I came to know and love Better Than Ezra on alternative radio in the 90s. One couldn’t listen to FM radio without hearing a song from Deluxe or Friction, Baby. “Good,” “In the Blood,” “Rosealia,” “King of New Orleans” and “Desperately Wanting” were standards found amongst Tonic, Collective Soul, Vertical Horizon and Gin Blossoms tunes. While not on your harder edge of the spectrum, the band’s tunes communicate clearly without having to slam their message down your throat (which isn’t altogether a bad thing either). Back in the 90s, I caught a Better Than Ezra show at my local Ventura Theatre in Ventura, California, and found myself up front not able to take my eyes off the trio. The boys have charisma…the kind that inspires a smile. They made eye contact with their audience obviously having left all pretenses at the stage door. The guys are “any-guy-USA”. Listening to Better Than Ezra Live at House of Blues New Orleans immediately brings back that smile, the intimate moments spent amongst the audience being with the band. They’re different. Hard to put into words.

Nevertheless, Better Than Ezra Live at House of Blues New Orleans includes all the radio standards which I came to know as cuts #4, 10, 11, 18 & 20…but as I left my CD in the car I soon found myself more and more listening to all the cuts inbetween and to my delight I have a bigger appreciation of Better Than Ezra. Songs from all their albums are interspersed on the CD as well as two new songs (studio versions) called “Cold Year” and “Stall” which I believe is about sex in the toilet. Rock stars, what are you going to do with them?

I have a much better understanding of Ezralites (hardcore fans) and what drives them. In any case, Better Than Ezra Live at House of Blues New Orleans has not left my car and I don’t see filing it away anytime soon.

The DVD by the by includes even more tunes and you get to view the shows recorded at the House of Blues New Orleans.

“Intro”
“Misunderstood”
“Good”
“Rolling”
“Live Again”
“Get You In”
“Extra Ordinary”
“King of New Orleans”
“Rosealia”
“At the Stars”
“A Lifetime”
“In the Blood”
“Porcelain”
“Sincerely, Me”
“Desperately Wanting”
“Cold Year”
“Stall”

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