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.
Another February
Local H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're digging out your car again
The chair left in the yard
Has another life again
Another February comes and goes
Another February, snows and snows
Your February comes again
The circle comes around
The bartenders are down
February comes again
Another February, spare a dime
Another February slightly worse than January
Oh God, I lost the thread
That goddamn battery's dead
I can't kick the cough
The heat's been turned off
The family unit tightens
You bounce another check
The dog's a nervous wreck
And I smell like a brewery
A measure of my misery
Another February, scratch
Scratch for food, for food
Another February slightly worse than January
Luck, a little bit of love and (x24)
Another February
Belts are tightened, daddy's frightened
Another February so much worse than January
Luck, a little bit of love and (x7)
Luck, a little bit of love and luck
A little bit of love and luck (x3)
The song "Another February" by Local H is a poignant and reflective piece that portrays the struggles of life, particularly in the dead of winter. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the mundane and difficult tasks we must face daily, such as digging out our cars and the constant circle of paying bills and making ends meet. The repetition of "Another February" emphasizes the monotony and never-ending cycle of hardships.
The verse, "The family unit tightens, you bounce another check, the dog's a nervous wreck, and I smell like a brewery" highlights the toll that life's struggles have on not just the individual, but on their entire support system. The mention of the dog's nervousness and the tightening of the family unit suggests that these struggles are felt by all those around us. The overall tone of the song is one of melancholy and resignation, with the repeated line "slightly worse than January" suggesting a never-ending pit of despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on (x2)
Encouragement to start moving
You're digging out your car again
Clearing snow from the car
The chair left in the yard / Has another life again
The snow-covered chair looks like a new object
Another February comes and goes
Another year passes by
Another February, snows and snows
Heavy snowfall in February
Go on (x2)
Continuation of the encouragement to keep going
Your February comes again
February arrives again
The circle comes around
The cycle of life repeats
The bartenders are down
Depression sets in
February comes again
The arrival of February
Another February, spare a dime
The need for money in February
Another February slightly worse than January
February is worse than January, which is already a difficult month
Oh God, I lost the thread
Feeling lost and confused
That goddamn battery's dead
Anger and frustration over a dead battery
I can't kick the cough
Unable to get rid of a cough
The heat's been turned off
Lack of warmth in the house
The family unit tightens
Family tries to stick together during tough times
You bounce another check
Having insufficient funds in the bank
The dog's a nervous wreck
The dog is anxious due to the family's situation
And I smell like a brewery
Using alcohol to cope with problems
A measure of my misery
Drinking to numb the pain
Another February, scratch
Having to fight for food in February
Scratch for food, for food
Desperate for food
Another February slightly worse than January
February is harder than January
Luck, a little bit of love and (x24)
Hope for some luck and love to get through the hard times
Another February
The struggle of February
Belts are tightened, daddy's frightened
The family's situation is difficult and scary
Another February so much worse than January
February is worse than January
Luck, a little bit of love and (x7)
Hope for luck and love to make things better
Luck, a little bit of love and luck
The need for a bit of luck and love
A little bit of love and luck (x3)
Hope for a little bit of love and luck
Contributed by Nathan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stephen Campbell
Come on.
You're digging out your car again.
The chair left in the yard has another life again.
Another February comes and goes.
Another February snows and snows.
Go on.
Your February comes again.
The circle comes around.
The bartenders are down.
February comes again.
Another February.
Spare a dime.
Another February slightly worse than January.
Oh, God I lost the thread.
That goddamn battery's dead.
I can't kick the cough.
The heat's been turned off.
The family unit tightens.
You bounce another check.
The dog's a nervous wreck.
And I smell like a brewery.
A measure of my misery.
Another February.
Scratch for food.
Another February slightly worse than January.
Luck.
A little bit of love and...
Another February.
Belts are tightened.
Daddy's frightened.
Another February so much worse than January.
A little bit of love and luck.
Justin Comer
such an underrated band, feel like every song's lyrics had time put into it
Mia Mera Music
@Mats van der Aa Amazing band. I just saw them last month with Soul Asylum, blew me away. Everyone in the crowd who were not familiar with them where lined up at the merch stand after the show. And at the table was Scott himself, working harder than ever. I have so much respeck for them.
Mats van der Aa
@wildagain They've been a 2-piece for a long time
wildagain
band? .. looks like they’ve dropped down to a one piece watched this !?!
Mats van der Aa
While I agree that the lyrics are depthful and catchy, Local H is far from the most lyrical band. It's their instrumentation and songwriting which really makes them such a strong band.
Sam Gardner
That's simply because Scott is an absolute fucking genius!
jose jorge granados
one of the most underrated grunge bands
juveaccount
I think one of the most underrated bands period
Don nix
Mitch Quintana Grunge, punk , pop, rock and roll or whatever you want to call it local h has always rocked
Donte Leone
Bottom line is its music, actual art