BETTER THAN EZRA HASN'T MISSED A BEAT AFTER LEAVING MAJOR LABEL
By Ed Condran
The Virginia Pilot
February 27, 2004

Ever since Better than Ezra parted ways with Elektra Entertainment four years ago, the New Orleans pop-rock act has never sounded better.

The band's last album, CLOSER, released by indie label Beyond Music, is packed with hook-laden, guitar driven rock. The group shed its overly earnest approach and, as a result, is hitting its potential.

"The more you work at something, the more you know," bassist Tom Drummond said. "One thing we have is experience and we know much more than we did 10 or 15 years ago."

Better than Ezra, performing Wednesday night at The NorVa in Norfolk, formed during the late '80s while Drummond, vocalist-guitarist Kevin Griffin, guitarist Joel Rundell and drummer Cary Bonnecaze attended Louisiana State University. The group crafted "Surprise," a raw, well-received debut album. However, shortly after it's release, Rundell committed suicide and that appeared to be the end of Better than Ezra.

The group splintered but within months reunited as a trio. BTE relocated to Los Angeles and started work on an album.
"Los Angeles was a nice change of scenery for us," Drummond said. "It didn't take long before we were on to something."
In 1993, the band released the indie album "Deluxe." It didn't take long for a bidding war to ensue. Major labels were lavishing deals upon bands that crafted melodic, easy-to-digest rock. Sugar Ray, Semisonic and Matchbox Twenty inked corporate rock deals and BTE signed with Elektra Entertainment.

The label decided to reissue "Deluxe," the disc hit the bins in 1995 and the single "Good" helped catapult the album to platinum status. "It was an amazing trip," Drummond said. "All of a sudden we just took off."  However, Bonnecaze opted to leave the band in early 1996 and was replaced by Travis McNabb.

In 1996, the group released "Friction, Baby," the follow up to "Deluxe." The disc is sonically comparable to "Deluxe," but it didn't fare as well commercially.

The band's Elektra swan song, "How Does Your Garden Grow?" received some decent reviews. When the album didn't generate a great deal of sales, BTE parted ways with Elektra.

However, the band performing Wednesday in Norfolk has become a solid group that attracts a loyal fan base-dubbed Ezra-lites.

"We appreciate how many people come out to see us," Drummond said. "We're fortunate to have such a strong core of fans."