Ammendola to join. The band's name references the titular protagonist of the 1953 novel The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow. According to AllMusic's Gregory McIntosh, who cites the novel's "poetic, complex prose" as complementary to Richards' lyrics. Augie March relocated to Melbourne before their first performance in Brunswick at a friend's visual art exhibition. In 1997 they were signed to Ra Records (rooArt subsidiary distributed by BMG). Augie March's first extended play (EP), Thanks for the Memes, was produced by Victor Van Vugt (Beth Orton, Nick Cave). The five-track EP was released in January 1998. Despite positive reviews it received little airplay. It was re-released in mid-2003 with an additional track, "300 Nights". Greg Lawrence of Worldwide Home of Australasian Music and More Online (WHAMMO) observed that the six-track version displayed, "dynamic arrangements, an endless lyrical depth and the ability to rock with intensity." In 2007 Williams described his surprise that they had found a producer, due to their obscure music, which at the time they considered, "hip and cool, and intellectual." Augie March followed with their second EP, Waltz, in August 1999, which was produced by Richard Pleasance (Deborah Conway, Barker). The EP included "Asleep in Perfection", which became the most requested song on Australian Broadcasting Corporation's rage program. The song was nominated for Breakthrough Artist – Single, and Pleasance for Producer of the Year, at the ARIA Music Awards of 2000. The band toured Australia, including to Perth, and their popularity increased through word of mouth. BMG offered Augie March a recording contract, which they accepted. Early albums (2000–2003) Augie March went into the studio in March 2000 to begin work on their first full-length album, Sunset Studies. Richards' friend, Rob Dawson, officially joined the band on keyboards and piano, after being a studio musician on Thanks for the Memes and Waltz. Richards returned to Shepparton to write the material for the album. The band worked in nine studios with six different engineers over the course of six months. In July 2000 they released its first single, "Hole in Your Roof". In October 2000 Sunset Studies appeared. The group attempted to organise launches in Sydney and Melbourne, however, they were thwarted, Donovan explained "it seemed like every band in the country was doing a tour then and we couldn't get any venues." They undertook a tour along Australia's east coast. The album peaked at number 35