2008 Woodie Awards
Better Than Ezra more than just 'Good'
LinnieSarah Helpern
Issue date: 10/28/04 Section: UNCW Life
Underground favorite Better Than Ezra appeared at Myrtle Beach's House of Blues on Oct. 23. The band, who have maintained a cult like following since the release of their first single "Good" in 1995, are even more amazing than the single that made them famous.
Wilmington band Sycamore Grove was the opener for Better Than Ezra, and they definitely set the tone for the show. Having played multiple events with the likes of Collective Soul, Far Too Jones, and Athenaeum, Sycamore Grove is probably one of the best bands to come out of the area. Check their website, www.sycamoregrove.net, for more information on the band and upcoming shows.
At almost ten o'clock, Better Than Ezra came to the stage after the completion of their trademark show-starter, "Fat Bottomed Girls" by Queen. What followed was an amazing performance from one of the best live bands in the last ten years.
Better Than Ezra is one of those rare groups that are even better in person than they are on their albums. While their original CD's (including "Deluxe," "Friction Baby," and "How Does Your Garden Grow?") were surprisingly exemplary models of 90s rock, the true laid-back New Orleans spirit of the band doesn't transcend as well through the stereo speakers.
Lead singer Kevin Griffin, bassist Tom Drummond, and drummer Travis Aaron McNabb all share a kind of easy kinship that washes over their audience and seems to invite them inside a private club for only the "cool" kids. The show at Myrtle Beach opened with "Recognize," a highly energetic guitar-driven assault from their fourth album "Closer."
Perhaps it is best to mention that unlike many other 90s bands that have struggled to stay afloat since their inception, Better Than Ezra knows their fans. They tailor each show's play list to make it a memorable experience for those who have stuck with them since the beginning. Of course they played the songs that casual Top 40 listeners would know ("Good," "Desperately Wanting" and "At the Stars") but they focused most of their show around the favorites of the audience. BTE classics like "In the Blood," "Rewind," and "Rosealia" were all played with typical exuberance, crafting an exhilarating show for everyone present.
Better Than Ezra is the kind of band that obviously isn't in it for the fame (they haven't had a top forty album since 1995) or the fortune, they are in it for the love of the music. The band makes a point of including their fans in the show, bringing them up on stage, taking gifts and accepting requests. Those attending a Better Than Ezra show will never feel slighted; if anything, they might fall in love.
With the release of a greatest hits CD on Dec. 7 and an as-yet titled new album scheduled for March, members of the BTE road crew expect the tour to extend at least through the middle of 2005. While it could be awhile before they return to NC, Better Than Ezra is one band that is definitely worth the wait.
 Better Than Ezra rocked the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach on Oct. 23. Their love of music makes each concert a memorable experience. |
Wilmington band Sycamore Grove was the opener for Better Than Ezra, and they definitely set the tone for the show. Having played multiple events with the likes of Collective Soul, Far Too Jones, and Athenaeum, Sycamore Grove is probably one of the best bands to come out of the area. Check their website, www.sycamoregrove.net, for more information on the band and upcoming shows.
At almost ten o'clock, Better Than Ezra came to the stage after the completion of their trademark show-starter, "Fat Bottomed Girls" by Queen. What followed was an amazing performance from one of the best live bands in the last ten years.
Better Than Ezra is one of those rare groups that are even better in person than they are on their albums. While their original CD's (including "Deluxe," "Friction Baby," and "How Does Your Garden Grow?") were surprisingly exemplary models of 90s rock, the true laid-back New Orleans spirit of the band doesn't transcend as well through the stereo speakers.
Lead singer Kevin Griffin, bassist Tom Drummond, and drummer Travis Aaron McNabb all share a kind of easy kinship that washes over their audience and seems to invite them inside a private club for only the "cool" kids. The show at Myrtle Beach opened with "Recognize," a highly energetic guitar-driven assault from their fourth album "Closer."
Perhaps it is best to mention that unlike many other 90s bands that have struggled to stay afloat since their inception, Better Than Ezra knows their fans. They tailor each show's play list to make it a memorable experience for those who have stuck with them since the beginning. Of course they played the songs that casual Top 40 listeners would know ("Good," "Desperately Wanting" and "At the Stars") but they focused most of their show around the favorites of the audience. BTE classics like "In the Blood," "Rewind," and "Rosealia" were all played with typical exuberance, crafting an exhilarating show for everyone present.
Better Than Ezra is the kind of band that obviously isn't in it for the fame (they haven't had a top forty album since 1995) or the fortune, they are in it for the love of the music. The band makes a point of including their fans in the show, bringing them up on stage, taking gifts and accepting requests. Those attending a Better Than Ezra show will never feel slighted; if anything, they might fall in love.
With the release of a greatest hits CD on Dec. 7 and an as-yet titled new album scheduled for March, members of the BTE road crew expect the tour to extend at least through the middle of 2005. While it could be awhile before they return to NC, Better Than Ezra is one band that is definitely worth the wait.