Better Than Ezra at Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (20 Nov 2014)

Louisiana's Better Than Ezra are currently on tour in support of their new eighth album All Together Now (The End Records), stopping by the Varsity Theater last night, November 20th. Unlike "those other bands", BTE assured us, "don't worry, we are not going to play all new songs."

Seven Handle Circus

Atlanta-based Seven Handle Circus opened up the show, singing some songs off their debut album Shadows On The Wall and their 2011 EP Whiskey Stills & Sleeping Pills.
The rather large "Grass & Roll" six-piece band are Shawn Spencer (Guitar, Vocals), Colin Vinson (Banjo), Steve Bledsoe (Mandolin), Richard Burroughs (Fiddle), Jeff Harrison (Drums), and Troy Harris (Bass).

Seven Handle Circus was stretching out their songs with some extended jams and by the time "Wilderness" was played, they had actually gone over their allotted 45 minute time on stage. Their finale was a mashup of songs "Bluegrass Girl" and "Omaha", but also throwing in Montell Jordan's "This Is How We Do It".

Better Than Ezra are normally a three piece with Kevin Griffin on lead vocals, guitar, Tom Drummond on bass, and Michael Jerome on drums… but for live shows, they also have James Payne on guitars and keys.

The band's biggest hit song, "Good" came after being signed to major label Elektra Records in 1995. To the outside world, it was an overnight success, but the truth is, the band have been around since 1988, and it was a long road to reach that #1 status on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks.

It's been five years since BTE came to town, so it would seem that the band was determined to make last night at Varsity Theater show to be memorable. Apparently the band's been doing some research on the Minneapolis music scene, but they played partial snippets of Replacements and Prince songs. I'm going to say they probably threw in other Minneapolis songs, but those were just the ones that I caught.

For "Breathless", Kevin Griffin later said they rarely play that song live (possibly to explain how he temporary forgot the intro line to the song), and that it was done mainly by a request from one of his fan. He also gave us a little knowledge, that Taylor Swift called them personally to ask permission to cover "Breathless" to be included in the Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief in 2010.

Before "Juicy" was played, Griffin invited all the ladies in the house to come dance with them on stage. As quickly as he said it, the stage was invaded with over thirty women, dancing, singing, and taking selfies. The whole thing was really fun, and to be honest, they could have just ended the show there and no complaints from anyone.

Instead, a medley of Prince's "Purple Rain" and "I Would Die 4 U" proceeded "Desperately Wanting" as the finale track.

Setlist

The encore was a bit tricky, they originally listed "Sincerely, Me", as the second of three songs, but that was played earlier in their set. A diehard fan told me that it was "A Southern Thing" Should be "Insane", that followed the Kevin solo "Porcelain".

The last of the encore track was "In the Blood", the first track off of Deluxe and featured drummer Michael Jerome banging on six cowbells!

Better Than Ezra and Seven Handle Circus have a few dates left on their 2014 tour. I'm almost certain that whatever city they play next (Chicago), they will pay homage to that town.

Remaining tour dates:

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com)
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