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.
Machine Shed Wrestling
Local H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You ain't a lover, you'll never change
I'd rather wrestle my machine
You ain't a lover, you'll never change
I'd rather wrestle my machine
A token e-mail, a drunken text
A sorry go-round of cellphone sex
Had all the bullshit I'm gonna take
Wrestle my machine, too, too, too, too, too, too
My machine, too, too, too, too, too, too (x3)
As a product you would be great
And all the income you'd generate
But as a lover you're just a bust
You're not a service I can trust
I'll wrestle my machine
My machine (x3)
All I am is a husk of a man
I cannot go through this again
You're not a woman
And you know I've pretended all I can
All I can (x2)
Oh, all I can
Hey
Too, doo, doo, doo, doo (x4)
(x2)
You ain't a lover, you'll never change
I'd rather wrestle with my machine
You ain't a lover, you're just a fake
Had all the bullshit I'm gonna take
Wrestle my machine
All I am is a husk of a man
I cannot go through this again
You're not a woman
And you know I've pretended all I can
All I am is a victim of love
I checked the box, marked none of the above
You're not a woman, girl
And you know I've pretended all I can
All I can
Oh, all I can (x2)
Wooh
Oh, my machine, ha, ah, ah, ha, ah, ah, ah, ha, oh, ho
Ha, ah, ah, ha, ah, ah, ah, ha, my machine (x2)
Ha, ah, ah, ha, ah, ah, ah, ha, ho, oh
Ha, ah, ah, ha, ah, ah, ah, ha
Ha, ah, ah, ha, ah, ah, ah, ha, hey, hey, hey, wrestle my machine
Ha, ah, ah, ha, ah, ah, ah, ha, ho, ho
Ha, ah, ah, ha, ah, ah, ah, ha, ho, hey (x2)
Ha, ah, ah, ha, ah, ah, ah, ha, hey, hey, hey (x4)
Ha, ah, ah, ha, ah, ah, ah, ha, machine
The song "Machine Shed Wrestling" by Local H is about a man who is frustrated with his lack of success in romance and thus decides to focus his energy elsewhere - on wrestling with his machine. The opening lines are repeated multiple times, creating a kind of mantra, as if to emphasize his desire to escape the disappointments of romantic relationships. The verses detail his frustrations with a lover who is fake and unreliable, represented through the use of a "token e-mail" and "cellphone sex." He acknowledges that he has pretended enough and cannot continue to live a lie, as he is just a "husk of a man."
The chorus, "I'd rather wrestle my machine," serves as a kind of anthem for his decision to prioritize something that is consistent and reliable, rather than dealing with the ups and downs of human relationships. The bridge further emphasizes his disillusionment with love, as he sings about being a victim and marking "none of the above" when it comes to romantic options. The repetition of "all I can" at the end of the bridge suggests resignation to this reality.
Overall, the lyrics of "Machine Shed Wrestling" convey a sense of disappointment and disillusionment with romantic relationships, along with a desire to focus on something that is dependable and controllable.
Line by Line Meaning
You ain't a lover, you'll never change
The singer believes the person addressed is incapable of loving and changing.
I'd rather wrestle my machine
The singer prefers to grapple with his machine than deal with the person addressed.
A token e-mail, a drunken text
The person addressed only sends superficial and insincere messages.
A sorry go-round of cellphone sex
The person addressed engages in trivial and unfulfilling sexual encounters.
You ain't a lover, you're just a fake
The person addressed is not genuine and incapable of experiencing real love.
Had all the bullshit I'm gonna take
The singer is fed up with the lies and deception from the person addressed.
As a product you would be great
The person addressed may be successful in business or another professional field.
And all the income you'd generate
The person addressed may be financially lucrative, but that is not enough for the artist.
But as a lover you're just a bust
The person addressed is a disappointment in a romantic relationship.
You're not a service I can trust
The artist cannot rely on the person addressed to provide emotional support or love.
All I am is a husk of a man
The singer feels emotionally drained and empty.
I cannot go through this again
The artist cannot tolerate another disappointing relationship or encounter with the person addressed.
You're not a woman
The person addressed is not worthy of being called a woman or partner.
And you know I've pretended all I can
The singer has reached his limit of pretending and deceit in the relationship.
All I can
The singer is at his wit's end.
You ain't a lover, you'll never change
Repeating the first verse for emphasis.
You ain't a lover, you're just a fake
Repeating the second verse for emphasis.
All I am is a victim of love
The singer feels hurt and victimized by love and relationships.
I checked the box, marked none of the above
The singer did not find a suitable partner in the available options.
You're not a woman, girl
Repeating the third chorus for emphasis.
Oh, my machine
Referring to the machine as a source of comfort and reliability for the artist.
Wrestle my machine
Repeating the key phrase of the song for emphasis.
Contributed by Nicholas T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Daren Redman
This must be how ninjas really spend their lives.....haha too awesome. Best video I've seen in awhile.
ClydeLeeM
Man, that was a great video I never knew they made
Matt Redinius
That's sweet. These guys are fantastic. Sorry to hear Brian is leaving, but I'm sure there's more to come from both these genii :)
gonesavage
Scott looks like he's in The Locust in a few of those shots. Nice work, Sleep Machine!
ceephus01
WOW . Local H at their best. Very Original.
philip noll
Best band ever.
Pantalakis
This is amazing...
Jacko Reaper
cool video always love this band
Denise Lee
This reminds me of a guy I know-EXACTLY. Love this Song-AWESOME Video.
patpabst
pretty sure that's one of the best fuckin videos ever.