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.
Sports Bar
Local H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every choice has a no
Speech slurred, I called you again
You're not even my friend
I did it again
Choked up, I gotta go
Every choice has a no
I'm broke, I don't belong
And every time I wake up I feel sad
I dream about the things I used to have
And how did I get into this?, I'm tied to it
Teased up, high hair disgust
No sex, a natural distrust
I don't care, you can't get through
I dig hating you
I did it again
Drink it up, pissed off
I'm a hack, you're a smoker's cough
I'd like to fuck, but you're too dumb
Gee, it's great being single and young
And every time I try to talk to you
I know there's something else you'd rather do
And how did I get into this?, I'm tied to it
And every time I wake up bruised
I know that my brain's not in use
And every time when things are great
I don't know why I detonate
I'm tied to it
I did it again
And every time I wake up bruised
I know that my brain's not in use
And every time when things are great
I don't know why I detonate
I'm tied to it
Local H's song "Sports Bar" is a raw and honest depiction of the singer's struggles with addiction and self-destructive behavior. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who is constantly under the influence of drugs and alcohol, making poor choices and hurting the people around them. The first verse describes the singer as "fucked up, drunk and stoned," calling someone who is not even their friend. The chorus repeats the refrain, "Every choice has a no," emphasizing the idea that the singer is trapped in a cycle of negative behavior with no way out.
As the song progresses, we get a glimpse into the singer's feelings of isolation and disillusionment. They feel broke and out of place, and they see others "raping [their] favorite song." They feel sad when they wake up and dream about what they used to have. Despite this, they are "tied to" their addiction and can't seem to break free from it.
The second verse highlights the singer's unhealthy relationships and emotional detachment. They are disgusted by the people around them and their own lack of sexual fulfillment. They "dig hating" others, suggesting a self-destructive tendency to push people away. The bridge reflects on the singer's feelings of confusion and frustration at their situation, wondering how they got into this mess in the first place.
Overall, "Sports Bar" is a powerful and emotional song that offers a raw and unflinching look into the struggles of addiction and self-destructive behavior. It is a poignant reminder of the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of seeking help when necessary.
Line by Line Meaning
Fucked up, drunk and stoned
I am under the influence of drugs and alcohol and feeling messed up
Every choice has a no
I am faced with constant rejection and failure
Speech slurred, I called you again
You're not even my friend
I drunkenly called someone who is not even my friend and struggled to speak
I did it again
I made the same mistake or poor decision once more
Choked up, I gotta go
I feel choked or overwhelmed and need to leave or escape
I'm broke, I don't belong
I am financially struggling and feeling like I don't fit in or belong anywhere
They're raping my favorite song
Someone is aggressively changing or ruining my favorite song
And every time I wake up I feel sad
I dream about the things I used to have
I feel sadness or regret when I start a new day and think about what I have lost or no longer have
And how did I get into this?, I'm tied to it
I am questioning how I got into a certain situation, knowing that I am now trapped or obligated to it
Teased up, high hair disgust
No sex, a natural distrust
I feel disgusted with my current appearance or situation and have a general distrust towards others
I don't care, you can't get through
I dig hating you
I am indifferent towards someone and find satisfaction in hating them
Drink it up, pissed off
I'm a hack, you're a smoker's cough
I am drinking to cope with anger or frustration and feel like a failure, while seeing someone else as an annoyance
I'd like to fuck, but you're too dumb
Gee, it's great being single and young
I am interested in having sex, but feel like the other person is not intelligent enough. Despite this, I still enjoy being young and single
And every time I try to talk to you
I know there's something else you'd rather do
I am aware that when I try to engage with someone, they are not fully present or interested in our conversation
And every time I wake up bruised
I know that my brain's not in use
When I wake up with any kind of injury, I realize that I have not been using my brain properly
And every time when things are great
I don't know why I detonate
When things in my life seem to be going well, I have a tendency to self-destruct without knowing why
I'm tied to it
I am bound or connected to a certain situation or behavior that I cannot escape from easily
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID SCOTT LUCAS, JOSEPH DANILES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind