by LORRAINE CARPENTER

"We get lumped in with a lot of stuff out there in the music scene, but we think we're very unique," says Louis XIV's Jason Hill. "We just set out to be our own favourite band."

The San Diego quartet named after a 17th century king is made up of very 20th century boys, namely Hill and Brian Karscig (vocals, guitar, piano), Jimmy Armbrust (bass) and Mark Maigaard (drums). Following the regional success of the band's LP and three EPs issued by their Pineapple Recording Group imprint, Louis XIV signed to Atlantic and released The Best Little Secrets Are Kept, a compilation of exclusive and previously released tracks. Indebted to the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Iggy Pop and T-Rex, the band reduces electric boogie and original punk-funk to their sinewy essences, with enough sleaze, sass and drunken merriment to power a pimpmobile. And to think it all sprung from a stroke...

"My father's stroke a couple of years ago taught me a big lesson, that there's not always a tomorrow," Hill explains. "So we went to France and decided to be artists again, to be Louis XIV."

Taking their moniker from the first song they wrote, also the title track of their concept album about France's decadent monarch, the members of Louis XIV put their old dead-end bands to bed to pursue ars gratia artis.

"It's a great way to get focused and find clarity," says Hill. "Before that, I was in a bit of a drug haze, so I cleaned myself up, made a record and felt terrific because I really enjoyed the music again. Now I'm just addicted to recording." With international radio play and press comes touring and time away from the studio (a refurbished Baptist church), but Hill relishes the challenge of recording on the road.

"I like the idea of setting up a drum kit in hotel bathrooms across the world. Of course, we'll also record in studio because we're a pretty loud guitar band. I just need to let out this creative thing that drives me."

With Hot Hot Heat and The Futureheads
at Metropolis on Friday, April 22, 8 p.m., $20

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