Better Than Ezra

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Better Than Ezra
Members of Better Than Ezra in concert in Nashville, Tennessee, August 1, 2002.
Members of Better Than Ezra in concert in Nashville, Tennessee, August 1, 2002.
Background information
Origin New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genre(s) Alternative rock
Post-grunge
Years active 1987–present
Label(s) Artemis Records
Elektra Records
Swell Records
Sanctuary Records
Website www.betterthanezra.com
Members
Kevin Griffin
Tom Drummond
Travis McNabb
James Arthur Payne (tour support)
Former members
Cary Bonnecaze
Joel Rundell

Better Than Ezra is an American alternative rock trio based in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Contents

[edit] Formation and early success

The band was formed in 1987 by Kevin Griffin while he and the other original members were attending college at Louisiana State University. By 1988 Better Than Ezra had circulated a demo cassette tape, Chime Street Studio Demo Tape. While not an official release, this demo is sought-after by the band's fans, and traded by collectors. In 1989 the band released a cassette-only album, Surprise. Shortly thereafter, original lead guitarist Joel Rundell passed away of an apparent suicide. After taking some time off to re-assess its future, Better Than Ezra re-grouped as a trio, playing house parties and frat shows all over the south. The band released its first nationally-distributed album Deluxe in 1993 (Swell Records / 1995 Elektra). It was released on 2 different labels, the independent Swell Records first, in 1993, and later national label Elektra Records, in 1995. That same year, "Good" became a major pop hit, reaching the #1 position on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart. After the album's release, original drummer Cary Bonnecaze left the band, and was replaced by current drummer Travis McNabb, formerly of the bands Beggars, and Vigilantes of Love. Subsequent album releases from Better Than Ezra include Friction, Baby (Elektra, 1996), How Does Your Garden Grow? (Elektra, 1998), Closer, (Beyond Records, 2001), and Before the Robots, (Artemis Records, 2005) . In addition to vocalist, chief songwriter and guitarist Kevin Griffin from Monroe, Louisiana, the other current members of Better Than Ezra are bass guitar player Tom Drummond and drummer Travis McNabb. In addition, multi-instrumentalist James Arthur Payne accompanies the band on tour, singing backup vocals, and playing supplemental guitar and keyboard accompaniment. Though many theories abound, the band refuses to disclose the origin of its name.

[edit] 2000 and onward

The band released the B-Sides and rarities collection Artifakt on its own "Ezra Dry Goods/Fudge" label in 2000. In late 2004, the band simultaneously released an official live concert DVD, as well as an official live album, both entitled Live at the House of Blues New Orleans (Sanctuary Records). Recent releases include a Greatest Hits collection (Warner Brothers, March 15, 2005), and an album entitled Before the Robots (Artemis Records, May 31, 2005.) In 2005, Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry used the band's song "Juicy" as the background music for the second season of the show's promotional advertisement. The song "Juicy" has also been heard in the background in commercials for Applebee's restaurants.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Year Title Label Other information
1988 Chime Street Studio Demo Tape Swell Records Released on cassette only
1989 Surprise Swell Records Released on cassette only
1993 Deluxe Swell Records (1993)
Elektra Records (1995)		 Debut album
1993 Empire Records A&M Records featured track: "Circle of Friends"
1996 Friction, Baby Elektra Records
1996 Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks Atlantic Records featured track: "Conjunction Junction"
1998 The X-Files: The Album Elektra / Wea featured track: "One More Murder"
1998 How Does Your Garden Grow? Elektra Records  
2000 artifakt Fudge Records Collection of previously unreleased rarities
2001 Closer Beyond Music  
2004 Live at the House of Blues New Orleans Sanctuary Records Live CD/DVD
2005 Greatest Hits Rhino Records Second compilation album
2005 Before the Robots Artemis Records Follow-up to Closer

[edit] Singles

  • "Good" (1995) (#30 US, #1 US Modern Rock, #3 US Mainstream Rock)
  • "In the Blood" (1995) (#4 US Modern Rock, #6 US Mainstream Rock)
  • "Rosealia" (1996) (#71 US, #24 US Modern Rock)
  • "King of New Orleans" (1996) (#5 US Modern Rock, #7 US Mainstream Rock)
  • "Desperately Wanting" (1997) (#48 US, #11 US Modern Rock, #10 US Mainstream Rock)
  • "One More Murder" (1998) (#32 US Modern Rock)
  • "At the Stars" (1999) (#78 US, #17 US Modern Rock)
  • "Extra Ordinary" (2001) (#35 US Modern Rock)
  • "Misunderstood" (2001)
  • "A Lifetime" (2005) (#11 US Adult Top 40)
  • "Our Last Night" (2005)
  • "Juicy" (2006)

[edit] B-sides and Rare tracks

  • "Circle of Friends" (1995) (Empire Records Soundtrack/Surprise)
  • "Know You Better" (1995) (Good B-Side)
  • "Merry Christmas Eve" (1996) (Rosealia B-side)
  • "Palace Hotel" (1996) (Desperately Wanting B-side)
  • "Road Trip to Athens" (1996) (King of New Orleans B-side)
  • "Revolver"
  • "Imperfect" (Streamed on website)
  • "Cars Crash" (Website download)
  • "Dirty Work (Steely Dan cover)" (Website download)
  • "Tom Collins" (One More Murder B-side)
  • "Simple Song" (Streamed on myspace)
  • "Stall" (Better Than Ezra Live @ New Orleans House of Blues)
  • "Cold Year" (Better Than Ezra Live @ New Orleans House of Blues)

[edit] References

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[edit] External links