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.
Ruling Kind
Local H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't buy your line
The losing time, time, the worrying why, why
I don't believe your lie
Deflated hype, the startled type
You're just an infant whine
The great divide, divide, the kiss goodbye, goodbye
You're just a perfect crime
The ruling kind, the vicious mind
Delete your kind, alright
The leaving kind, the wondering why
I don't buy your lie
The party line, line, mark your time, time
You serve your term, you're gone
Betraying type, type, we're fed your tripe, tripe
You're just a waste of space
The smiling lie, lie, no reason why, why
You piss on a perfect day
(x1 + x1)
The ruling kind, the vicious mind
Delete your kind, alright
The vicious kind, the ruling mind
Delete your kind, alright
The ruling kind, the warrior mind
I don't buy your line
The losing time, time, the worrying why, why
I don't believe your lie
Betraying type, type, we're fed your tripe, tripe
You're just a waste of space
The great divide, divide, the kiss goodbye, goodbye
Nobody's perfect day
(x2)
The ruling kind, the vicious mind
Delete your kind, alright
The vicious kind, the ruling mind
Delete your kind, alright
Delete your kind, alright (x2)
Alright (x21)
The song "Ruling Kind" by Local H seems to be a scathing critique of those in power who use their authority for their own gain rather than for the good of others. The lyrics describe these rulers as having a "warrior mind" and a "vicious mind" that seeks to "delete" anyone who opposes them. The singer rejects their "line" and "lie," and believes that they are a "waste of space" who only serve themselves rather than the people they are supposed to represent.
The chorus repeats the phrase "delete your kind," which could be taken as a call to action to remove these corrupt individuals from power. The song also references "deflated hype" and a "smiling lie," suggesting that these rulers use false promises and propaganda to manipulate the public into supporting them. Overall, the lyrics paint a bleak picture of those in power, and advocate for their removal in order to create a more just society.
Line by Line Meaning
The ruling kind, the warrior mind
People in power who take an aggressive approach
I don't buy your line
I don't believe what you're saying
The losing time, time, the worrying why, why
Time spent in failure and uncertainty
I don't believe your lie
I don't trust your falsehood
Deflated hype, the startled type
Exaggeration that fell flat and made you nervous
You're just an infant whine
Your complaints are childish
The great divide, divide, the kiss goodbye, goodbye
The separation made clear and final
You're just a perfect crime
You've gotten away with something without anyone realizing
The leaving kind, the wondering why
People who don't stick around and wonder why
The party line, line, mark your time, time
The official stance that you must follow while in power
You serve your term, you're gone
After your turn in power is over, you're irrelevant
Betraying type, type, we're fed your tripe, tripe
People who are unfaithful and feed others nonsense
You're just a waste of space
You take up room without contributing anything of value
The smiling lie, lie, no reason why, why
A falsehood that is delivered with a smile without reason
You piss on a perfect day
You ruin a great moment
The ruling kind, the vicious mind
People in power who are cruel
Delete your kind, alright
Get rid of those in power who are cruel
Nobody's perfect day
There's no such thing as a perfect day
Delete your kind, alright (x2)
Get rid of cruel people in power
Alright (x21)
Everything's going to be okay
Contributed by Layla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.