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.
The Misanthrope
Local H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mere grist to feed the machinery
Fairy tales and useless fables
Prayers at the children′s table
That ends with us Dead
This is your welcome to the family
All hail the cult of misanthropy
Bring out the weak and feeble
This world, it turns on the thought of you dead
Stories like the gory details
So keep your finger on the meat scale
Sycophants and gorgeous users
Pay the way for tomorrows losers
That wanted you dead
This is your welcome to the family
God damn the cult of his vanity
The church and then the steeple
Bring out the weak and feeble
This world, it turns on the thought of you dead
I chloroform the evil
There's nothing worse than people
This world, it turns on the thought of you dead
This is your welcome to the family
Come join the cult of sterility
The church and then the steeple
There is nothing worse than people
There′s nothing worse than people
There's nothing worse than people
This world, it turns on the thought of you dead
The thought of you dead
The thought of you dead
The thought of you dead
Dead
In "The Misanthrope" by Local H, the lyrics convey a deep sense of cynicism and contempt towards society and its various aspects. The song opens by portraying actors as hack performers who are merely a means to satisfy the entertainment industry. They are described as choking on the exaggerated scenery, emphasizing their lack of authenticity. This can be seen as a metaphor for people who put on a facade in their everyday lives.
The chorus introduces the idea of a "cult of misanthropy," suggesting that there is a collective worship of hatred towards humanity. The church, symbolic of organized religion, is mentioned, indicating a criticism of its role in perpetuating societal norms and values that oppress individuals. The lyrics also express a desire for the weak and feeble to be brought to the forefront, suggesting that the status quo benefits those who are already in power.
The second verse continues with a critique of the media and its fascination with sensational and gruesome stories. The singer encourages the listener to keep their finger on the "meat scale," implying the need to constantly assess the level of exploitation and sensationalism in the media. The mention of sycophants and gorgeous users highlights the role of manipulation and superficiality in society, where people are willing to exploit others for personal gain.
The final verse expresses a strong disdain for people, claiming that there is nothing worse than them. The line "I chloroform the evil" suggests a desire to numb oneself from the negative aspects of human behavior. The repeated line "there's nothing worse than people" reinforces the misanthropic sentiment of the song, ultimately concluding with the idea that the world revolves around the thought of someone being dead.
Overall, Local H's "The Misanthrope" portrays a deep-seated cynicism and disillusionment with society, highlighting the negative aspects of human behavior and the oppressive structures that uphold them.
Line by Line Meaning
Hack actors choking on the scenery
Incompetent actors struggling to fit into their roles and overshadowing the true essence
Mere grist to feed the machinery
Irrelevant individuals serving as fuel for a larger system's operation
Fairy tales and useless fables
Imaginary stories and pointless tales without any practical value
Prayers at the children's table
Hopeful wishes and pleas from the innocent and powerless
That ends with us Dead
That ultimately results in our demise
This is your welcome to the family
This is your introduction to a group of like-minded individuals
All hail the cult of misanthropy
Admiration and praise for a community that despises humanity
The church and then the steeple
Referring to the religious institution and its accompanying symbol of power
Bring out the weak and feeble
Highlighting the exploitation and exposure of vulnerable and powerless individuals
This world, it turns on the thought of you dead
The world revolves around the mere idea of your absence or demise
Stories like the gory details
Accounts reminiscent of gruesome and explicit descriptions
So keep your finger on the meat scale
Remain aware of the degree of brutality and violence
Sycophants and gorgeous users
Flatterers and attractive opportunists
Pay the way for tomorrows losers
Creating a pathway for future failures and disappointments
That wanted you dead
Those who desired your demise
God damn the cult of his vanity
Expressing frustration towards a group centered around self-indulgence and arrogance
I chloroform the evil
Suppressing and incapacitating wickedness
There's nothing worse than people
Implying that humanity is the epitome of all that is terrible
Come join the cult of sterility
Encouraging individuals to become part of a group that stands for emptiness and barrenness
There is nothing worse than people
Stating that there is no lower existence than that of human beings
The thought of you dead
The contemplation of your nonexistence
Writer(s): David Scott Lucas
Contributed by Sadie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Seadog95
Local H means a lot to me. When I was in bootcamp years ago, we couldnt have any sort of music so I would sing Local H songs to myself. It kept me sane because I love music so much. Seeing them in a month!!
Jeri Carriveau
you should catch them on tour with rookie!!
Holly Travis
Local H I'm so in love with this band from way back. No one can touch these guys., Phenomenal band. Goddamn. i love these guys. Everything they've done is golden.
Mia Mera Music
@Sweetwoody Funk Amazing band. I just saw them last month with Soul Asylum, blew me away. Everyone in the crowd who were not familiar with them where lined up at the merch stand after the show. And at the table was Scott himself, working harder than ever. I have so much respeck for them.
Sweetwoody Funk
I agree 100%
Shifty Bat
This album was everything I had been waiting for since Here Comes the Zoo. I was worried Scott was losing his voice because of how he sounds on the record but saw them play the next year and all was back to normal. Probably should've brought some earplugs to that show, though ;)
Skinny Dazed
Never getting tired of Local H
Jacko Reaper
Local H still rocks
Stephan Derouen
Still?... They always have
TerasWaffle
6 years after this comment and I’m agreeing. They still, still be rockin