Better Than Ezra - Live at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 4/28/2013 (Concert Review)

Better than Ezra is a Louisiana institution at this point, and they put on a quite a show at Jazz Fest this weekend. An always popular ticket here in the New Orleans area, they were given the tough task of winning over the large legion of Dave Matthews Band fans that were present. They did exactly that by showing that their live performance is why they have hung around while so many of their brethren are long gone from the music scene.

Starting with their biggest hit and arguably the only song known by many of the audience, "Good" was an interesting selection for the opener. It paid off though, as it immediately got the crowd engaged and created a momentum that was carried throughout the set. Frontman Kevin Griffin is one of the more entertaining performers around. Crowds love him because he has fun on stage and always looks like he is just happy to be doing what he is doing. He constantly engaged the audience in banter. He discussed the other artists at Jazz Fest, giving Andrew Bird a rave review and recommending that everybody stick around for this upstart called Dave Matthews, "I have heard he is pretty good." Featuring a backing horn section that included a trombonist from local favorite Bonerama, Better Than Ezra was able to flesh out their songs into some extended jams. It was highly appropriate for Jazz Fest and was welcomed with open arms from the crowd. "King of New Orleans", "Desperately Wanting", and "Juicy" were all audience favorites. A huge cheer also went up when he teased Macklemore's "Thrift Shop" at the end of Extra Ordinary. However, the highlight of the set was the closer. An excellent and spot on cover of Gorillaz "Feel Good Inc". Griffin showed the dynamic voice he possesses by handling both the rapping verses and singing choruses. Tom Drummond on bass and Michael Jerome on drums laid down the groove perfectly and the crowd ate it up. 

Griffin told the crowd that, "Jazz Fest is where everybody wants to play because the fans are here for the music." If that is truly the case, which I believe it is, then nobody left disappointed from Better Than Ezra's set. They won over the DMB partial audience and showed once again that they are much more than just that one song that hit it big in the 90s.

Check out the Set List and pictures from the show below:
Good
Misunderstood
A Lifetime
At The Stars
King of New Orleans
I Just Knew
Extra Ordinary
Insane (New Song)
Desperately Wanting
Laid
Juicy
Feel Good Inc (Gorillaz Cover)