Local H is an alternative rock band which formed in 1987 in Zion, Illinois,… Read Full Bio ↴Local H is an alternative rock band which formed in 1987 in Zion, Illinois, United States. The band originally consisted of Scott Lucas (vocals, guitar, bass) and Joe Daniels (drums). Daniels left in 1999 and was replaced by Brian St. Clair who was the band's drummer until he left in late 2013. Ryan Harding would replace him, and is the current drummer for the duo. They are perhaps best known for their 1996 hit single "Bound for the Floor".

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.

Cooler Heads
Local H Lyrics

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Hey
Another scene is dead
You can fall in line
With the cooler heads
I said hey
Lets put this one to bed
You can do with a change and a lay
And the cooler heads

You are so in
You are so out
You will know when
You were shown how
You are so in
With the out crowd
And the cooler heads
I think you understand(I'm thinking of your skin)
The motor of your mouth
Turning on your friends
Turn your mother out
You are so in
With the out crowd
And the cooler heads
Yeah!

Hey
Well look who's back in town
We won't say that you failed
The cooler heads prevail
You can fall in
You can fall out(with the fall outs)
Go ahead and grin
There ain't much to laugh about
You can blend in with a crowd of clowns
And the cooler heads.

Yeah!

You are so in
You are so out
You will know when
You were shown how
You are so in
With the out crowd
And the cooler heads
I think you understand(I'm thinking of your skin)
The motor of your mouth
Turning on your friends
Turn your mother out
You are so in
With the out crowd
And the cooler heads

Yeah!!

The heads the heads the dirty fucking heads!

Overall Meaning

The song "Cooler Heads" by Local H contains lyrics that speak of fitting in with the popular "cool" crowd or standing out with the less popular "out crowd." The song portrays the pressure to conform to societal standards and behaviors in regards to fitting in. The overall message is about recognizing the value of individuality and making one's own choices rather than succumbing to peer pressure. The chorus speaks of the "cooler heads" prevailing, suggesting that these individuals have a greater understanding of the importance of being true to oneself.

The bridge of the song speaks to the negative impact conforming can have on personal relationships, stating "Turning on your friends, turn your mother out." This suggests that blindly following the popular opinion can cause one to lose sight of important relationships and values. The final verse encourages listeners to blend in with the "crowd of clowns" and the "cooler heads," perhaps indicating that it is okay to follow the popular trend as long as it aligns with one's own beliefs.

Overall, "Cooler Heads" is a commentary on social pressure and the importance of individuality. It encourages listeners to consider their own values and beliefs, rather than simply following the crowd.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey
The singer starts the song with a greeting or attention-grabbing phrase.

Another scene is dead
A new situation has arisen, and the previous one that was being focused on is now over.

You can fall in line With the cooler heads
You can follow the example of those who are more rational and reasonable in their thinking.

I said hey Lets put this one to bed You can do with a change and a lay And the cooler heads
Let's end this situation and move on to something new. Changing your outlook and following a more reasonable train of thought may be helpful.

You are so in You are so out You will know when You were shown how
Your status among others can change, and you might not realize it until someone points it out to you.

You are so in With the out crowd And the cooler heads I think you understand(I'm thinking of your skin)
You may feel like you don't fit in with the crowd, but that might be due to your own flaws. However, if you follow more reasonable people, you may gain more acceptance.

The motor of your mouth Turning on your friends Turn your mother out
Your words can affect the people around you, and sometimes it is better to stay silent than to speak ill of those closest to you.

Hey Well look who's back in town We won't say that you failed The cooler heads prevail
Someone has returned, but there is no need to dwell on any perceived failure. Instead, it is time to move on with a more rational perspective.

You can fall in You can fall out(with the fall outs) Go ahead and grin There ain't much to laugh about You can blend in with a crowd of clowns And the cooler heads.
You can choose to be a part of the irrational crowd, but there's really nothing to celebrate about it. Instead, it's better to join those who think more logically.

The heads the heads the dirty fucking heads!
This is an exclamation that emphasizes the frustration or annoyance with the irrational people around you.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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