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.
Limit Your Change
Local H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Limit your change
Change
People like to limit their change
Oh (x2)
Change
Change
People like to limit their change
People (x2)
Limit your change
People (x2)
People like to limit their change
Oh (x2)
Limit your change (x2)
People (x2)
Limit your change
Oh, limit your change, oh
The lyrics to Local H's song Limit Your Change seem to be a commentary on the human tendency to resist change. The repetition of "Change, limit your change" and "People like to limit their change" emphasize this point. It is almost as if the singer is pleading with the listener to embrace change, to not limit themselves by holding onto what is familiar.
The use of the word "limit" implies that there is a conscious effort being made to resist change. Perhaps the fear of the unknown or the perceived risk associated with change is too great for some people to bear. However, the repetition of "Oh" throughout the song suggests a sense of frustration or disappointment in those who choose to limit their change.
The overall message of the song seems to be a call to action, a reminder to not get too comfortable with the status quo and to embrace new experiences and ideas. This sentiment is echoed in the final line, "Oh, limit your change", which can be interpreted as a plea to the listener to break free from their limiting ways and embrace the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
Change
The act of transformation or alteration.
Limit your change
Try to restrict or reduce the amount of change.
People like to limit their change
Human beings prefer to limit the quantity of change.
Oh (x2)
Exclamation expressing surprise or emotion.
People
Individuals, especially those in a community.
Limit your change
Reduce or limit the amount of alteration.
Oh (x2)
Exclamation conveying surprise or emotion.
Limit your change (x2)
Keep the alterations to a minimum.
People (x2)
Individuals, members of society.
Limit your change
Try to reduce the amount of transformation.
Oh, limit your change, oh
Exclamation encouraging minimal change.
Contributed by Mila E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.