October 27, 2015

Better Than Ezra’s Tailgate Party is a fan fest for Saints, music, dance troupes

By Sue Strachan, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune 

New Orleans, LA – It was their third show in three days — the previous two were for Sean Payton’s Play It Forward Foundation Black & Gold Gala and Gleason Gras —  but for members of Better Than Ezra, their foundation’s third annual VIP Tailgate Party sponsored by Raising Cane’s on Sunday (Oct. 4) was definitely more than just another show for them and their fans. This festival-like fun raises funds for the foundation’s After School Program at Bethune Elementary School, and the foundation is about to expand into Baton Rouge schools.

As experienced in the ways of showmanship, the band and their foundation staff organized a memorable party underneath a tent adjacent to Walk-On’s, just steps away from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome where the New Orleans Saints were playing the Dallas Cowboys: Appearances by Saints super fans Malifisaint, Da Pope, Quack The Who Dat Clown, and the 610 Stompers, who performed as did the Rolling Elvi’s Jailhouse Rockers, and Rathbone with Amanda Ducorbier. The highlight, of course, was the band — Tom Drummond, Kevin Griffin, Travis McNabb (guest appearance), and touring member James Arthur Payne with locals Big Sam and John “Papa” Gros – who thrilled the audience (many of whom sang along) starting with “King of New Orleans.”

The final performance, though, came from the Treme Brass Band, which led a second line from the party to the Superdome. Could this possibly have been the lucky charm for the Saints win?

See the article here:https://www.nola.com/society/index.ssf/2015/10/better_than_ezras_tailgate_par.html