In 1996, my musical tastes were expanding in all directions. Grunge was still pulsing through my veins, alternative rock was at its peak, and I was constantly looking for new bands that had that raw, unfiltered energy. That’s when As Good as Dead by Local H entered my world—and changed everything.
Like many, I first heard “Bound for the Floor” blasting through the radio, its heavy, grinding riff and deadpan lyrics cutting through the usual radio-friendly rock of the time. The song’s chorus—“And you just don’t get it, you keep it copacetic”—was instantly anthemic, the kind of thing you could scream along to whether you were frustrated, rebellious, or just needed to vent. But it wasn’t just that one song. I dug deeper into the album and found myself hooked. Songs like “Eddie Vedder” and “High-Fiving MF” were raw, sarcastic, and loud—everything I wanted in a rock band.
What made it even cooler? Local H was from Zion, Illinois. Growing up in Illinois myself, it felt like they were our band—blue-collar, no-frills, and willing to grind it out for every ounce of success. Unlike bands from Seattle or L.A. that seemed a world away, Local H felt like they were right here. They weren’t rock stars living in some distant scene; they were guys who played the same dingy Midwest clubs I could actually go to.
And that’s exactly what made seeing them live so special. Unlike huge arena bands, Local H kept it real. Their two-man setup—Scott Lucas on guitar and vocals, backed by a rotating cast of drummers over the years—delivered an intensity that could blow the doors off any venue. And being from Illinois, they were always around, playing shows within driving distance, giving fans like me plenty of chances to experience their energy up close.
All these years later, my love for Local H hasn’t faded. They’ve stayed true to their sound, still putting on killer live shows and proving that great rock music doesn’t need a massive industry machine behind it. For me, it all started back in ’96 with As Good as Dead, and I’m grateful that a band from my own backyard became part of the soundtrack to my life.