PHOTO CREDIT: ROBBY KLEIN
Alt-Rock Icons Kick off “LIVE A LITTLE TOUR” Tonight (5/3)
Today, Alt-Rock icons Better Than Ezra make a magnificent return with Super Magick — their first new album in ten years, out now via Round Hill Records. Their tenth studio LP, Super Magick arrives as the New Orleans-bred band kicks off their highly anticipated LIVE A LITTLE TOUR tonight (5/3) at House of Blues in their hometown, before heading to Nashville for a stop at 3rd and Lindsley this Sunday (5/5). Go here to stream/download Super Magick now and see below for further info on the LIVE A LITTLE TOUR.
PHOTO CREDIT: BRET PELIZZARI
With its title nodding to the near-mystical power of music, Super Magick offers up a dozen tracks built on the deeply felt songwriting and wildly catchy sound previously shown on era-defining hits like “Good,” ‘Desperately Wanting,” and “King of New Orleans.” But while the album embodies all the elements that have made BTE so beloved over the years — the sticky melodies and sing-along choruses, sharp-witted lyrics and bittersweet storytelling — Super Magick reveals a band endlessly devoted to the pure alchemy of creative discovery.
“This album took a while, but we wanted to put the right energy into it,” says BTE singer/guitarist Kevin Griffin. “There’s this idea that most people who go to see veteran bands are there for the old songs, but for us putting out a new record is about adding to our canon of work and creating music that we’re excited to play.” “Because we’ve been together for so long, we know what needs to be done from a songwriting and production standpoint,” adds bassist Tom Drummond. “But at the end of the day, what matters most is those moments when the melody and music combine in a way that gives you goosebumps. It’s something you can’t plan for or even explain, but it’s the main thing we reach for in everything we do.”
Mainly produced by Griffin and Emery Dobyns (a producer/songwriter/engineer known for his work with Patti Smith, Lou Reed, and Antony and the Johnsons), Super Magick finds BTE exploring such eclectic genres as Country, Britpop, Dub, and New Wave while dreaming up a guitar-driven sound all their own. On their recent single and tour namesake “Live A Little,” the band delivers an ecstatic shot of classic Alt-Rock, bringing exhilarating guitar work and an unstoppable bassline to a fast-paced reflection on breaking free from fear and fully living in the moment.
“It’s one of those rare songs where the music and the melody definitely match the message, which is essentially ‘carpe diem,'” Griffin says of “Live A Little,” already a fan favorite at BTE’s crowd-thrilling live show. “The longer you live, the more you realize how fragile life is — nothing is a given, and every day is a gift.”
In addition to “Live A Little,” Super Magick includes the previously released singles “Mystified” (an electrifying piece of true-to-life storytelling that premiered last summer alongside its vintage-styled video) and “Contact High” (a charmingly tongue-in-cheek track recalling some of the Rolling Stones’ most fun-loving Country-flavored tunes). See below for the full track listing to Super Magick.
Track Listing to Super Magick by Better Than Ezra:
- Mystified
- Live A Little
- Show Em Up
- Super Magick
- This Time
- Contact High
- Grateful
- Sensation
- Bad Communication
- Fuzzy
- Omens
- Killing It
Beginning with two nights at the House of Blues in New Orleans, the LIVE A LITTLE TOUR will continue through May 25 in Bossier City, Louisiana. Apart from BTE’s Sunday night show at 3rd and Lindsley, the 15-date headlining run also includes stops in major cities like Detroit, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, and more.
ANNOUNCED SHOWS FOR BETTER THAN EZRA’S LIVE A LITTLE TOUR
MAY
03 | New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
04 | New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
05 | Nashville, TN – 3rd and Lindsley
07 | Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom
09 | St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
10 | Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
11 | Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
13 | Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue
14 | Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall
16 | Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
17 | Pittsburgh, PA – Rivers Casino
18 | Wilmington, DE – The Queen
23 | Meridian, MS – MSU Riley Center
24 | Mobile, AL – Soul Kitchen Music Hall
25 | Bossier City, LA – Margaritaville Resort
For full list of tour dates and to purchase tickets, visit here.
Since forming in 1988 at Louisiana State University, Better Than Ezra have been on a rocket ride through the Rock world, definitively making their presence felt at every turn. The band exists in rare air among their peers, having occupied spots on Billboard’s “100 Greatest Alternative Songs of All Time” and “100 Greatest Alternative Artists of All Time.” Better Than Ezra was a prominent fixture on radio and MTV in the Nineties and early 2000’s, thanks in large part to the monumental success of their cherished 1993 independent album DELUXE, which included standout fan-favorite “Good” —a MULTI-PLATINUM selling #1 hit on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks Chart.
For more information about Better Than Ezra, go to:
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About Better Than Ezra:
Songs, albums, live performances — some are simply timeless. From their early roots, circa 1988, playing house parties at Louisiana State University, Better Than Ezra have made their mark on the music world in a major way. Yes, the New Orleans quartet, founded by Kevin Griffin [lead vocals, guitar, piano] and Tom Drummond [bass, backing vocals], who unleash hummable melodies, unshakable guitar riffs, and confessional lyrics, have stood the test of time — from 1995’s #1 hit “Good” all the way to Taylor Swift’s famous 2010 cover of the Better Than Ezra classic “Breathless.” And they’re still going strong: after headlining monumental live shows all throughout 2023, the band’s highly anticipated tenth studio album Super Magick (Round Hill Records) is out now, featuring singles “Mystified,” “Contact High,” and “Live A Little.” Named one of the “100 Greatest Alternative Artists of All Time” by Billboard, with a legacy that includes inspiring a classic Saturday Night Live skit, Better Than Ezra are embarking on their headline LIVE A LITTLE TOUR with additional stops at high-profile festivals such as Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival in September.
