I hadn’t been to a show in a while. Not a straight rock 'n' roll show, that is. My last visit to the infamously retroactive Roxy Theater on Sunset was, surprisingly, not what I would expect from the worn-out Strip. MSTRKRFT, Aoki’s Dim Mak crew, Cobrasnake, pot-smokin’ girls in the bathroom and sweat dripping off the ceiling, all made for a vicariously unpretentious pretentious time. People are wearing neon again. It is at once comforting and unsatiating, I am refreshed, but hungry for something traditional. Thus, with a shot of tequila followed by a Corona, my night commenced at 10 p.m. with what I thought was to be Louis XIV, fabulous non-U.K.-U.K. “roque-en-roule!” outfit. I want some rock 'n' roll.
A foursome came onstage as the Roxy curtains were drawn, revealing a larger-than-life black and white banner screaming LOUIS XIV, the band pumping out song after song of earnest popular indie material. My notes from the set look like this:
Louis XIV @ The Roxy
> Comeback show, mofos!
1. new song: what the hell happened to their faux U.K. accents? Eh, I guess they’re committing to a realist route, being from sunny San Diego and all…
2. new song: indie pop wtf?
3. new song: enthused crowd digging this new direction.
4. new song: droning guitars…where are the jagged guitar lines? “We just finished recording our records. advance, $5 at the merch booth.” Five dollars?!?
5. new song: why is the frontman looking so damn serious? Where is his rooster haircut?
6. new song: I’m really confused…I have reached the pinnacle of musicojournalistic frustration.
7. last song: post punk, WTF?! WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MUSIC? WHY IS LOUIS TRYING TO BE BLOC PARTY AND THE BRAVERY?!!!!
And that’s how, kids, marketing disasters go. The band, in fact, was NOT Louis XIV, it was The Shys, who were pretty damn good now that I think about it. A GIANT banner, set-time confusions, and an uncanny wardrobe resemblance apparently had everybody confused. Good news is, Louis XIV isn’t a mega-tool, and their set was tailored to leave their fans wanting more. The Roxy crowd full of older peroxide-blonde women and stylistically confused teens clapped and bounced to good ol’ Louis hits from their album The Best Little Secrets are Kept, the band’s first full-length. Punky pranksters as they are, the band gave the excited crowd only a two-song teaser from their upcoming album, one being a crashing solo-ridden rock song about taxmen and the such (they still wear England on their sleeves—thank goodness), and a heartfelt ballad. Thanks for loving em’ back, Louis.
More on Louis XIV here: www.louisxiv.net
