Gig Memories: Elliott Smith at Shepherd's Bush Empire in 1999
Elliott Smith
Shepherd's Bush Empire, 21 April 1999
Seeing Elliott Smith live back in 1999 has to be one of my most special concert-going memories. I saw him twice that year and both times were unique and beautiful but the headlining show at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire was, looking back, so filled with classic songs performed with such joy and heart, that it was pretty special.
I think the most surprising thing about Elliott live was just how much how he could rock
out. He had a fairly small band (just drums and bass), the trio looking a little lost on the big Shepherd’s Bush Empire stage, but together they made a big sound. A good chunk of the show was a stomping, almost power-pop sounding, rush through songs like Son Of Sam, Waltz #2, Bled White and Bottle Up And Explode. In particular Happiness was bittersweet yet uplifting, while Ballad Of Big Nothing, sped up and more punky than on record, was angry and full of hurt.
Probably less surprising was the fact that Elliott was incredibly shy on stage, his eyes closed through most of the songs, remaining fairly stationary next to his mike stand and barely saying anything throughout the night other than some soft-spoken thanks. Even when he returned by himself for the encore for some acoustic songs he didn’t communicate much with the audience, but in a way this just enhanced his performance, it seemed like he was feeling every word and didn’t want to break the spell.
The acoustic part of the show was incredibly sweet (starting with Say Yes, followed by Oh Well Okay, Easy Way Out and Rose Parade), showing what an excellent guitar player he really was and I remember people around me singing along to many of the songs.
The band returned for the final two songs and they were the highlights of the set for me: Christian Brothers which built into this big, guitar-driven garage rock finale and the fast, at times shouty Pictures Of Me.
People think of Elliott as this lo-fi, mopey, sad genius, but, despite being a little shy, live he wasn’t that way at all, he liked to rock out and he, and the crowd, had a lot of fun doing it.
You can hear (and even download) this show at the Internet Archive
out. He had a fairly small band (just drums and bass), the trio looking a little lost on the big Shepherd’s Bush Empire stage, but together they made a big sound. A good chunk of the show was a stomping, almost power-pop sounding, rush through songs like Son Of Sam, Waltz #2, Bled White and Bottle Up And Explode. In particular Happiness was bittersweet yet uplifting, while Ballad Of Big Nothing, sped up and more punky than on record, was angry and full of hurt.Probably less surprising was the fact that Elliott was incredibly shy on stage, his eyes closed through most of the songs, remaining fairly stationary next to his mike stand and barely saying anything throughout the night other than some soft-spoken thanks. Even when he returned by himself for the encore for some acoustic songs he didn’t communicate much with the audience, but in a way this just enhanced his performance, it seemed like he was feeling every word and didn’t want to break the spell.
The acoustic part of the show was incredibly sweet (starting with Say Yes, followed by Oh Well Okay, Easy Way Out and Rose Parade), showing what an excellent guitar player he really was and I remember people around me singing along to many of the songs.
The band returned for the final two songs and they were the highlights of the set for me: Christian Brothers which built into this big, guitar-driven garage rock finale and the fast, at times shouty Pictures Of Me.
People think of Elliott as this lo-fi, mopey, sad genius, but, despite being a little shy, live he wasn’t that way at all, he liked to rock out and he, and the crowd, had a lot of fun doing it.
You can hear (and even download) this show at the Internet Archive
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