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.
Back In The Day
Local H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And yeah you're next
But it seems no one has told you yet
So hardcore
You must be sore
You come on like a major threat
Face I know you like it
Hard 'N' straight
Hey old school yeah you were cool
But that was back in the day
Well take a bow
Harder than thou
You scream "Guilty" like a Judge on high
Well beat them back
The New Jacks
More than music it's a way of life
Face
The Local H's song Back In The Day is an aggressive commentary on the evolution of punk rock and the rise of hardcore music. The lead singer, Scott Lucas, addresses an individual who seems to be stuck in the past and still living in the era of punk rock, which has since died. He sarcastically tells the person that they are "hardcore" and must be "sore" from living such an intense lifestyle, adding that punk is dead and that they will soon face the same fate.
The lyrics also take a direct shot at the new wave of hardcore musicians, who have embraced the aggressive, in-your-face style of punk music but have taken it to a new level. Lucas mocks their posturing and claims that their aggressive persona is just for show, standing in stark contrast to the genuine punk rock fans who lived the lifestyle and pushed the boundaries of society.
Throughout the song, Lucas lays out his critique of those who try to cling to a past era when punk rock was king. The lyrics suggest that the new wave of hardcore musicians and fans are misguided, because they are trying to recreate a scene that no longer exists. The song's message is clear: the world has moved on, and it's time to let go of the past and embrace a new future.
Line by Line Meaning
Well punk is dead
The punk rock genre is no longer popular or relevant.
And yeah you're next
You will soon be irrelevant and out of touch with current music trends.
But it seems no one has told you yet
You are not aware of the shift away from punk rock music.
So hardcore
Your punk rock music style is especially intense and aggressive.
You must be sore
Your constant need to exude this intensely aggressive persona may be exhausting for you.
You come on like a major threat
Your punk rock music style and persona may appear threatening to some.
Face I know you like it
I understand that projecting this aggressive persona brings you satisfaction.
Hard 'N' straight
Your punk rock music is characterized by its unapologetic, straightforwardness.
Face Think I'll hang around and wait
I'll wait and see if you'll recognize the change in music trends and adjust accordingly.
Hey old school yeah you were cool
The old style of punk rock music used to be popular and well-liked.
But that was back in the day
However, that style of music is now out of fashion and no longer popular.
Well take a bow
You should recognize your achievements in punk rock music of the past, but it's time to move on.
Harder than thou
Your aggressive punk rock persona and music style tries to prove that you are better/harder than everyone else.
You scream "Guilty" like a Judge on high
You accuse others of not being true to the punk rock genre, as if you were the ultimate authority on the matter.
Well beat them back
Push back against those who innovate and change the genre, trying to keep it locked in the past.
The New Jacks
The new generation of punk rock music artists who are pushing the boundaries of the genre and innovating.
More than music it's a way of life
Punk rock music is not just a genre - it represents a lifestyle, ethos and counterculture.
Face
Direct address to the person being spoken to.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sentric Music
Written by: DAVID SCOTT LUCAS, JOSEPH DANILES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind