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.
Manipulator
Local H Lyrics
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I never said that what I said was true
Real strong now, manipulated
Local H's song "Manipulator" seems to be about the complications of a troubled relationship. The first two lines hint at the singer's tendency to lie, and perhaps confessing that he may not always be truthful in his interactions with his partner. The third line mentions the singer feeling "real strong" but follows up with the word "manipulated." This may imply that the singer feels like he's manipulating his partner to feel a certain way, but also that he himself is being manipulated by her in some way.
The song delves deeper into this conflict in the second verse, with the singer admitting that he feels "dead inside" when he's around her. The chorus repeats the words "manipulator" and "manipulated" multiple times, creating a sense of tension and unease. The final verse is a plea for both parties to come to an understanding: "let's just cut right through it all, put an end to it, for good."
Overall, the lyrics of "Manipulator" suggest a complicated relationship where both partners may be struggling with truthfulness and trust. The repetition of certain phrases only adds to the sense of discordance and the longing for resolution.
Line by Line Meaning
I never said I wouldn't lie to you
I didn't promise you the truth
I never said that what I said was true
I didn't claim my words were truthful
Real strong now, manipulated
Feeling empowered, but under the influence of manipulation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID SCOTT LUCAS, JOSEPH DANILES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind