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.
Lucky
Local H Lyrics
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And move to the city
Leave the checks and the balance behind
???? in the city
I'll move with nothing left to prove to you
It's such a lucky time
Nothing left to prove
The lyrics to Local H's song "Lucky" speak of leaving the mundane and the monotonous behind and moving to the city, which is seen as a place of opportunity and excitement. The repetition of "nothing left to prove" conveys a sense of liberation from the pressures of conformity and societal expectations. By packing up their cats and leaving their financial concerns behind, the singer is making a bold move to live life on their own terms and embrace the unknown.
Additionally, the use of the phrase "lucky" throughout the song can be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be seen as a sarcastic comment on the difficulties of everyday life, emphasizing that the move to the city is a stroke of luck and a way to escape those challenges. Alternatively, it could be viewed as a sincere expression of gratitude and appreciation for the chance to start anew.
Overall, "Lucky" is a song about taking risks and pursuing one's desires, even if it means leaving behind the security and stability that might be holding you back. It celebrates the freedom and excitement of embarking on a new adventure and the sense of possibility that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Pack up the cats
Gather all my belongings and prepare to leave
And move to the city
Head towards an urban area to start a new life
Leave the checks and the balance behind
Abandon financial security and stability
???? in the city
Unknown line; unable to provide meaningful interpretation
I'll move with nothing left to prove to you
I will relocate without the need to impress or justify myself to others
It's such a lucky time
This moment in my life is fortunate and full of potential
Nothing left to prove
There is no need to validate oneself or prove worth to others
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSEPH W. DANIELS, DAVID SCOTT LUCAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind