Local H a band/performance review 
<br><br>
From Zion, Illinois, Local H
are Scott Lucas on guitar
Joe Daniels on drums
opening on the main stage
at Desert Sky for the Meat Puppets
A great Earth Day, April 21
the sun begins to set
they start strong with User
fourth track on recent Island release
Ham Fisted
<br><br>
Next up Bag of Hammers
"the mother fuck" song Scott calls it later
Roadie Gabe Rodriguez jumps out now and then
to fill in a back vocal
or a screeching whistle in Cynic
Joe with his shirt off
sitting low to the floor
pounds away as Scott hits his solo
and moves right into Cynic
<br><br>
"I made a promise to myself
but I think I need some help
if you see something that fits good in me
won't you tell me
and maybe I'd be something you could stand"
<br><br>
full sound, takes a lot of energy
for two guys to fill this stage
power primal scream heavy drums
audience small but receptive and mostly young
Manipulator
<br><br>
"I never said I wouldn't lie to you
I never said but what I said was true"
<br><br>
good grove
sun going down white glow on
front row grooving
singing along
Scott red-faced screaming
sweat glistening on Joe's back
braids flying sticks flying
guzzling water and spitting
what'd you say
<br><br>
Scott-Rock cheers for Gabe on tambourine
concentrating hard and self-conscious
bassy steady beat played with power drums
drawing a crowd
<br><br>
twentysomething-twentynothing
anthem Mayonnaise and Malaise
Gabe does some back vocal
Scott throws it into
<br><br>
Skid Marks
hard hitting
Joe and his killer body
Scott finishes with heavy guitar
and fades into
audience screams for Meat Puppets
<br><br>
Tammy, their manager
says she signed them because they're
a good live band, tight
<br><br>
talking to Scott and Joe later
I say I have trouble remembering
names of their songs
because the hook doesn't match the title
it's an "old Led Zepplin trick" Scott says
<br><br>
together since 1988, Local H
started out as four piece
lost rhythm guitar and then bass player
but sounded even better...
<br><br>
sound-bites:
incredible shrinking band
must have told us something
we got signed
no feuding
it's just so simple
like we have chemistry
anybody else is gonna upset it
we're just out to have fun
doing what we want
right people behind us
Joe Bosso A and R
Gold Mountain management
Island records
letting us work slow
To get the full sound
Scott uses a bass pick up
on bottom two strings sending
through an octave peddle to bass amp
<br><br>
Joe sits pretty low at his set
adjust drums to make it easier
pull off attacks quicker
break less sticks
<br><br>
we talk about shows they've done
Liz Phair and
they recommend Betty Severe
for a great show
check out their CD
you may have heard
Mayonnaise and Malaise on KUKQ
I was pleased to find
the rest of Ham Fisted
worth listening to
money well spent
I could compare them to
Alice in Chains Nirvana Soundgarden
Pearl Jam Smashing Pumpkins
why bother they're none of the above
decide for yourself
These guys have talent and energy
and I think they'll stick around
<br><br>
by Lynne O'Connor
(c) 1994 Lynne O'Connor
<br><br>
http://www.phatquarters.com/lilithscave/localh.htm