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IN THIS ISSUE:
DVD Review Jeremy Arth: The Bootlog True Experience: Friends of Ezra TTOY Hall of Fame BTE Impressions
Volume 2
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THE VARSITY SESSIONS (PART I)
The Street Serenade decided to send its two dedicated reviewers to the legendary Varsity Theater in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to cover the back to back Better Than Ezra shows held there on September 23rd and 24th, 2004. The reporters were armed with only a tape recorder and a 6 pack of Diet Coke. Our two intrepid reporters set out to chronicle everything that makes BTE shows at the Varsity amazing experiences. And here’s what they found on their tapes: Thursday, Day One (Recording Starts) B7: So this is the Varsity Theater! It’s not the dive I thought it was gonna be. Am: Umm, it’s recording you know. B7: Can we erase that later? Am: Definitely. B7: So we’re sitting in Chimes restaurant which is attached to the Varsity. Wow! The view is nice in here! Did you see the arms on that guy? Am: RECORDING! B7: This place is very cool! It seems to be a place where LSU students and professors can hang out in a non-academic environment…and the food is awesome! This marinated chicken has got my taste buds tingling and… Am: It’s them. B7: Who? Am: The band, don’t look. B7: Okay. Am: Oh my god, they’re coming this way. Don’t see me. Don’t see me. Don’t see me… B7: Keep walking. Keep walking. Keep walking… Am: They’re not stopping… They’re almost past us… B7: They’re gone! Thank Goodness! Am: I’m so glad they didn’t stop! I mean, really! That would have been too weird, you know? Do you look, do you not look? Do you say hi? I don’t really know the etiquette for running into rock stars in a restaurant… B7: They’re coming back! Am: (Expletive Deleted) B7: Don’t turn around; I think they’re stopping at that empty table behind us. Hostess: We can seat you here… Kevin: I thought the table was over there. Hostess: Let me check. Am: Block your face with your napkin and I’ll just blend in with the wall… B7: They don’t see us… They don’t see us… (expletive deleted) Tom sees us. Tom: Hey, guys! Am & B7: Hi, Tom! You’re not going to take that table behind us are you? Hostess: We found a table in the back, just follow me. Tom: See you at the show! Am & B7: Bye Tom! B7: What the (expletive deleted) just happened? Am: I don’t know just remind me to erase all of this later. B7: I got your back. Am: We have to be serious about this. No more goofing off. We are going to give the best field reports ever when this show is over. We have to have something great to take back to Dave. B7: You’re right. We have a job to do! Am: Now let’s go get in line… Why is the red light still on? Are you still recording? B7: Sorry. (Recording stops.)
Am: Are we ready? B7: You’re on. Am: The show has ended and we are standing outside the venue watching the sea of jubilant fans flood out. They’ve got so much to be jubilant about! The opening act, Good Night City, was pretty good. The songs were catchy and they did manage to win the crowd over. What do you think, B7? |
B7: Yeah, they weren’t bad! Wasn’t that an amazing show! BTE opened with “Pull” which is one of our favorite songs, and followed that up with “Good” and “Allison Foley”. Am: Yes, and “Hollow” was next making everyone wonder if it would be on the new album when it comes out next year. I sure hope it is! “Rolling” followed and then they slowed the pace with “Get You In”. B7: Next up were two more rousing sing-a-longs with “Extraordinary” and “King of New Orleans.” Kevin threw in a snippet of “When Doves Cry” during the breakdown which definitely gave the ladies in the audience a smile. Am: Then a song that hasn’t been heard live during the last few tours was dusted off and put back into the set list. “Briefly” was a crowd pleasing addition to an already stellar set. It led into “Misunderstood;” another favorite from the Closer disc. One or your favorite songs was up next, right B7? B7: That’s right, Am! “At the Stars” is a favorite song of many and when Jim gets to do his best Widespread Panic imitation while Kevin sings “Friend of the Devil,” it’s an even more amazing performance than it usually is. The crowd was urged to sing-a-long more during “A Lifetime” which was up next. Now, I just have to say that Travis should really be the focal point of the next song. “Sincerely Me” features Travis beating the drums as fiercely as he can while grooving along to the music just like the fans in the crowd. That is one song where it is even more fun than usual watching Travis play the drums. Am: A Supertramp cover led into “In the Blood” with “Don’t Fear The Reaper” followed by a “Personal Jesus” infused version of “Recognize.” Then it was time for the encore and those of us at the Varsity that night were in for a special treat! The guys did a moving partial cover of U2’s “One” complete with a mood-setting spotlight on Kevin singing. “Desperately Wanting” closed out the show and what a memorable, inspired show it was!
B7: Now, one of the best things about Better than Ezra shows is the banter and tonight was no exception. It all started when Tom revealed that the highly anticipated DVD and Live CD were on sale at the merchandise table. Kevin went on to tell the crowd that, “we planned to have release parties coast to coast but we started in Baton Rouge so we decided to kick it off here.” Tom added, “Tonight is the real DVD release party!” Am: Kevin let us all know about his addiction to VH1’s "In Search of the Partridge Family" and "The Surreal Life," giving us a few of his observations about the celebs on this year’s show. Every thing from “Jordan Knight is a goober” to “Bridgette Nielsen is a freak.” B7: The stars of reality television weren’t the only ones on the receiving end of Kevin’s sharp wit. Tom let us all know that they would be flying out the Los Angeles to mix the new CD while Kevin tuned his guitar. Tom made a crack about how Kevin is always out of tune and Kevin fired back with “…at least I play mine. Tom just fakes it.” He claims he was kidding about that but we’ll have to keep an eye on Tom from now on. Am: One of the funniest moments of the evening came when we were informed that Jim Payne is a prodigy but unlike most prodigies, he didn’t find out when he was child. Jim discovered that he was a musical prodigy when he was 28 years old. While this is more than likely a M.O.M, we all know that he is a musical renaissance man. We didn’t know about his passion for needlepoint. It’s called “Payne-Point” when Jim does it and he’s so good that he has a life sized “Payne-Point” portrait of "Whistler’s Mother."
B7: Kevin also commented about the myth that the second night of a two night run is always the better show. “Everyone thinks Friday night is going to be the better show, I say tonight is the night to be here!” he said. Based on how excellent tonight’s show was, I say tomorrow night has a lot to live up to! Am: I’d have to agree with you there, B7! That about wraps up our coverage of tonight’s show but we’ll be back tomorrow night with another play by play of the evening’s event. We’re going to try to catch up with the band so we can ask a few burning questions about their new releases… Bolony, do you hear a car? B7: It’s Kevin. We’d better get out of his way. Am: Yeah. He looks like he’s ready to go… He’s stopping! He’s rolling down the window! Kevin: Hey guys! Am & B7: Hi, Kevin! (Awkward silence) Kevin: Well, wish me luck! Am & B7: Bye, Kevin! (Awkward silence) B7: And he’s driving away. Am: Burning questions…Right. We are such dorks. B7: Do I need to remind you to erase this too? Am: Definitely. (Recording Stops) Read on for Part II. |
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