Album Notes

Mad Ludwig is the brainchild of Peter Kurie, who has recorded under the Ludwig name for the last three years. Originally made up of a rotating motley crew of musicians from in and around the cornfields and strip malls of Central Pennsylvania, Kurie and his band mates currently make their home in Philadelphia, PA.

The Mad Ludwig sound can be described as melodic, piano-driven, art-indie rock with an emphasis on lyrics that reflect the cynicism and hope of growing up in modern day America. Influences range from Tom Waits to Belle and Sebastian, from the French cabaret composer Jacques Brel to the Harvard cowboy Graham Parsons. Many of the predominant styles of American music--from jazz to country, from rock to post-rock--are represented in Ludwig’s songs.

Mad Ludwig’s current stage line-up consists of Kurie on keyboards and vocals, Kurtis Shakemore on bass, Bradlee Cumberbatch on drums, Tom Copson on guitar. Guest musicians appear frequently on stage and on recordings, including guitarists, female vocalists, laptop artists and noise-makers of all sorts.