They opened with King of New Orleans

You know the type of concert that happens to be one of your favorite bands, but you'd been afraid to see them live for fear that they would royally suck and then you'd be out of a favorite band?  That totally didn't happen to me last night!

I went to see Better than Ezra perform at the 9:30 club.  JD, one of my friends and fellow BTE fan, mentioned they were performing and then just bought tickets.  So of course I snagged one for me, and one for Eric.  Unfortunately Eric couldn't go, so MK went in his place.  Eric can't tell them apart from 3EB or Eve 6, and MK had no idea who they were.  Also with us were JN, who actually knew some songs, JK & D, who knew them only by chance of a wayward CD that fell into their hands several months ago, and JF who didn't know them, but was in the mood for a fun evening, anyway.  So it was an interesting mix of people with only two bonafide fans, a limo, and a night of fun.

Ummm, so, how can I put this in to words other than it was simply one of the BEST concerts I have EVER been to?  Great opening band, great Headliner band, amazing, funny, witty stage presence.  I likened BTE to BareNaked Ladies as far as their on-stage quips go.  I love, Love LOVE the fact that the lead singer integrates other songs and genres into his repertoire.  Things like that just give bands so much more personality.  Because after all, what is it you're paying for when you go to a concert?  I'm not paying just to hear the music.  I can do that at home, without the crowds and drunkards everywhere.  I'm paying for a show, I'm paying for the band's personality, I'm hopefully paying for something more memorable than "oh, yeah, that band?  They just sang.  That's all."  BTE is so much better than 'that's all.'  They, for me, had every last thing I could possibly want out of a concert.  They even played every song I really wanted them to play, save for one -- but JD mentioned in all the times he's seen them, that one song has never made the set or encore list.  Ah well.  Oh, and one last point on this -- they knew all the words to their songs.  I can't tell you how I detest going to a concert to listen to a band play their OWN SONGS and forget all of the lyrics to them.  Seriously, how is that possible?  BTE is just awesome.  And has good memories :-)

BTE is currently on a tour called "Road to Mardi Gras" where they will be culminating on the "Krewe of Rocckus" on Mardi Gras in New Orleans.  Basically they'll be your party hosts.  Pretty sweet :-)