Vol. 2 No. 6 (Jan. 1, 2005)

   

An unofficial newsletter for fans of the rock group BETTER THAN EZRA
IN THIS ISSUE:

2004 Christmas
Show Reviews
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8

The Bootlog
Page 9

Fan Profile /
More Cowbell!
Page 10

Some Ezra Sights From New Orleans
 Page 11

Listening Party Update
 Page 12

The Reviews & Pictorials
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21

News & Links
Page 22

Map of Ezra
 Page 23

TTOY Hall of Fame
Page 24

Cowbell Hall of Fame
Page 25

BTE Impressions
Page 26

THE ARCHIVES

Volume 1
 Mar. 2003
May 2003
July 2003
Sept. 2003
Nov. 2003
Jan. 2004

Volume 2
Mar. 2004
May 2004
July 2004
Sep. 2004
Nov. 2004

 

 



A Very Merry Christmas at the
House of Blues, New Orleans
 (Photo Contest Winner: ChrisK, click to enlarge)

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

SEASON'S GREETINGS TO ALL

The consensus seems to be that this year’s Christmas shows in New Orleans were an outstanding success.  I concur!

Every year I come home saying “I’m not doing that again” but this time I’m actually looking forward to returning next year. Graham Colton Band and Howie Day were both stellar opening acts. The mutual respect between these performers and the members of BTE is great to see.

As you may have heard, there’s a recording of the
Friday night show and Fan Club Party out there, but if anyone has a line on the Saturday night show please let us know. Comprehensive coverage of these shows begins to the right of this column. Enjoy!  And here's the setlists:

Friday Night
Fan Club Party
Saturday Night

***

We apologize if you experienced any interruptions when trying to access the Serenade over the past few weeks.  The site has been changed to a new webhost and, unfortunately, the transition did not go quite as quickly or seamlessly as hoped. Never mind.

The good news is that you will no longer get that
silly banner when accessing pages and we can
(hopefully) use scripts to create an automated email
list for subscribers. And the site capacity increased
to 500 MB which will allow us to offer even more
pictures, sound files, and maybe even some video.

***

Admittedly, nothing is “official” in BTE land until it
actually happens, but the Artemis Records website says that the title of the new CD (due April 12) is “Before the Robots.” This had been mentioned by the band as a potential title, but this more or less confirms it. A good title for a great album. We can’t wait and neither can you...

Anyway, that’s what’s on my mind. Season’s Greetings to all.

Cheers,

EnglishDave

P.S. Lest you think the trip to New Orleans was all work and no fun, here's a rare glimpse of your editor apres show...


The Editor Enjoys an After Show
at Pat O'Briens with good friends
and Ezralites, Andy and MandaJ.

2004 CHRISTMAS SHOWS
HIT A NEW HIGH
by EnglishDave


House of Blues Chalkboard Announces the
Surprise Saturday Line-Up
 (Photo: Ashley)

The 2004 Christmas shows really did hit a new high.  Every year they seem to become more and more of an "event." Even though they had just come off a lengthy tour, the band went the extra mile in welcoming fans and arranging the second annual Fan Club Party at the Parish.

So, without further ado, here's my take on all the action.  Remember that these recollections are based upon the scribbled notes of someone with far too little sleep, so there could be a misstatement or two in here: 

Friday Night
After a spirited opening set by the Graham Colton Band (see review), the assembled throng of Ezralites were well prepped for the BTE set by an assortment of holiday-themed songs. Who among us doesn’t love “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer?” But the big hit was Adam Sandler’s “Hanukkah Song.” Yet again the crowd on cue yelled “Not a Jew!” when O.J. Simpson was mentioned.

As the between sets music ended, a hush fell over the House of Blues. You could sense the anticipation. BTE were obviously going to take the stage very soon. How would they be heralded? We knew “Turtle” (a.k.a.Brian Turton) of the Graham Colton Band was in the house. Would he reprise his “Turtle Claus” role of two years ago? No, it was not to be.


The Amazing Turtle Elf
(Photo: ChrisK)

This time we got Santa’s far more impish and mischievous subordinate “Turtle Elf” who stumbled happily on to the stage in true New Orleans fashion – i.e., a bottle of whiskey under his arm, cup in hand, and a cigarette to his lips. He was clad in the now famous costume worn by Will Ferrell in the movie “Elf.”

“Santa sent me from the North” he began to say clutching his precious bottle. Distracted by a couple of front-row fans, Turtle interrupted himself by asking “I know you, why don’t you ever call me?” Oh, what a melancholy Elf!

Remembering why he was on stage in the first place, and without further ado, Turtle Elf turned to the crowd and simply announced that it was time for Better than Ezra – “the original Kings of Crunk”– to take the stage. And as they did so, a gentle faux snow began to fall... (More on page 2).