Group attracts large crowd for 'Extraordinary' evening

Stephanie Young/Senior Photographer ROCK ON: Better Than Ezra lead vocalist Kevin Griffin performs on Slayter Hill on Sunday night. His band played a 90-minute set to a boisterous and appreciative crowd.

By Matt Lindner
Assistant Campus Editor

If you weren't there, you simply missed out.

Purdue Student Government brought Better Than Ezra to play at Slayter Hill on Sunday night. A large crowd showed up and, at times, it was hard to tell who was having more fun - the students who were watching the concert or the band itself.

First though, students had to endure a half-hour set from the opening act, Forever Texas. With the exception of a few loyal fans at the front of the stage, Forever Texas' set was largely met with yawns as they played watered-down grunge pop that was profitable when the majority of the crowd was in middle school.

However, after a half-hour intermission, Better Than Ezra took to the stage, breaking out such hits as "Good" and "Extraordinary", which whipped the crowd into a rabid frenzy. Those close to the stage were crowd surfing and singing along to every song, as vocalist Kevin Griffin's stage presence and demeanor got the crowd involved with the band's every move.

The show really hit its stride, though, toward the end, when in the middle of "This Time of Year", the band selected an audience member named John to come up and play guitar during the song. This excited the crowd, as John did not miss a chord during the song. John's appearance prompted a young lady to throw her bra up onto the stage, at which point lead singer Griffin declared that the show had officially began.

The band finished its set with "Desperately Wanting", which bassist Tom Drummond described as being "the hit that really wasn't a hit." It was a hit with the crowd, however, as everyone from those closest to the stage to those in the back of the Slayter Hill parking lot were jumping and singing along.

Students in attendance thought the event was a great way to kick off Grand Prix week.

Kelly Doyle, a sophomore in the Schools of Engineering, said it was more enjoyable than the typical ways of kicking off Grand Prix.

"It was more fun than going to a fraternity party," she said.

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Campus editor: Kelsey VanArsdall

Assistant Campus editors: Rachael Conley, Matt Lindner

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