Louis XIV (band)
Encyclopedia
Louis XIV was an American rock band
from San Diego, California
.
, and drummer Mark Maigaard formed the group in April 2003 while living in Paris, France. Bassist James Armbrust soon joined after.
Louis XIV
, the band's first album, was released in November 2003. It was recorded in a basement in the Spanish district in Paris, France in the spring of 2003. Recorded on a 16-track tape machine, it was released independently through Pineapple Recording Group, a label started by Hill and Karscig. Although the record was only sold at shows, on the band's website, and in some independent record stores, it sold over 22,000 copies in the first six months. First embraced in the UK in 2004, doing the famous Jonathon Ross
show television show one week after Oasis
and the Mary Hobbs show on BBC Radio 1
. They were embraced by Distillers
frontwoman Brody Dalle
and Queens of the Stone Age
frontman Josh Homme at the 2004 NME Awards
.
, run by former Spin magazine writer Sarah Lewitinn
, released a three-song handmade CD featuring the songs "Hey Teacher" and "God Killed the Queen". After the band returned to California
, local deejays, including 91x in San Diego, began playing an unreleased song from the bands website, "Finding out True love is Blind", leading to the release of two simultaneous limited EPs, Pink and Blue. Eight major radio stations on the West Coast then named the single a top five song, leading to the band signing to Atlantic Records
in late 2004.
The band released an EP
entitled Illegal Tender
in January 2005, (self produced) followed in March by their second full-length album, The Best Little Secrets Are Kept
(produced by Jason Hill). The album depicts a half-naked girl with the song titles written on her back. A tamed-down version of the cover was released in Wal-Mart
, with a portion of the girl's body cropped off. Their first single was titled "Finding Out True Love Is Blind". The band released their second single off their debut album, "God Killed the Queen", in September 2005.
In 2005 NME
called the band "music to flunk rehab to", while Rolling Stone
and MTV
named them as one of its top 10 bands to watch. The music video for "Pledge of Allegiance", filmed again by Hill, was filmed containing the album cover girl undressing in front of a camera. The music video for "Paper Doll" was released exclusively on the alt porn website Suicide Girls. The video, featuring various models in different stages of undress, was directed by alt-porn pioneer Eon McKai
, director of "Art School Sluts", the "Kill Girl Kill" series, and "Neu Wave Hookers". In 2007, David Bowie
and Alicia Keys
asked the band to play their BlackBall charity event for Aids in Africa. Bowie cites Louis XIV as one his favorite new bands in numerous Conde Naste publications.
Band members Jason Hill and Brian Karscig sang on three songs on The Killers 2007 album Sam's Town
, which has gone on to sell almost 5 million records.
In 2007 Hill is credited as sometime touring guitarist for country musicians and drum engineer for Dixie Chicks
. He also remix
ed a song by the Los Angeles
-based punk band The Bronx
(Island
/Def Jam) and produced an EP by the New York
-based The Virgins
(Atlantic) featured on HBO's Entourage
.
In September 2007, Louis XIV was joined by violinist Ray Suen
as a touring member.
Also in 2007, Louis XIV toured Australia
, Mexico
and the USA with The Killers and played several AIDS IN AFRICA charity events with David Bowie and Alicia Keyes
In February–April 2009, Louis XIV went on a world tour with the Killers playing upwards of 15,000-25,000 people a night. After a show in Manchester at the o2 arena, the manchester tribune called the band, "Criminally overlooked".
The Distances from Everyone to You
, another EP, was released through the iTunes Store
on September 11, 2007. The EP contains the band's cover version Queen
's Flash Gordon theme and later used for the Sci Fi Channel
's new Flash Gordon
television series.
board of education withdrew an invitation for the band to perform a concert at Hoover High School after hearing complaints about the band's lyrics. The board, citing a recent arrest in California for drug possession
, song contents and "the likely possibility of irresponsible acts," determined that it was "not appropriate to have a band of this kind of nature.".
The incident has given rise to the group being "banned from Alabama". As Hill explained to Reverb Magazine (Newcastle, Australia) on November 17, 2007, while on tour in Melbourne, Victoria:
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
from San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Beginnings: (2003-2004)
Lead singer/guitarist Jason Hill, guitarist Brian KarscigBrian Karscig
Brian Joseph Karscig is a musician, songwriter, and record producer, but is mostly recognized as the co-singer/guitarist/songwriter for the American Rock and Roll Band LOUIS XIV. He also is the singer/songwriter of American Rock Band The Nervous Wreckords...
, and drummer Mark Maigaard formed the group in April 2003 while living in Paris, France. Bassist James Armbrust soon joined after.
Louis XIV
Louis XIV (album)
Louis XIV is the first album made by the band Louis XIV. Released in November 2003, it was recorded and released independently through the band's record label, Pineapple Recording Group...
, the band's first album, was released in November 2003. It was recorded in a basement in the Spanish district in Paris, France in the spring of 2003. Recorded on a 16-track tape machine, it was released independently through Pineapple Recording Group, a label started by Hill and Karscig. Although the record was only sold at shows, on the band's website, and in some independent record stores, it sold over 22,000 copies in the first six months. First embraced in the UK in 2004, doing the famous Jonathon Ross
Jonathon Ross
Jonathon Ross is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. He played with the Adelaide Crows.A well-built, strong key position player, Jonathon Ross had the potential to go far...
show television show one week after Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
and the Mary Hobbs show on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
. They were embraced by Distillers
Distillers
Distillers may refer to:*The Distillers, an American punk rock band*Distillers Company, former Scotch whisky and pharmaceutical company...
frontwoman Brody Dalle
Brody Dalle
Brody Dalle is an Australian-born American singer, songwriter and guitarist. She rose to fame as lead singer/guitarist for the punk rock band The Distillers and currently fronts Spinnerette....
and Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
frontman Josh Homme at the 2004 NME Awards
NME Awards
The NME Awards is an annual music awards show in the United Kingdom, founded by the music magazine, NME .The first awards show was held in 1953 as the NME Poll Winners Concerts, shortly after the founding of the magazine....
.
Illegal Tender EP and The Best Little Secrets Are Kept: (2005-2007)
The Scotland News of the World billed Louis XIV as the best band of the T in the Park festival. The music video for the instrumental song "The Hunt" was filmed by Hill. The New York-based group Stolen TransmissionStolen Transmission
Stolen Transmission was an American independent record label founded in 2005 by Sarah Lewitinn and Rob Stevenson. They have released albums from well-known artists such as Innerpartysystem, Monty Are I, and Schoolyard Heroes.-History:...
, run by former Spin magazine writer Sarah Lewitinn
Sarah Lewitinn
Sarah Lewitinn , also known by her nickname Ultragrrrl, is an American record producer, music critic, DJ, and blogger. She began her career as an assistant editor at Spin Magazine, and soon helped champion rock bands like My Chemical Romance and The Killers, which led to her starting her own record...
, released a three-song handmade CD featuring the songs "Hey Teacher" and "God Killed the Queen". After the band returned to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, local deejays, including 91x in San Diego, began playing an unreleased song from the bands website, "Finding out True love is Blind", leading to the release of two simultaneous limited EPs, Pink and Blue. Eight major radio stations on the West Coast then named the single a top five song, leading to the band signing to Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in late 2004.
The band released an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
entitled Illegal Tender
Illegal Tender
Illegal Tender is the first EP by the alternative rock group Louis XIV. It was released on January 21, 2005, and features the band's first single, "Finding Out True Love Is Blind," which was also included on the band's first album, The Best Little Secrets Are Kept, released later in 2005.-Track...
in January 2005, (self produced) followed in March by their second full-length album, The Best Little Secrets Are Kept
The Best Little Secrets Are Kept
The Best Little Secrets Are Kept is the second album by Louis XIV. It was released on March 21, 2005 internationally and a day later in the United States...
(produced by Jason Hill). The album depicts a half-naked girl with the song titles written on her back. A tamed-down version of the cover was released in Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
, with a portion of the girl's body cropped off. Their first single was titled "Finding Out True Love Is Blind". The band released their second single off their debut album, "God Killed the Queen", in September 2005.
In 2005 NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
called the band "music to flunk rehab to", while Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
and MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
named them as one of its top 10 bands to watch. The music video for "Pledge of Allegiance", filmed again by Hill, was filmed containing the album cover girl undressing in front of a camera. The music video for "Paper Doll" was released exclusively on the alt porn website Suicide Girls. The video, featuring various models in different stages of undress, was directed by alt-porn pioneer Eon McKai
Eon McKai
Eon McKai is an American director of alt porn-themed adult films. The name "Eon McKai" is a pseudonym and a tribute to punk singer Ian MacKaye....
, director of "Art School Sluts", the "Kill Girl Kill" series, and "Neu Wave Hookers". In 2007, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
asked the band to play their BlackBall charity event for Aids in Africa. Bowie cites Louis XIV as one his favorite new bands in numerous Conde Naste publications.
Band members Jason Hill and Brian Karscig sang on three songs on The Killers 2007 album Sam's Town
Sam's Town
-Band:*Brandon Flowers – lead vocals, keyboards, bass *Dave Keuning – guitar, background vocals*Mark Stoermer – bass, background vocals, guitar *Ronnie Vannucci – drums, percussion-Additional musicians:...
, which has gone on to sell almost 5 million records.
In 2007 Hill is credited as sometime touring guitarist for country musicians and drum engineer for Dixie Chicks
Dixie Chicks
The Dixie Chicks are an American country band which has also successfully crossed over into other genres. The band is composed of founding members Martie Erwin Maguire and Emily Erwin Robison, and lead singer Natalie Maines...
. He also remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed a song by the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based punk band The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
(Island
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
/Def Jam) and produced an EP by the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based The Virgins
The Virgins
The Virgins are an American band formed in 2006 in New York, consisting of Donald Cumming , Wade Oates , and Nick Ackerman .Their first outing on the road was a 7-week American tour in direct support for the Australian band Jet...
(Atlantic) featured on HBO's Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
.
In September 2007, Louis XIV was joined by violinist Ray Suen
Ray Suen
Ray Suen is an American multi-instrumentalist. He is currently the violinist for Los Angeles punk rockers, Mariachi El Bronx. In 2010, Suen began working with Morgan Kibby of M83 on a new project called White Sea.-History:...
as a touring member.
Also in 2007, Louis XIV toured Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and the USA with The Killers and played several AIDS IN AFRICA charity events with David Bowie and Alicia Keyes
In February–April 2009, Louis XIV went on a world tour with the Killers playing upwards of 15,000-25,000 people a night. After a show in Manchester at the o2 arena, the manchester tribune called the band, "Criminally overlooked".
The Distances from Everyone to You
The Distances from Everyone to You
The Distances from Everyone to You is Louis XIV's 2nd EP. It was released on September 11, 2007.-Track listing:#"There's a Traitor in This Room" – 3:37#"Your Shoes Are the Star of the Show" – 3:06#"The Distances from Everyone to You" – 5:08...
, another EP, was released through the iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
on September 11, 2007. The EP contains the band's cover version Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
's Flash Gordon theme and later used for the Sci Fi Channel
Sci Fi Channel (United States)
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
's new Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon (2007 TV series)
Flash Gordon is an American science fiction television series that debuted on Sci Fi in the United States on August 10, 2007 and continued airing new episodes through February 8, 2008. It has also appeared on the United Kingdom Sci Fi Channel and SPACE in Canada...
television series.
Controversy
Louis XIV was known for their sexually provocative lyrics in a few of their songs. In 2005 the Hoover, AlabamaHoover, Alabama
Hoover is a city in Jefferson and Shelby Counties in north central Alabama, in the United States. The largest suburb of Birmingham, the population of the city was 62,742 as of the 2000 census and 81,619 in the 2010 census. Hoover is part of the Birmingham-Hoover, AL MSA and is also included in the...
board of education withdrew an invitation for the band to perform a concert at Hoover High School after hearing complaints about the band's lyrics. The board, citing a recent arrest in California for drug possession
Drug possession
Drug possession is the crime of having one or more illegal drugs in one's possession, either for personal use, distribution, sale or otherwise. Illegal drugs fall into different categories and sentences vary depending on the amount, type of drug, circumstances, and jurisdiction.A person has...
, song contents and "the likely possibility of irresponsible acts," determined that it was "not appropriate to have a band of this kind of nature.".
The incident has given rise to the group being "banned from Alabama". As Hill explained to Reverb Magazine (Newcastle, Australia) on November 17, 2007, while on tour in Melbourne, Victoria:
When you hang out with us, you realize that we are constantly laughing and messing around. But Hoover, Alabama banned us — we weren't allowed to perform in the city at the time. I have no idea why. We first found out about it on CNN, the night before after the VMAs in Miami, we still got paid to play the show so we just hung out in miami another day, we needed the break anyway. It was really very idiotic, I thought. I've been called a sexistSexismSexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
and a male chauvinist. There was a really great article in San Francisco's paper, '], which was called "10 Reasons Why You Should Not Like Louis XIV"; it was one of my favorite articles I’ve ever read about us. As it was all about the music being some of the best in the last 20 years, but that we were irresponsible morally, so everyone should avoid it. Its so far from the truth but I've even been called a racistRacismRacism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
when I used the terms "Chocolate Girl" and "Vanilla Girl". I was being playful. But in some ways, the most negative press can also be the biggest compliment.
Members
- Jason Hill – vocals, bass, guitar,piano engineer,producer
- Brian KarscigBrian KarscigBrian Joseph Karscig is a musician, songwriter, and record producer, but is mostly recognized as the co-singer/guitarist/songwriter for the American Rock and Roll Band LOUIS XIV. He also is the singer/songwriter of American Rock Band The Nervous Wreckords...
– vocals, guitar, bass, piano - Mark Maigaard – drums
- James Armbrust – bass
Albums
- Louis XIVLouis XIV (album)Louis XIV is the first album made by the band Louis XIV. Released in November 2003, it was recorded and released independently through the band's record label, Pineapple Recording Group...
(November 2003), Pineapple Recording Group - The Best Little Secrets Are KeptThe Best Little Secrets Are KeptThe Best Little Secrets Are Kept is the second album by Louis XIV. It was released on March 21, 2005 internationally and a day later in the United States...
(March 22, 2005), AtlanticAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
– #24 U.S. Billboard 200Billboard 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... - Slick Dogs and PoniesSlick Dogs and PoniesSlick Dogs and Ponies is American Garage Rock band Louis XIV's 3rd studio album. Its release date was January 29, 2008.The album was leaked on torrent networks on January 18, 2008 after the band temporarily added all of the songs to their MySpace page....
(January 29, 2008), Atlantic
EPs
- PINK EP (2004), Pineapple Recording Group
- BLUE EP (2004), Pineapple Recording Group
- Illegal TenderIllegal TenderIllegal Tender is the first EP by the alternative rock group Louis XIV. It was released on January 21, 2005, and features the band's first single, "Finding Out True Love Is Blind," which was also included on the band's first album, The Best Little Secrets Are Kept, released later in 2005.-Track...
(January 25, 2005), Pineapple Recording Group/ Vice Records - The Distances from Everyone to YouThe Distances from Everyone to YouThe Distances from Everyone to You is Louis XIV's 2nd EP. It was released on September 11, 2007.-Track listing:#"There's a Traitor in This Room" – 3:37#"Your Shoes Are the Star of the Show" – 3:06#"The Distances from Everyone to You" – 5:08...
(September 11, 2007), Atlantic
Singles
| Year | Song | U.S. Mod. Rock Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs... |
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Finding Out True Love Is Blind" | 9 | 26 | The Best Little Secrets Are Kept The Best Little Secrets Are Kept The Best Little Secrets Are Kept is the second album by Louis XIV. It was released on March 21, 2005 internationally and a day later in the United States... |
| "God Killed the Queen" | - | 68 | ||
| 2008 | "Air Traffic Control" | - | - | Slick Dogs and Ponies Slick Dogs and Ponies Slick Dogs and Ponies is American Garage Rock band Louis XIV's 3rd studio album. Its release date was January 29, 2008.The album was leaked on torrent networks on January 18, 2008 after the band temporarily added all of the songs to their MySpace page.... |