Better Than Ezra
The best songs, records, and bands transport you back to the first moment you heard them each and every time they play.
Whether you caught a house party gig after Better Than Ezra formed in 1988 at Louisiana State University, heard “Good” on the radio once it hit #1 during 1995, became a fan following Taylor Swift’s famous cover of “Breathless” in 2010, or saw them headlining sheds in 2018, you most likely never forgot that initial introduction to the New Orleans quartet founded by Kevin Griffin [lead vocals, guitar, piano] and Tom Drummond [bass, backing vocals].
Those hummable melodies, unshakable guitar riffs, and confessional lyrics quietly cemented the group as an enduring force in rock music. How many acts can boast being the inspiration of a classic Saturday Night Live skit?
Very few.
Speaking of incredible accomplishments, they occupy rarified air with spots on Billboard’s “100 Greatest Alternative Songs of All Time” and “100 Greatest Alternative Artists of All Time.”
The story of Better Than Ezra began before the nineties explosion, they remain so often associated with, ever even happened. Griffin and Drummond comprised the core of the band at its onset as they hit the road and won over one fan at a time beginning in 1989. This fan base would go on to be known as “Ezralites” by the time the first pressing of Deluxe landed independently in 1993. As the audience dramatically grew, Elektra signed the boys in 1995 and officially released Deluxe. A fixture on radio and MTV, “Good” captured #1 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks Chart and went multi-platinum. 1996’s Friction, Baby yielded definitive anthems such as “Desperately Wanting” and “King Of New Orleans.” A string of fan favorite albums followed, including How Does Your Garden Grow? [1998] and Closer [2001].
2005’s Before The Robots represented another creative high. Its lead single “A Lifetime” peaked in the Top 15 of the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart as “Juicy” went on to famously soundtrack a Desperate Housewives campaign. Paper Empire followed in 2009 and then the band released their album, All Together Now, in 2014. Produced by Tony Hoffer [M83, Beck,] it spawned the hit “Crazy Lucky,” which notched 10 million-plus streams. Most recently in 2024, the band released their long anticipated tenth studio album, Super Magick.
At the same time, their touring presence burgeoned year after year as Better Than Ezra continue to sell out amphitheaters and arenas worldwide. A force of nature on stage, the group consistently deliver on tour as countless fans sing along to every word nightly. Their gigs further uphold a growing legend.
Outside of Better Than Ezra, Griffin established himself as a sought-after hitmaking songwriter, having songs recorded by the likes of Taylor Swift and Train. He also penned #1 hits for Howie Day and Sugarland in addition to writing with The Struts and Moon Taxi. In 2015, Griffin co-founded the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, which counts Justin Timberlake among others as partners.
Along the way, they launched the Better Than Ezra Foundation (www.BTEFoundation.org(opens in a new tab)) in order to support their hometown. Chaired by Drummond, its charity endeavors span coastal restoration projects, after school programs for underprivileged kids, and more. Since 2008, it has raised over $1.7 million for causes throughout greater New Orleans.
Celebrating 25 years of Deluxe in 2018, the guys reissued the record on double vinyl. Detailing the release, Forbes summed up the group’s influence beyond the nineties scene it helped define.
The outlet wrote, “So many of that decade's most influential, like supernovas, burned up fast... New Orleans alternative rock trio Better Than Ezra defied those odds.”
In the end, you’ll never forget the songs on Deluxe or any other release from their discography—and that’s better than anything.
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Rock bands can have second acts, and Nine Days is currently experiencing one now. Their 2000 number one hit, “Absolutely (story of a girl)“ was featured in the 11 time academy award winning film, “Everything Everywhere All At Once”, where John Hampson, the singer and writer of the song, created special versions just for the film. It was also featured in Apple TVs new hit show, “Shrinking”, as well as the second season of Hulu’s “Cruel Summer”. Both the song and the band are experiencing a second life.
Nine Days is the latest band to enjoy commercial success, opt for a break, and then reform. The group, which was formed by singer-songwriter friends John Hampson and Brian Desveaux in 1994 in their native Long Island, struck a chord with fans and critics with the relentlessly catchy “Absolutely (Story of a Girl).” The memorable single, which takes Gen Xers back to another time and place, hit the top of the charts in 2000 and propelled the band’s major label debut, The Madding Crowd, to go gold.
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Member Presale: Wednesday, January 21st @ 10 AM EST
Public Sale: Friday, January 23rd @ 10 AM EST
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