http://www.punknews.org/article.php?sid=4164<br>
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THICK OIL, day one - Local H<br>
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Posted on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 @ 16:23:24 EDT  <br>
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 "After two days of set up, clean up, and mess ups we have assembled a makeshift studio in The Homan Oil Factory on Chicago’s South Side. Today will be the first of 17 recording sessions, including; Alkaline Trio, Rise Against, The Tossers, Lawrence Arms, The Arrivals, Duvall and many more. Today’s session makes me nervous. I am hoping all the equipment will work. The photographers are ready, and that today’s band, Local H will appreciate the environment."<br>
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Thus begins the first in a series of journal entries by THICK Records kingpin Billy Spunke documenting his label's newest compilation, "OIL". To read the full entry, click on READ MORE, and keep coming back here every day for the latest installment.
After two days of set up, clean up, and mess ups we have assembled a makeshift studio in The Homan Oil Factory on Chicago’s South Side. Today will be the first of 17 recording sessions, including; Alkaline Trio, Rise Against, The Tossers, Lawrence Arms, The Arrivals, Duvall and many more. Today’s session makes me nervous. I am hoping all the equipment will work. The photographers are ready, and that today’s band, Local H will appreciate the environment. <br>
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The factory is almost 100 years old, and is saturated with oil. A dirty, greasy film of Oil is everywhere. The smell overwhelms you as you enter the factory. It is hot and your sweat leaves stains as it runs down your face and arms. Just before Local H arrives, a plume of smoke rises up into the sky and fire shoots out of a tractor trailer. FIRE!! Somehow a fire has started and a lone man tries to extinguish it with a garden hose. The flames are just 50 feet from the studio area, and 100 yards from millions of gallons of oil stored in huge vats. I begin to think the worst, as we call the fire department who arrive in minutes and manhandle my worst nightmare. We are in the clear, and as the smoke dissipates and 2 hook and ladders, the fire chief, and an ambulance leave the scene, Local H shows up. <br>
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The band seems uncertain as they pull up to the decrepit factory. They comment on the smell, and how upon setting foot down on soil it makes them feel “oily”. We load the gear, and set up the drums inside four walls made of cardboard boxes that hold old quart size motor oil cans. The walls are 5 feet tall and are intended to separate sound from the guitar and bass amps. It looks cool as hell, and serves its purpose of sound separation as well. The band fires up and Lance Reynolds, who is engineering, begins capturing the song on tape. The song, as of now still not titled, is a much slower, and dark sounding song. It is in direct contrast to our High Fiving Motherfuckers usual style. I like it, and Brian (drummer) nails the song in two takes. Scott Lucas then records the bass and moves on to vocals. “..eleven years of alcoholic eyes, I hide my lows inside of highs…” This vocal sticks with me. Last up are a couple of guitar overdubs and “shazaam”, LOCAL H is done. They track the song in a remarkable 6 1/2 hours. I am pleased and as we load out gear, I find myself feeling especially giddy. Lance Reynolds and I discuss the session and what to expect tomorrow with Elizabeth Elemore’s new band, The Reputation scheduled to come in. Good night!