…in New Times Los Angeles. [rip]

Earlier tonight an excited crowd that spilled over onto the Sunset Boulevard sidewalk caught Elliott Smith in a rare local appearance at the Echo, playing a benefit for, as he put it, “someone’s medical bills.” (Money was being raised for Jennifer Tefft, who books at Spaceland.) Happily in his cups and acoustic guitar in hand, Smith put on an assured set that hopefully marks his return to form from disappointing-to-disastrous shows over the past year or so that have tarnished his reputation even among devoted fans.

The devotees filled the club nonetheless and cheered enthusiastically even after he opened with a shaky run through the Oscars™ song, “Miss Misery.” Their reward was a set that showed off songs slated for the long-delayed LP6 such as “A Passing Feeling” and “Don’t Go Down,” and resuscitations of neglected winners from his back catalog. Three songs in came “I Figured You Out,” a Smith composition that has only seen the light of day via Mary Lou Lord’s cover; he wrote it then quickly wrote it off as sounding too much like the Eagles. It is strummier than his typical fare, but its detailed accusations of a former flame play quite well leavened by its sunny (but not lite) melody. Otherwise, seldom-played tunes such as the delicate “Good To Go” from his second record, down-and-out slice-of-life “Punch and Judy” off Either/Or, the thrumming-to-atmospheric “Something To Lose” from his rocking Heatmiser days and the winsome “No Confidence Man,” a song exclusive to a little-heard 7″, were assayed beautifully. (more…)