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.
Waves Again
Local H Lyrics
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We're saved again
But no one rises up
And no one wises up
We get set free in waves again
Jesus saves again
The charts and graphs
All your epitaphs
The blinding flash
The market crash
Your throbbing aches
Your sobbing shakes
Your swamp of snakes
We get set free in waves again
We're saved again
But no one wises up
So no one will wise up
We get set free in waves again
Jesus saves again, again
We get set free in waves (x2)
Your flags are waved
But nobody's saved
The spiraling rate
The sovereign state
Your Superman
He says that yes, we can
We're grains of sand
We get set free in waves again
We're waves again (x4)
Waves again
We're saved again
But no one rises up
And no one will wise up
We get set free in waves again
Jesus saves again, again
We get set free in waves (x2)
We're waves again (x4)
Hey
Hello
The lyrics to "Waves Again" by Local H touch on themes of cyclical nature, hopelessness, and religion. The opening lines of the song, "We get set free in waves again / We're saved again", suggest a pattern of being saved and set free, but ultimately not being able to rise up or wise up to prevent the cycle from repeating. This idea of being trapped in a cycle is reinforced by the repetition of the phrase "we get set free in waves" throughout the song.
The second verse delves into various negative experiences, such as "your throbbing aches / your sobbing shakes / your swamp of snakes", which further drive home the idea that despite being saved, individuals are still plagued by difficulties and struggles. The mention of "your Superman" who says "yes, we can" could be interpreted as a nod to the notion of American exceptionalism and the idea that individuals can do anything if they just believe in themselves. However, the following line, "We're grains of sand", subverts this idea, suggesting that ultimately, individuals are powerless in the face of larger, systemic issues.
The repetition of the phrase "Jesus saves again, again" at the end of the song reinforces the idea that despite the cycle of salvation and freedom, individuals are still stuck in a cycle of struggling and being saved again and again, without ever truly rising up or wising up.
Line by Line Meaning
We get set free in waves again
We experience a fleeting sense of liberation, followed by a return to our previous state.
We're saved again
We feel rescued or redeemed, but it's short-lived.
But no one rises up
Despite our momentary feeling of freedom or salvation, we don't take action to improve our situation.
And no one wises up
We don't gain any new knowledge, insight, or foresight as a result of our temporary liberation or salvation.
Jesus saves again
A religious reference to the idea of being rescued by a higher power.
The charts and graphs
References to societal metrics or measurements of success or failure.
All your epitaphs
The final words or phrases that represent or summarize a person's life.
The blinding flash
A sudden, intense burst of light that temporarily obscures one's vision.
The market crash
A significant and sudden decrease in the value of financial assets.
Your throbbing aches
Physical pain or discomfort that is persistent and distressing.
Your sobbing shakes
Emotional turmoil or distress that manifests physically.
Your swamp of snakes
A metaphorical representation of a difficult, complex, or overwhelming situation.
Your flags are waved
Symbolic representations of pride, patriotism, or loyalty.
But nobody's saved
Despite our efforts to attain salvation, it ultimately eludes us.
The spiraling rate
The accelerating pace of events, change, or decline.
The sovereign state
An independent political entity with control over its own affairs.
Your Superman
A representation of strength, power, and heroism that empowers us to believe we can overcome challenges.
He says that yes, we can
A phrase associated with Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, indicating a belief in the possibility of change or progress.
We're grains of sand
A metaphorical representation of how small and insignificant we can feel in the face of larger forces.
We're waves again
The repetition of the refrain, reinforcing the cyclical nature of our experiences.
Hey
An interjection that functions as a casual greeting or attention-getter.
Hello
A more formal greeting or salutation.
Contributed by Owen M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.