Better Than Ezra

  • Baton Rouge, LA
    hometown
  • Rock
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  • 1988
    started
  • Bio
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About Better Than Ezra

Official Site: http://betterthanezra.com/ | @betterthanezra | facebook.com/BetterThanEzra


Along with such similarly styled outfits as the Goo Goo Dolls, the New Orleans-based trio Better Than Ezra helped open the floodgates for countless alt-pop acts of the late '90s (including Semisonic, Matchbox Twenty, and Third Eye Blind) by merging college rock influences with mainstream aspirations. Originally formed in 1988 as a roots rock outfit with slight elements of country and punk, the group's first incarnation consisted of four college students from Louisiana State University: Kevin Griffin (vocals, guitar), Joel Rundell (guitar), Tom Drummond (bass), and Cary Bonnecaze (drums). The band's early performances were expectedly held at college bars and fraternity houses, and their debut cassette-tape recording, 1990's Surprise, received positive press and comparisons to such alt-punk stalwarts as the Replacements and Dinosaur Jr. Despite these accolades, Better Than Ezra's future was thrust into doubt when Rundell committed suicide on August 8, 1990.

The remaining bandmates initially opted to go their separate ways after Rundell's passing, but they reunited as a trio before the end of the year. Deciding that a change of scenery would be helpful, Better Than Ezra relocated to Los Angeles shortly thereafter, where they laid down tracks at a friend's home studio to create their 1993 independent release, Deluxe. The album continued to raise the band's profile and eventually drew the attention of several major labels. The trio signed with Elektra Records, and Better Than Ezra's new label reissued Deluxe two years after its original release. The album spawned a sizeable radio hit with "Good," which helped push the album to platinum status by the end of 1995. But despite enjoying a hit right off the bat, Bonnecaze opted to leave the group in early 1996 and was replaced by a fellow New Orleans native (who, at the time, was living in San Francisco), Travis McNabb.

Shortly after welcoming their new member into the fold, the revised Better Than Ezra entered the recording studio to record their second major-label release, 1996's Friction, Baby. Although the album was musically similar to its predecessor, it failed to match the commercial success of Deluxe and departed rather quickly from the charts, with the singles "Desperately Wanting" and "King of New Orleans" only achieving modest rotation on modern rock radio. The group proceeded to create their own recording studio in New Orleans (dubbed Fudge Studios), where they recorded 1998's How Does Your Garden Grow? The album failed to reestablish the group as a commercially viable rock act, and Better Than Ezra parted ways with Elektra before issuing a compilation of rare tracks, Artifakt, through their official website.

Undeterred, the trio then signed with the independent Beyond Music label and issued their next release, Closer, in 2001. "Extra Ordinary" fared well on several charts, but Beyond Music declared bankruptcy before the band could issue a second single. Understandably, Better Than Ezra took a break before resurfacing in 2004 with a live album documenting a hometown show at the House of Blues. A greatest-hits collection was issued the following year, but to the delight of the group's devoted fan base (the "Ezralites"), Better Than Ezra were not finished. After signing with the New York-based Artemis Records, the band released Before the Robots in May 2005 and departed for a summer-long tour. Drumer Travis McNabb left the lineup four years later, having been recruited to join the country duo Sugarland instead, and Better than Ezra tapped Michael Jerome as his replacement before unveiling their seventh album, Plays Paper Empire. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi

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Music

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  • Just One Day
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    Just One Day
  • Absolutely Still
    better-than-ezra
    Video
    Absolutely Still
  • Juicy
    better-than-ezra
    Video
    Juicy
  • A Lifetime (Unplugged)
    better-than-ezra
    Video
    A Lifetime (Unplugged)
  • Daylight (Unplugged)
    better-than-ezra
    Video
    Daylight (Unplugged)
  • Good (Unplugged)
    better-than-ezra
    Video
    Good (Unplugged)
  • King Of New Orleans
    better-than-ezra
    Video
    King Of New Orleans
  • Rosealia
    better-than-ezra
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    Rosealia
  • In The Blood
    better-than-ezra
    Video
    In The Blood
  • 4230
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    • Desperately Wanting
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/0/8/4/6/8/230786480.mp3
    • Good
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/5/9/3/3/5/262253395.mp3
    • Good (LP Version)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/7/8/1/0/4/165540187.mp3
    • A Lifetime
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/9/9/6/8/3/165538699.mp3
    • Extra Ordinary (LP Version)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/1/7/2/1/4/165541271.mp3
    • In The Blood
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/2/3/3/5/262253326.mp3

Interviews & Exclusives

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  • Take 2: Better Than Ezra "A Lifetime"
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    video
    Take 2: Better Than Ezra "A Lifetime"

Photos

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  • Better than Ezra lead singer Kevin Griffin performs during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival May 4, 2007 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
    Better Than Ezra
    Better than Ezra lead singer Kevin Griffin performs during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival May 4, 2007 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
    Sean Gardner/Getty Images
  • Better Than Ezra
    Courtesy of Elektra
  • Better Than Ezra
    Better Than Ezra
    Better Than Ezra
  • Better Than Ezra
    Better Than Ezra
    Better Than Ezra

News

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Next Page
  • Better Than Ezra
    Star Spotting: Will The Real Austin Mahone Please Stand Up!? (PHOTO)
    MTV Buzzworthy
    June 19, 2013
    Which is the real Austin Mahone? We're not staring at this photo because we're trying to figure out which Austin Mahone is real (DUH, the middl...
    Read More
  • Better Than Ezra
    'Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara' Review -- Ye Olde Side-Scrolling, Orc Smashing Fun
    Multiplayer Blog
    June 19, 2013
    Iron Galaxy is no slouch when it comes to breathing new life into old arcade games -- Capcom has used this studio before with "Marvel vs. Capcom" and ...
    Read More
  • Better Than Ezra
    Sunnies-Obsessed Aubree Houska Should Totally Model For Snooki's New Line! [Photos]
    Remote Control
    June 19, 2013
    Aubree is so ready for summer! Chelsea Houska 's adorable daughter, Aubree, has already proven she's a model in the making , and now she's really...
    Read More
  • Better Than Ezra
    Like So Many Of Us, Miley Copes With Parents' Divorce
    MTV Act
    June 19, 2013
    How is Miley Cyrus handing her parents' divorce? From the looks of her Twitter page, pretty well. The pop star took to Twitter shortly after the ne...
    Read More
  • Better Than Ezra
    Peep Our Exclusive Trailer For Summer Romance 'The Spectacular Now'
    Hollywood Crush
    June 19, 2013
    If you're looking to feel some feelings this summer with a perfect indie romance—you know, the kind of film that'll tug-tug-tug at your heartstrings f...
    Read More
  • Better Than Ezra
    Kanye West's 'Yeezus' Is All Form, No Function
    MTV Hive
    June 19, 2013
    Don't let the title fool you, Kanye West stopped trying to emulate Jesus a long time ago. Peace and love can only take you to the periphery of the ...
    Read More
  • Better Than Ezra
    Star Spotting: Oh Look, Selena Gomez Pumps Her Own Gas! (PHOTO)
    MTV Buzzworthy
    June 19, 2013
    It's all about self-service for Selena Gomez! There are so many things to talk about with this photo of Selena Gomez looking AH-mazing at a gas s...
    Read More
  • Better Than Ezra
    Are These Stars Better Singers Or Songwriters?
    VH1 Tuner
    June 19, 2013
    Before Frank Ocean was thee Frank Ocean he was Lonny Breaux penning hits for the likes of Jay-Z and wife Beyonce , Brandy and Justin Bieber ...
    Read More
  • Better Than Ezra
    Hunter Hayes Toasts Encore With 'Crazy' New York Show
    MTV News
    June 19, 2013
    'Wanted' Singer Rocked Out With Hayniacs for MTV's Artist to Watch LIVE the Same Day as His Album was Released
    Read More
  • Better Than Ezra
    Hunter Hayes Toasts Encore With 'Crazy' New York Show
    MTV News
    June 19, 2013
    'Wanted' Singer Rocked Out With Hayniacs for MTV's Artist to Watch LIVE the Same Day as His Album was Released
    Read More

Tour Dates

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  • Aug 29 Thursday
    Houston, TX, US House of Blues
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 30 Friday
    Dallas, TX, US House of Blues
    Buy Ticket

Discography

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  • Live at Jazzfest 2012 (2012)
    Better Than Ezra
    Live at Jazzfest 2012 (2012)
    MunckMix
  • Plays Paper Empire (2009)
    Better Than Ezra
    Plays Paper Empire (2009)
    Better Than Ezra
  • Before the Robots (2005)
    Better Than Ezra
    Before the Robots (2005)
    Artemis Records
  • Live at the House of Blues New Orleans (2004)
    Better Than Ezra
    Live at the House of Blues New Orleans (2004)
    Sanctuary
  • Closer (2001)
    Better Than Ezra
    Closer (2001)
    Beyond Records
  • How Does Your Garden Grow? (1998)
    Better Than Ezra
    How Does Your Garden Grow? (1998)
    Elektra Entertainment
  • Friction, Baby (1996)
    Better Than Ezra
    Friction, Baby (1996)
    Elektra Entertainment
  • Deluxe (1995)
    Better Than Ezra
    Deluxe (1995)
    Elektra Entertainment
  • Eggnog Sing-A-Long
    Better Than Ezra
    Eggnog Sing-A-Long
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