SXSW 2005 Showcasing Artists
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Louis XIV
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I. Initially comprised of Jason Hill (producer/vocalist/guitarist/pianist), Brian Karscig (guitarist/vocalist/pianist), and Mark Maigaard (drummer), San Diego, CA- based rock band Louis XIV began in April 2003. II. In the interest of changing things up, and a mantra of “Let’s not overthink it, let’s just go record it,” Hill and the band opted to head to Paris. The initial recording sessions took place in a friend’s flat, which housed a late-60’s model, 16-track tape recorder – identical to the one the band had back in San Diego. The three musicians packed up some equipment – a vintage Studer console, a few favorite microphones – and headed to France. III. The sessions were loose and spontaneous, with the band recording as few takes as possible. Two weeks later, the band returned to San Diego. They put a few finishing touches on the unrefined tracks, and their debut album, LOUIS XIV, was complete. IV. After the band posted a few MP3s from LOUIS XIV on their newly opened website (www.louisxiv.net), local radio began playing one of the tracks, “God Killed The Queen.” Much to the band’s surprise, their personal project had struck a populist chord. V. A cheap CD burner was purchased and the band started their own label – the Pineapple Recording Group – selling over 500 copies of LOUIS XIV in the first month. The word soon spread across the Atlantic, and tracks from the album were all over BBC Radio 1, getting spins from such influential DJs as Mary Anne Hobbs and Zane Lowe. Before the band knew it, they were heading to London for the annual NME Awards. VI. Upon their return to the U.S., Louis XIV – now including bassist Jimmy Armbrust – built on their buzz with a roof-raising gig at the annual South By Southwest music conference. A month later, the band flew back to Britain to perform live on Mary Anne Hobbs’s TV program, “Jamz.” The trip also saw the band playing their first European gig to a packed house at London’s infamous drag bar-slash-rock venue, Madam Jo Jo’s. VII. While Louis XIV was away in the UK, their fanbase at home continued to grow. San Diego radio station 91X had gotten their hands on a rough mix of one of Louis XIV’s new recordings, “Finding Out True Love Is Blind.” Radio airplay resulted in soaring record sales – despite the fact that the song wasn’t even included on the album. The band decided to release a pair of EPs – dubbed Pink EP and Blue EP – featuring a few faves from LOUIS XIV, along with a handful of their latest recordings. VIII. Summer 2004 saw Louis XIV, still unsigned, join The Killers on the road. As they traveled America, sales of the album and EPs exploded, with more than 10,000 CDs going out around the world. IX. In August 2004, Louis XIV signed with Atlantic Records. X. At the 2004 San Diego Music Awards in September, Louis XIV walked away with the Album of the Year and Best Rock Album trophies for LOUIS XIV. XI. January 2005 sees the release of the band’s Illegal Tender EP on their Pineapple Recording Group label (via ADA distribution). The 5-song set includes the single, “Finding Out True Love Is Blind.” XII. The band’s major label debut will be produced by Jason Hill and is slated for a Spring 2005 release. The as-yet-untitled set will pair songs from their self-released album and EPs along with new material, recorded in November/December 2004 at the band’s San Diego studio, built specifically for the recordings in a refurbished urban church. 1/05 |
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