To me it is very hard to think that it has been eight years since Elliott Smith passed. I can still vividly remember the first time I ever heard Roman Candle, it was around the same time I heard the Heatmiser record Mic City Sons, which is still one of my all time favorite records. I went out and immediately bought both records, which I poured so many hours into listening to.I have had the very good fortune in my life, due to proximity, to have crossed paths with Elliott many times. When I was in high school I was a very prolific show booker. One of the "biggest," although in all honesty at the time it had a smaller turn out than I would have wished, shows I booked was with Elliott Smith as a favor for another booker/promoter. He was very warm, very nice, but a bit shy... Not a big shock. He said many times that day that he was very shocked at how young I was; I said, "Don't worry, you'll get paid..." to which he said he wasn't concerned as that he legitimately thought it was nice that I was so into music to take a risk booking shows at such a young age. That stuck with me.
I remember my parents listening to his record around this time, as my father always took a bit of interest in my bookings as he thought it was good "hobby." I remember when he was on the Oscars in that beautiful white suit singing the most tender song of the evening; I remember my parents saying, "Hey don't you know him?" and feeling such pride in his accomplishment.
I remember sitting backstage during a YoYo show that I stage-managed that is now kind of famous in his cannon and being in such awe of his gentle touch and whisper, interacting with him that night, just after his rocket to fame-ish-ness is still one of my all time most treasured moments interacting with any musician. I still hold it close to the heart without even having to mention the details of our conversation.
I remember a long walk in a long park in Florence, Italy after seeing Sam Combes walking the streets near the Ponto to seek out a Elliott show.
I remember sitting backstage at the Moore Theater in Seattle later that year in utter awe of the amount of free drinks on his ridder and getting free drinks from him before he went on. I recall seeing him playing an amazing set from the side of the stage looking out into the crowd at the Moore seeing familiar faces while he and Grandaddy played "Don't Fear the Reaper."
These are only a couple of my memories; I have more, but you should never share all your memories of someone. Whenever I hear his music I get filled with so much sadness that he is not blessing this world with more songs; he is gone too soon-his music was life altering to me. So sad to think of this anniversary.
