Live at the House of Blues, New Orleans

• Artist: Better Than Ezra
• Rating:
• Release Date: September 28, 2004
• Type: Live
• Genre: Rock

Review

Better Than Ezra will be forever tied to the 1990s. The decade embraced Kevin Griffin's elastic vocals and his band's workmanlike blend of jangle chords and vague lyrical disaffection. They couldn't keep the hits alive post-Y2K, but Better Than Ezra has remained a popular club act, as Live at the House of Blues New Orleans proves. Since 2001's decent Closer, the band has settled into the House of Blues tour circuit, giving fans and casual listeners their fix of '90s flavor with hits like "Good" and "Rosealia." This live set captures BTE at just such a HOB gig, recorded in their hometown of New Orleans in August 2003. It's as passably rousing as you'd expect, with Griffin's voice translating well to the live environment and plenty of inspiration in his guitar playing and the bass work of Tom Drummond. The melodic urgency of "In the Blood" -- one of their best songs from back then -- is still vital, and the band even injects a little unexpected life into the somewhat embarrassing hip-hop/Beck patois of the Closer-era tracks "Extra Ordinary" and "Rolling." Griffin won't win any awards in the stage banter department, but fans will enjoy that the patter's left in here. And it's too bad "Desperately"'s melodic stridency is expanded to a bloated eight minutes, because the song's chorus still kicks. But those are minor issues on a set that's a nice thank-you to listeners who've stuck with Better Than Ezra for over ten years. Those same fans will also note Live at the House of Blues New Orleans' inclusion of two new Ezra studio recordings, "Cold Year" and "Stall." [The album was also released in a DVD version.] ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Intro [Live]		Better Than Ezra	(:46)
Misunderstood [Live]		Better Than Ezra	(4:06)
Good [Live]		Better Than Ezra	(3:24)
Rolling [Live]		Better Than Ezra	(3:53)
Live Again [Live]		Better Than Ezra	(5:22)
Get You In [Live]		Better Than Ezra	(3:52)
Extra Ordinary [Live]		Better Than Ezra	(4:13)
King of New Orleans [Live]		Better Than Ezra	(5:07)
Rosealia [Live]		Better Than Ezra	(5:32)
At the Stars [Live]		Better Than Ezra	(3:43)
A Lifetime [Live]		Better Than Ezra	(3:39)
In the Blood [Live]		Better Than Ezra	(5:39)
Porcelain [Live]		Better Than Ezra	(5:11)
Sincerely, Me [Live]		Better Than Ezra	(4:09)
Desperately Wanting [Live]		Better Than Ezra	(7:45)
Cold Year [*]		Better Than Ezra	(3:54)
Stall [*]		Better Than Ezra	(3:16)

Credits

Oscar Creech (Photography), Ethan Allen (Audio Production), Mike Prado (Assistant), Stephen "Junior" Huss (Monitor Engineer), Michael Keel (Technician), Tom Drummond (Bass), Tom Drummond (Vocals), John Gros (Keyboards), Travis Aaron McNabb (Percussion), Mike Mayeux (Assistant), Ethan Allen (Engineer), Kevin Griffin (Group Member), Sean Mallinson (Layout Design), Kevin Griffin (Guitar), Ryan Brach (Bass Technician), Bruce Barielle (Mastering), Brian Brown (Engineer), Eric Lucero (Trumpet), Kevin Griffin (Vocals), Mike Montero (Assistant), Travis Aaron McNabb (Group Member), Jim Payne (Keyboards), Mark Mullins (Percussion), Mark Mullins (Guest Appearance), Eric Lucero (Percussion), Kenny Corbett (Drum Technician), Travis Aaron McNabb (Drums), Mark Mullins (Trombone), Jim Payne (Guitar), Sean Mallinson (Graphic Design), Tom Drummond (Group Member), Jim Payne (Vocals), Tom Drummond (Guitar (Bass)), Ethan Allen (Mixing), John Gros (Guest Appearance), Kenny Corbett (Percussion)

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