Each year, critics at the Chicago Tribune name a "Chicagoan of the Year." The 2008 winner for music was Local H.
Local H started as hard-rock duo formed by Scott Lucas (vocals/guitar/bass) and Joe Daniels (drums). The two began in 1987 at their mainline high school in Zion. After failed attempts at recruiting a bassist, Lucas added bass pickups to his electric guitar.
Local H's 1995 debut Ham Fisted was released to lukewarm reception, but their 1996 follow-up As Good as Dead was certified gold and contained the hits "Bound for the Floor" and "Eddie Vedder." It was better received by critics, as was 1998's Pack Up the Cats, which spawned the single "All the Kids Are Right." Unfortunately, their label Polygram merged with Universal, and the album was all but forgotten in transition.
Daniels left in 1999. Lucas recruited recent Triplefastaction drummer Brian St. Clair later that year. St. Clair was a drum tech for Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick. Lucas and St. Clair released their first album together, Here Comes the Zoo, in 2002 on Palm Pictures. The No Fun EP came next in 2003, and Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles? followed in 2004 to favorable reviews, with the track "Everyone Alive" being featured in the 2004 video game Burnout 3. The break-up concept album 12 Angry Months followed in 2008, and to coincide with the 2012 presidential election the group issued Hallelujah! I'm a Bum that year, both albums receiving critical praise.
Brian St. Clair would amicably leave the band, playing his last show in November 2013, before Ryan Harding joined to fill in his spot. In 2015, the duo would issue their ninth studio album Hey, Killer through G&P Records, an independent label they operate that has also been utilized for smaller releases for the band in the past. In 2020, the duo iussued Lifers through AntiFragile Music.
Local H garnered good publicity for a cover of the Britney Spears hit "Toxic". The cover was available on the band's web site and is the last track on the otherwise live album Alive '05, issued in 2005. "Toxic" has been performed at recent concerts.
Local H is known for creativity in concerts. In 2003, the band auctioned off a concert on eBay, and in 2004, performed at Fritz's Corner in Zion. In 2005, the duo performed a series of set-list request shows, where the audience got to vote on what they wanted the band to play. Gabe Rodriguez often accompanied the band on tour and provided back-up vocals or kazoo playing.
Every Halloween, Local H plays in Ardmore, masquerading as a certain group. They have performed as Nirvana, Tom Petty, Oasis, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, and Sex Pistols.
5th Ave. Crazy
Local H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you got me upside down
i've gone 5th Avenue crazy
Flat on my face
I feel your hands on my waist
You've gone 5th Avenue Crazy
This is what i want i guess
Aging fast and out of cash (gas)
because i'm bum-fuckin crazy with 5th Avenue Crazy
(girl's voice)
Oh my God i love you so
and that's all you need to know
give me money give me blow
don't slow down cuz red means "go"
you're gettin pathological the paths you take
but you can't change and you know you should
i've gotta head out
i've gotta try out
but the deal was to go and go until we're dead
WERE DEAD
5TH AVENUE CRAZY
red means go 5th Avenue Crazy
The lyrics to Local H's song "5th Ave. Crazy" depict a state of desperation and chaos. The line "My pockets are out, you got me upside down" suggests that the singer is financially struggling and feeling helpless. They feel like their world has turned upside down, overwhelmed by their circumstances.
The phrase "5th Avenue crazy" is a metaphorical expression for being consumed by madness or extreme behavior. It represents a breaking point where the singer feels like they have lost control and rationality. They are "flat on their face" and can feel someone's hands on their waist, which implies a loss of personal agency and being manipulated.
The line "This is what I want, I guess, aging fast and out of cash (gas)" suggests a resignation to their situation, as if they have accepted their fate despite it being unfavorable. The reference to both sides being cracked suggests a sense of being emotionally and mentally fractured, with no possibility of returning to a stable state. The repetition of "bum-fuckin crazy with 5th Avenue Crazy" emphasizes the singer's intense state of mind.
The voice of the girl in the song adds another layer to the narrative. Her statement "Oh my God, I love you so, and that's all you need to know" could suggest an unhealthy relationship dynamic, where love and affection are used to exploit the singer financially or emotionally. The demand for money and drugs and the encouragement to "go until we're dead" highlights a reckless and destructive lifestyle.
Towards the end, the lyrics mention the singer's realization that they are on a pathological path, but they find it difficult to change. The line "the deal was to go and go until we're dead" implies that their circumstances were predetermined or agreed upon, perhaps reflecting a sense of entrapment or inability to escape the chaos they find themselves in.
In conclusion, "5th Ave. Crazy" is a song that explores feelings of desperation, manipulation, and an overwhelming sense of loss. The singer's chaotic state of mind and their inability to break free from destructive patterns contribute to the overall theme of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
My pockets are out
I am financially struggling
you got me upside down
You have completely turned my life around
i've gone 5th Avenue crazy
I have lost my sanity and become obsessed with materialism and extravagance
Flat on my face
I have experienced a complete failure or setback
I feel your hands on my waist
I sense your control or influence over me
You've gone 5th Avenue Crazy
You have also succumbed to the allure of materialism and extravagance
This is what i want i guess
I suppose this is the lifestyle I desire
Aging fast and out of cash (gas)
Getting older rapidly and running out of money (or energy)
both sides are cracked but there's no going back
Both sides of the situation are flawed, but there is no way to reverse it now
because i'm bum-fuckin crazy with 5th Avenue Crazy
Because I am completely insane due to my obsession with materialism and extravagance
(girl's voice)
Oh my God i love you so
I have intense feelings of love for you
and that's all you need to know
That is the only important information for you to be aware of
give me money give me blow
Provide me with both financial resources and drugs
don't slow down cuz red means "go"
Do not hesitate or be cautious, take risks and keep moving forward
you're gettin pathological the paths you take
Your behavior is becoming obsessive and unhealthy due to the choices you make
but you can't change and you know you should
You are aware that you should make changes, but you are unable to
i've gotta head out
I need to leave or go somewhere
i've gotta try out
I must attempt new experiences or opportunities
but the deal was to go and go until we're dead
Our agreement was to keep going and living life to the fullest until we die
WERE DEAD
We are completely exhausted or drained
5TH AVENUE CRAZY
Lost in the madness of materialistic desires and extravagance
red means go 5th Avenue Crazy
Embrace the impulsiveness and recklessness associated with the extravagant lifestyle of 5th Avenue
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
rjbizzle1984
local h never write bad songs, scott lucas is a genius! local h have been making amazing music for over 20 years now, thank god there are still some REAL bands out there like local h!
Christina
Underrated band in my personal opinion.
dinodramon
Awesome song
Luis Rodriguez
going to go see them this friday! maybe they'll play this album! yay for the 6 angry records tour!!!!
Girl Gxrms
Shanna Kiel from the chicago band Sullen. They rock
chrisblues12
Correction. St. Louis band Sullen.
deannerss
whos the girl singer!?!?!