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.
Dick Jones
Local H Lyrics
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You're friends with people that you don't even know
You're stuck in places that you would never go to
If you could choose
You're on a level that you've never sunk to
You're in a middle that there's no getting through
You're over and you'll be thirty-two
[Chorus]
It's chemical, logical, left foot, right foot
You got it
Walk away fast
Turn around, leave them behind
You're on your fifth drink with no buzz in sight
And that asshole hasn't shut up all night
You wanna tell yourself that you'll be alright
But who would you fool?
[Chorus]
The song Dick Jones by Local H speaks to a feeling of being stagnant, stuck in a cycle of monotony and meaninglessness. The first verses paint a picture of someone who is trapped in their current situation, surrounded by people who they don't connect with and in places that they wouldn't choose to be. They're stuck in a middle ground, struggling to climb higher but unable to sink any lower, leading the singer to conclude that they were "born to lose."
The chorus serves as a call to action, urging the listener to break free from their current situation and take control. The line "It's chemical, logical, left foot, right foot, you got it" suggests that the solution is both physical and mental, requiring both action and a shift in perspective. The repeated phrase "walk away fast, turn around, leave them behind" emphasizes the importance of leaving behind negative influences and building a new path forward.
Overall, the lyrics of Dick Jones convey a sense of frustration and disillusionment with one's current state, but also a belief that change is possible with the right mindset and determination. It encourages listeners to take ownership of their lives and create a future that they can be proud of.
Line by Line Meaning
You're on a sidetrack with nothing to show
You have deviated from the right path and failed to achieve any results.
You're friends with people that you don't even know
You hang out with strangers and pretend to have a connection with them.
You're stuck in places that you would never go to, If you could choose
You are trapped in unfavorable situations that you would never have chosen for yourself.
You're on a level that you've never sunk to
You have reached a new low that you have never experienced before.
You're in a middle that there's no getting through
You are in a tough situation with no easy way out.
You're over and you'll be thirty-two, You were born to lose
You have already given up and resigned to being a failure for the rest of your life.
It's chemical, logical, left foot, right foot, You got it
It's all about cause and effect, following through with each step to achieve success.
Walk away fast, Turn around, leave them behind
You need to leave the bad influences behind and start moving forward towards a better future.
You're on your fifth drink with no buzz in sight
You are trying to escape your problems through drinking but failing to feel any better.
And that asshole hasn't shut up all night
You are surrounded by someone who is self-centered and doesn't care about anyone else.
You wanna tell yourself that you'll be alright, But who would you fool?
You are trying to convince yourself that everything is going to be okay, but deep down you know it's not.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BRIAN ST. CLAIR, DAVID SCOTT LUCAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind