New Orleans band 'Better Than Ezra' finds balance

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A favorite of the mid-90s alternative rock scene, Better Than Ezra will perform at the 9:30 Club in Washington tomorrow

EMILY GILMORE

Date published: 12/9/2004

By EMILY GILMORE

THE FREE LANCE-STAR

So whatever happened to Better Than Ezra?

It seems like the New Orleans trio may have fallen off the face of the earth sometime after the release of their fourth album, "Closer," in 2001.

Fond memories of their mid-90s hits "Good" and "In the Blood" crop up every now and then among 20-somethings who reminisce about their high school years, but what has BTE done recently?

It turns out BTE has been up to quite a lot.

Aside from touring pretty consistently for the past three years, the band has been working on all kinds of goodies for faithful fans who have been waiting patiently for something new.

The band is currently on tour to promote a live CD and DVD that came out at the end of September. Both titled "Live at House of Blues New Orleans," the discs showcase BTE where the members are most charismatic and comfortable--on stage in their hometown. The set was recorded in August of last year.

Singer and guitarist Kevin Griffin, drummer Travis McNabb and bass player Tom Drummond will bring their lively and engaging stage show to the 9:30 Club in Washington tomorrow night. Ingram Hill and The Silos will open.

The members of BTE have worked hard to be just as good at entertaining as they are at playing their instruments, and it shows on the live recordings.

"Our live show is probably what has sustained us over the years between labels and that kind of thing," Griffin said in a phone interview earlier this week.

BTE's first three albums--1995's "Deluxe," 1996's "Friction, Baby" and 1998's "How Does Your Garden Grow"--were released by Elektra Records. The band and the label parted ways after the latter two discs failed to achieve the same success as "Deluxe," which went platinum.

The band then signed with Beyond Records, which released "Closer" before declaring bankruptcy.

It took a couple years to disengage from Beyond, but now BTE has found a new home at Artemis Records, which will release an album of brand spankin' new BTE music in March. Two new songs are included at the end of the live CD.

Lucky fans who have gotten a sneak preview of the yet-to-be-named album have responded extremely well.

"Everyone so far is blown away not only by the songs, but by the sound," Griffin said.

Date published: 12/9/2004