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.
Cold Manor
Local H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, I was schooled in a cold manner
They call my name when they call roll call
Yeah, I was fooled and there was no sadder
No sadder way, way to fall
Looking for all the reasons why
And for all the reasons why
You'll never win
(x1)
Living that lie (x2)
Living that lie until we die
Slaves again
You'll never win
Yeah, I was schooled in a cold manner
They call my name when they call roll call
Yeah, I was fooled and there was no sadder
No sadder way, way to fall
Living that lie (x2)
Living that lie until we die
We're living that lie (x2)
We're living that lie until we die
The song "Cold Manor" by Local H delves into the themes of disillusionment, betrayal, and the self-destructive patterns that we can fall into when we feel trapped or hopeless. The singer reveals that he has been "schooled in a cold manner," suggesting that he has learned some harsh lessons from life. He feels like a victim of circumstances, as he was "fooled" and there was no sadder way to fall. The use of the phrase "cold manner" sets a tone of detachment and cruelty, indicating that the singer was treated in a heartless way that left him feeling alone and abandoned. The repetition of the line, "living that lie until we die" speaks to the idea that we can fall into a pattern of behavior that feels like a lie, but is hard to escape from, leading to a sense of entrapment or slavery.
The singer is looking for reasons why things are the way they are, but seems to come up empty-handed. The repetition of the line, "you'll never win" suggests a sense of defeat and hopelessness. The song speaks to the way that we can become trapped in destructive patterns, repeating the same mistakes over and over again, even in the face of evidence that our behavior is not leading us to a better place. The idea of "running in place" speaks to the sense that we are working hard to make progress, but not actually getting anywhere.
Overall, "Cold Manor" is a powerful examination of the human condition, and the ways in which we can become trapped in patterns of behavior that lead us down a path of self-destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, I was schooled in a cold manner
I was taught harshly, without any compassion or warmth
They call my name when they call roll call
My identity is reduced to my name and my presence is only acknowledged during attendance
Yeah, I was fooled and there was no sadder
I was deceived and there was no more painful or regretful way to lose my trust
No sadder way, way to fall
There was no more sorrowful or humiliating way to fail
Looking for all the reasons why
Searching for all the explanations and justifications
We're over, we're under, we're running in place till we die
We are finished, we are at a disadvantage, we are just staying in one point until we pass away
And for all the reasons why
Despite all the reasons and explanations
You'll never win
You will never be victorious or successful
Living that lie
Continuing to exist with a false façade or pretending
Living that lie until we die
Persisting with a fabrication until we pass away
Slaves again
Becoming enslaved or trapped once again
We're living that lie
We are existing with an untruthful persona
We're living that lie until we die
We are maintaining a dishonest identity until we pass away
Contributed by Emily R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.