Every fan seems to have a story about their love for Elliott Smith. For Seth Avett and Jessica Lea Mayfield, theirs might have started with a dog. The two friends bonded over Smith's songs after Mayfield introduced Avett to her adopted pooch, Elliott. Ongoing conversations about their shared reverence led to a collaborative cover of "Twilight" while Mayfield toured with The Avett Brothers, and eventually the two recorded enough songs to fill an entire album.
"It felt very right and very alive," Avett says of the experience. The two lend their own warm vitality to Smith's bittersweet melodies with their lightly twanged renditions, illuminating the hope that resides beside the heartache.
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Watch Seth Avett & Jessica Lea Mayfield's full performance on KEXP's YouTube channel.
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