Brian Karscig, Jason Hill and Mark Malgaard of San Diego pop outfit Convoy formed Louis XIV in 2003, releasing a self-titled album about a self-obsessed kid who is under the impression that he is actually Louis XIV. Recorded in Versailles, it’s a concept album that pairs rock & roll with the band’s grad school-like fixation with French history. Since then, Louis XIV has scaled back the smarty pants history stuff and dropped a pair of EPs (The Blue EP/The Pink EP), now packaged together and called The Blue and Pink EP. The band’s bluesy, ’60s lo-fi rock sound and cock-sure swagger are perfectly captured on these EPs, making it clear why Louis XIV has become the next “it” band for the music-loving, hipster community. Sexually suggestive lyrics like “Sing, sing me a song / and bang me like the girls in Hong Kong” and “Milk shake, milk shake, I love to make you sweat / we don’t have to go to the pool if you want me to make you wet”, coupled with the raw, gritty and growling Keith Richards meets George Harrison meets Jack White guitar licks will turn you on like a raunchy, early ’70s porn vid and have you begging for more. Having recently signed to Atlantic, Louis XIV are already vying for the title of breakout artist of 2005.

Louis XIV
Pineapple Recording Group

1. Illegal Tender EP
2. Live – Blue Man Group Rock Chicagoland With Complex Tour
3. “The Wall” School Kid Singers Suing Pink Floyd Over Royalties
4. Trembling Blue Stars Say No To Shows
5. Dan The Automator Goes Blue