In October of 1998, Lou Barlow was having a going away party at the Green Street Grille in Cambridge, MA. That night, there was a show, hosted by the late Billy Ruane, a champion of the Boston music scene for decades whose escapades are worthy of the term ‘legendary’. What made this night special was that this show would feature an acoustic performance from recent Oscar nominee Elliott Smith who spent many years touring & performing with Bostonian, close friend and fellow songwriter Mary Lou Lord.

Thanks to Mary Lou, this never before seen footage of the show, captured by Jody Urbati-Moore and Mark Ventola, was unearthed and digitized over the last few days. The quality isn’t the greatest, but for archival purposes and the many fans of Elliott’s out there, it’s more than satisfactory. Though it might actually be considered one of Elliott’s less technically-proficient shows (he constantly forgets words, drops cues and stops songs before starting), it has a warmth and depth that reflects more of what I would call “the real Elliott”. There’s simply zero artifice to him on this night.

I cannot thank Mary Lou enough for sharing this set with the world, one featuring acoustic versions of “Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands”, “Waltz #2″ and “I Didn’t Understand” on acoustic guitar.

Wherever you are Elliott & Billy, I hope you’re having a round for the rest of us. You are so loved and so missed. God bless you all and Merry Christmas .

::: UPDATE ::: Thanks to the help of one BackstageRider, we’ve learned this is footage of one of what the Boston Phoenix refers to as “the 40 greatest concerts in Boston history”.

Elliott Smith – Talking to Mary
Elliott Smith – Whatever (Folk Song in C)

I have fallen into the emotional rollercoaster of the holiday season tonight just as I was trying to climb aboard. Partially, I know it’s because the holidays seem to change meaning as I get older and, partially, it’s due to unrelated events of the night. I’ve just come from watching the final hour of This Is England ’88 which is, hands down, one of the most emotionally gripping hours of television I have ever watched in my life.

I don’t want to give spoilers, but if you’re not familiar with the movie This is England and the subsequent Channel 4 mini-series installments, This is England ’86 and This is England ’88, they are the critically-acclaimed semi-autobiographical works of director Shane Meadows. In 2006, Meadows introduced the world to a group of characters for whom there was such demand as to yield the series, which (as you might guess) revisits the characters from the film every two years. Meadows’ propensity to leave no detail untouched in his script writing and directing is no less vivid in the ’88 installment than any previous.

This song, “Dogwood Blossom” by the prolific and talented Irish songwriter Fionn Regan, closed out the show and left its wood-strewn insights and harmonies running in salty streaks down my face as I reflected on the passing of writer/journalist Christopher Hitchens just after the show had ended. The two events, though tied by coincidence, seem brazenly apropos upon reflection to the song herein. It’s just that thought which lingers in my mind: if heaven does exist, will there be hell to pay when he arrives?

Rest gently then, Mr. Hitchens, and thank you for being fearlessly contrary, callously brazen in spite of yourself, and be not damned for your eternal belief in that which you held true.

Fionn Regan – Dogwood Blossom
[Support Independent Music :: buy it from iTunes :: 99 cents]

[ Purchase '100 Acres of Sycamore' by Fionn Regan from iTunes ]

One of the two or three best acts I got to see at Bonnaroo 2011 was an early-in-the-day performance from the disarmingly wonderful and completely understated Sharon Van Etten. Her first album, 2010′s half-mockingly entitled Epic, was (it turns out) actually befitting of such a name; something in every piece of those 7 songs could rip out your heart and shove it back in your chest before your tears had hit the ground. Her new album Tramp arrives in February 2012 & I am anticipating the chance to hear it eagerly. For the time being, enjoy this brutish, brooding hammer-and-nails folk piece featuring members of The Walkmen, Wye Oak and The National backing her up.

Does she have your attention now? Hope so.

Sharon Van Etten – Serpents

Yesterday, Calgary’s Chad VanGaalen released his newest album, Diaper Island on Sub Pop. I’ve been quite impressed and curious to see what direction the notoriously guarded songwriter will take which, in this case, seems to be somewhat more of an album of rock songs painted with his trademark dark restraint. Check out this song from the album, “Peace on the Rise” & the accompanying video.

Chad VanGaalen – Peace On The Rise

Adding to the plethora of new music I’ve heard recently, I’m thrilled to have discovered one of Australia’s seemingly best-kept secrets The Sea Thieves.

Originally a duo, the band was born from the songs and hearts of Zac Coligan and his wife Naomi Thompson who for many years performed as Eiderdown. It appears that they are now an 8-piece band & They Will Run [iTunes], the band’s impressive sophomore release, will be released Friday by Australian label Big Rig Records.

How the band describes themselves:

The Sea Thieves sound is infused with the strains of the musical saw, the pluck of the ukulele and vintage nylon strung guitars. Weaving amongst it all are crackling optigan samples and the dead notes of ruined pianos.

The album is cooing and pitch perfect, fueled by heartfelt songwriting and well-produced recordings full of nuances and layers. Fans of Fleet Foxes, The Decemberists, Mumford & Sons and other indie folk acts are going to find themselves immediately drawn into this collection, from which both of these songs are pulled — “Focus The Stars” and “Starting At The End”.

WHY YOU SHOULD CARE: Each of the songs on They Will Run is imbued with an uncommon purity and sincerity, crafted like a tiny symphony of old-timey and ambient sounds, native rhythms, acoustic guitars, haunting pianos and violins played with elegant phrasing and timing.

Perfectly balanced, melodic, gorgeous and never obtrusive, They Will Run is a magical album which appeared out of nowhere & one that I hope will bring The Sea Thieves deserved accolades and attention. It is a rare, accomplished recording that exudes confidence and spirit.

The Sea Thieves – Focus The Stars
The Sea Thieves – Starting At The End

[ You can buy the album They Will Run via iTunes by clicking here or direct from Big Rig Records by clicking here. ]

The 2011 ‘Album of the Year’ contest continues to heat up with Fleet Foxes’ highly-anticipated, wistful song collection Helplessness Blues which is out May 3rd from Sub Pop. Thanks to NPR, you can become one of the prescient few and join us in the discussion about the record ahead of it’s May 3rd release date by listening to this full-album stream & sharing your thoughts.

Just need a little something to tide you over? Enjoy the title track from the album & download it for free, courtesy of Sub Pop and Soundcloud.

By far, the most well-done remix I’ve heard of Toro y Moi’s “Still Sound” enters the world courtesy of Paris’ Voodoo Bear. Groove on.

If you didn’t know it, the most anticipated indie album of 2011 has been from Animal Collective member Noah Lennox’s solo incarnation, Panda Bear. Have a first listen to the new album by Tomboy by Panda Bear in it’s entirety, courtesy of NPR.

To listen: follow this link to NPR & read their complete First Listen write-up.

Tomboy will be released via Paw Tracks on 12 April 2011. Pre-order the vinyl from Insound here. If you can wait just four more days until 16 April (which is Record Store Day), you may be able to get one of the 1000 limited t-shirt bundles which will only be available during Record Store Day 2011 with a t-shirt like the one below. _{(HT: Brooklyn Vegan)}

Two key recordings which serve as bookends to Elliott Smith‘s catalogue of solo recordings, Roman Candle (his first) and From A Basement on the Hill (ostensibly, his last), are being reissued by Kill Rock Stars on 6 April 2010. Roman Candle, Elliott’s first album, was issued by Portland’s Cavity Search Records in 1994. For the Kill Rock Stars reissue, Roman Candle been remastered by Smith family archivist Larry Crane. Crane, the respected long-time editor of Tape Op Magazine, served in several engineering capacities on Elliott’s work over the course of his career, predominantly as owner and operator of Jackpot! Recordings where Elliott recorded many of his earliest works.

Embarking on the journey of remastering Roman Candle, Crane says that his primary intention going in was to “make the album more listenable.” The job was never to create remixes from the masters or to purposefully make the record seem louder, Crane said. Instead, Crane tried to deal with intricacies that would give the audio a warmer quality. “We never tried to make this CD as loud as current, over-limited trends,” Crane says, “but just to match the volume of the rest of Elliott’s KRS catalog in a graceful way. Please note that none of this album is “remixed” from the master tapes – it is still composed of the mixes Elliott created himself.”

From A Basement on the Hill was previously released by ANTI- Records in 2004 and now becomes part of the Kill Rock Stars catalogue of Elliott Smith material.

To celebrate these two reissues, KRS is giving away this free, previously unreleased track, “Cecilia/Amanda” which was recorded at Jackpot! Recording Studio in 1997 by Larry Crane. And, until January 4th, Elliott Smith’s entire back catalogue is on sale both via KRS mail order (http://buyolympia.com/killrockstars) and via iTunes.

Elliott Smith – Cecilia/Amanda

[Sweet Adeline:KRS (Label)]

With free downloads from St. Vincent, Deerhunter, Camera Obscura, The Mountain Goats and M. Ward just to name a few, famed UK label 4AD has unleashed a free downloadable sampler of their 2009 releases in time for the holidays. Follow the links above to listen or download from 4AD.

Memphis, get ready to stand up. $5 Cover, the highly-anticipated new web series from director Craig Brewer has already made its introductory splash to audiences at the Sundance Film Festival this past weekend.

In the weeks and months to come, the rest of the world will have an opportunity to find out what those of us in Memphis have long known and understood: the richness and depth of our tightly-knit music scene and those involved. For now, take a minute to check out the trailer, and keep your eyes peeled to http://fivedollarcover.com for new information as it becomes available.

In a group of names like that, I might have forgotten about Chad VanGaalen except for he doesn’t let me. Thanks to an opportunity to catch him at the Sub Pop showcase at CMJ a couple of years back, I became an instant fan. His newest release, Soft Airplane continues his love affair with experimental noise pop and tender love songs, a pattern developed over the course of two other fine albums (2004′s Infiniheart and 2006′s Skelliconnection). The resonant difference is the maturity of the material & the confidence evident in the performance and songwriting.

Vangaalen’s gift has been to apply pressure only when necessary: to take dissonant arrangements and manically depressive subjects into his arms for a taste of sweetness. Thematically, it has always seemed to me, one of his central themes throughout all three albums has been death. On Soft Airplane, he doesn’t really stray too much from that mode; however, there is an unsubtle celebratory atmosphere around the subject which I found to be missing from his previous outings. Death is no longer merely an ominous figure hiding in the dark. He wants to, and wants us, to some degree, to dance with death as with a friend or loved one. On “Rabid Bits of Time”, VanGaalen’s chorus resonates his vision clearly: “No one knows where we go/When we’re dead or when we’re dreaming”, as if it were a song to be sung at the end of the universe while we ponder the destruction in our wake.

Oh, and one more thing — The easy comparison of VanGaalen’s voice and style to Neil Young are sincere and not merely cliched; they become even more favorable with this album, a comparison which is both complimentary and deserved.

Mixing tender acoustic ballads on death like “Willow Tree” and “Rabid Bits of Time” with the disaffected Casio-tone-laden indie rock of songs like “Bare Feet on Wet Griptape” and “TMNT Mask”, VanGaalen never ceases to fascinate himself (or us) with the process of discovery. For fans of Helium, The Shins, Built to Spill and others, you will find Soft Airplane both accessible and exceptional. It’s a confident, accomplished album of dream resonance worth hanging on for.

Chad VanGaalen – Willow Tree
Chad VanGaalen – Bare Feet on Wet Griptape

BUY: Soft Airplane from Amazon.Com [cd|digital]

In a quite fair, though surprisingly swift and wide-reaching manner, much has been made of Justin Vernon’s songwriting and of his band, Bon Iver. Their remarkable EP For Emma, Forever Ago, is an album so simple and subtle in its beauty that it could end up lost in the shuffle of your playlist. We are so fortunate that from this small voice has come one of 2008′s most beloved recordings. If your heart was ever broken and you knew it, Justin’s falsetto overtones and wrenchings of lost love spoke to you at a time when you needed to hear them. And like magic, Bon Iver has become the little band from Wisconsin who could.

Oblige the kind folks at Daytrotter, then, with a visit to their site to listen to Bon Iver’s particularly looming discontent that is all throughout their wonderful Daytrotter Session today.

Bon Iver – Flume (Daytrotter Session)

To get the rest of these wonderful tracks, head over to Daytrotter by clicking here.

Ivan Colón – Gabriel

Ivan’s EP Despite The Atlantic appears July 15th on Milan Records. Visit him on MySpace by clicking here.