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Better Than Ezra

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Better Than Ezra

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

History

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, the Chime Street Demo. 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 which helped push the album to platinum status by the end of 1995.. 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 bassist/background vocalist Tom Drummond and drummer Travis McNabb. In addition, James Arthur Payne accompanies the band on tour, singing background vocals and playing supplemental guitar and keyboard accompaniment. Though many theories abound, the band refuses to disclose the origin of its name.

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. The band has stated a new album is in the works for a tentative spring 2009 release.

Discography

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
1995 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"
1997 An American Werewolf In Paris Hollywood Records featured track: "Normal Town" (remix)
1998 The X-Files: The Album Elektra / Wea featured track: "One More Murder"
1998 How Does Your Garden Grow? Elektra Records  
2001 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

Singles

B-sides and Rare tracks

References

External links

http://www.travismcnabb.com/

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