Heart-Tugging Songs by Better Than Ezra

Better Than Ezra front man Kevin Griffin writes songs that speak intimately about matters of the heart, and he couches them in expansive arrangements that shamelessly play to the back row. That’s one reason this New Orleans-based trio sold more than a million copies of its 1994 debut recording “Deluxe.”

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Griffin has one of those wistful, boyish voices that’s hard to resist. Griffin’s love songs lean more toward knowing irony than sentimentality; his voice Friday at the House of Blues supplied the requisite sweetness, while his big, declamatory guitar chords supplied a power boost.

The trio gave the fans what they paid for, mixing up radio hits, such as “King of New Orleans,” with new material and some contrived comedy bits. Griffin’s shortcomings as a melody writer, however, made it hard to distinguish one song from the next after a while. Still, that’s what short sets are for, and, thankfully, the band didn’t overstay its welcome.

Opening act Ednaswap’s main attraction is lead singer Anne Preven, who projects a kind of appealingly gawky sexuality with her self-consciously awkward body language. The band’s sound is equally compelling; with gleaming, glammy melodies and clever wordplay, it deserves a far bigger audience than the group’s latest album, “Wonderland Park,” has garnered thus far.