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re: Better than Ezra
Posted on 3/1/14 at 2:53 pm to matthew25
Posted on 3/1/14 at 2:53 pm to matthew25
And now, back despite popular demand, we are proud to present... My Better Than Ezra story:
When I was at LSU in 1988 I went to the Chimes to see a band called The Fleshtones (their best record was a great remake of "Ride Your Pony").
The opening act was some band I'd never heard of called... Better Than Ezra. I thought they were great! REM-style power pop with a strong beat. I specifically recall liking a song called "Ezra Pound". After the show I kept telling people about them and wondering why they didn't have a record deal. A friend told me, "There are a bunch of REM imitators out there. Throw a stick in Athens and you hit a hundred of them."
Soon after I left La. and forgot about them. Cut to 1995. I'm watching Letterman's intro when I hear, "And musical guest: Better than Ezra!". I nearly fell out of my chair. They'd changed their sound a bit -- classic REM had gone out of fashion - but at least they'd gotten that deal.
When I was at LSU in 1988 I went to the Chimes to see a band called The Fleshtones (their best record was a great remake of "Ride Your Pony").
The opening act was some band I'd never heard of called... Better Than Ezra. I thought they were great! REM-style power pop with a strong beat. I specifically recall liking a song called "Ezra Pound". After the show I kept telling people about them and wondering why they didn't have a record deal. A friend told me, "There are a bunch of REM imitators out there. Throw a stick in Athens and you hit a hundred of them."
Soon after I left La. and forgot about them. Cut to 1995. I'm watching Letterman's intro when I hear, "And musical guest: Better than Ezra!". I nearly fell out of my chair. They'd changed their sound a bit -- classic REM had gone out of fashion - but at least they'd gotten that deal.
4
Posted on 3/1/14 at 3:01 pm to Kafka
quote:
Cut to 1995. I'm watching Letterman's intro when I hear, "And musical guest: Better than Ezra!".
I remember that well... Specifically, after the song, Dave saying that they get their money's worth out of the drummer, in reference to Cary's maniacal style...
Posted on 3/1/14 at 3:08 pm to Kafka
IIRC, when Ezra was signed, the record label literally had gold fall into its lap. Couldn't believe no one had signed these guys at the time. Deluxe had sold something like 10,000 without any label support whatsoever. The record company just re-released Deluxe and started cashing checks. The biggest surprise to me, though, has been the band's staying power. I was almost certain they'd be done after "Good" ran its course through radio.
This post was edited on 3/1/14 at 4:14 pm
Posted on 3/1/14 at 5:59 pm to Kafka
quote:
in 1988 I went to the Chimes to see a band called The Fleshtones
I was there.
quote:
Better Than Ezra. I thought they were great!
I thought they were and still are lame.
Posted on 3/1/14 at 10:12 pm to Kafka
When they'd play at my cousins bar, I'd help them set up & knock back a few beers with them.
I was WAY underage and under payed, but a few years later when they played at one of the proms I was at, we laughed and joked about me helping them set up their gear for 16 people at the bar.
I was WAY underage and under payed, but a few years later when they played at one of the proms I was at, we laughed and joked about me helping them set up their gear for 16 people at the bar.
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