy]

Wow the early easy way out is magical. Didn't even recognize the song immediately.

[@xxmyharturhandzxx]

0:41 that bit nexer fails to make me laugh. and the "thank you good night" from the crowd.. love it :,)

[@mitarmusic]

thank you for sharing this gem

[@JunkBondTrader]

Did he say he wrote Between the bars while watching Xena, warrior princess, with the sound turned off? Haha, he's discussed Xena before

[@zavalazavala6562]

Weird seeing you comment 2 weeks ago when I just passed by your comment from 7 years ago

[@perfectoid8376]

I thought I was at the peak of fandom. But seems like you might be up there just above me. I saw a comment 8 years ago and one 2 weeks ago... I'm actually thinking of having a tatoo from a couple of my fav Elliott songs.. all over my chest and abdomin.. and I thought this through very much so not gonna regret it.

[@7oda4real3]

@@zavalazavala6562 same, fright!

[@JunkBondTrader]

Thank you so much

[@xxmyharturhandzxx]

1:21 this bit is so relatable as well :,) hello words ? hello words ? here come the words, okay.. the words are here, thanks, sorry.. when the words just go Nope not today thanks

[@marktaylor23]

Look at him play that fucking guitar

[@hardfolk]

I wanna see the chords on alphabet Town, fuckin camera

[@rockonhard77]

Thank you so much! I love Elliott and never seen this before. Thank you!!

[@pizzacatking]

wasn't there an encore at this show where he played Dylan's "don't think twice it's alright"?

[@oranjjjggg]

dude was straight magic

[@Stillillgal]

wow ! tnx

[@BeardedSailor1]

great set all my favs :D

[@tomfraser1711]

What a set list man, at the hight of his powers during this gig

[@antidepressantscale4675]

That southern belle was godlike lol

[@eppie2342]

hes making his guitar sing....

[@romeopalote]

easy way out is an old song :O :O

[@relapso4544]

we almost could hear the harmonica on alphabet town

[@Curdle7]

alternate easy way out

[@andrewparkkila]

What do you think happened?

[@F1reN0z]

What is the alternate second verse of Division Day at 17:15?

[@nickythehippy]

The more I listen to this version of Alphabet Town, the less I can hear the harmonica.

[@Stillillgal]

"my voice my voice here comes my voice" lol

[@ChrisBarnette-zk8iy]

I feel bad in a way for how Elliotts trama gets me through some things.

[@punkrock465]

meh

[@zavalazavala6562]

Ok?

[@perfectoid8376]

Said the critter to God

[@xxmyharturhandzxx]

haha ! meh ! you're funny

[@renaeshelle8835]

This literally just made me laugh to tears 😂 how silly!