The Local H Lifers Database

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Person

Kurt Cobain

Referenced in 16 episodes

Episode 259 cover

#259: Julian, California Coming Down and WHAT’S THE BEST/WORST?!?: Album Covers

June 19, 2026

Scott Lucas and Ben Reiser discuss best album covers while Gabe Rodriguez misreads the assignment and presents worst album covers instead, including controversial picks like the banned Beatles "butcher cover" and Scorpions' "Virgin Killer." The episode devolves into arguments about sports (World Cup vs. basketball), Lucas complaining about difficult merch table customers on tour with the Toadies, and Gabe revealing his aversion to horror imagery including The Exorcist and being too scared to watch Human Centipede before bed.

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#203: 203. The LIFERS Podcast presents LIFERS: A Local H Movie (live in Hobart, IN - 01/02/25)

January 8, 2025

Scott Lucas, frontman of the band Local H, premiered his concert film "Lifers" at a movie screening in Hobart, Indiana. The film, which Lucas directed and edited himself, captures a complete Local H show at the Metro in Chicago while also incorporating fictional narrative elements. After an acoustic set from Lucas, the film was shown, followed by a Q&A with Lucas and his longtime collaborator Gabe Rodriguez.

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🎸 Replacements

#198: Lorri Francis

November 22, 2024

Lori Francis discusses her experiences working at iconic Chicago clubs in the 1980s and 90s like Medusa's, the Cubby Bear, and the Double Door. She shares stories of booking bands, managing the clubs, and being part of the Chicago music scene at places like the juice bar Medusa's. The hosts also play a game picking their favorite movies, albums and TV shows from the year 1981.

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🎸 Replacements

#185: Johnny Wator

August 23, 2024

Johnny Wator, longtime Chicago musician and founder of Daredevil guitar pedals, discusses his experiences touring and playing in bands like The Last Vegas and The Evictions. Wator and the hosts have an in-depth discussion about 80s hair metal bands and songs, debating their favorites from that era of rock music.

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🎸 Replacements

#183: Dave Rockland

August 9, 2024

Dave Rockland, who has worked at Jam Productions in Chicago since 1994, joins the hosts to discuss his experiences in the Chicago music scene over the past few decades. They reminisce about memorable shows and albums from 1993, the year Dave moved to Chicago, including Nirvana's final Chicago shows, Liz Phair, The Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream, and Quicksand opening for Rage Against the Machine at Metro.

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🎸 Replacements

#182: Jim DeRogatis

August 2, 2024

Jim DeRogatis, a veteran music critic, joins the Lifers podcast to discuss his career, the R. Kelly case he helped expose, and his favorite drummers. DeRogatis shares anecdotes about interviewing Kurt Cobain, touring with the band Wire, and turning down an opportunity to participate in the Surviving R. Kelly documentary.

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🤘 Iron Maiden

#169: Scott Quist and Real Rock’n’Roll Movers

May 3, 2024

Scott Quist, founder of Real Rock'n'Roll Movers in LA, discusses his experiences as a drummer in various rock bands and how he started his moving company staffed by musicians. Quist and the hosts reminisce about their time touring together when Quist was a drum tech, including pranks they pulled on each other. They also play a game picking the best songs about working for a living.

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#116: Michael Alago

May 5, 2023

In this episode, Michael Alago discusses his music industry career, from working at the Ritz in the early 1980s to signing bands like Metallica and White Zombie at Elektra and Geffen Records. He also talks about his friendships with artists like Cyndi Lauper, Eric Bogosian and John Lydon of Public Image Ltd.

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#60: Joe Shanahan

April 1, 2022

Joe Shanahan, owner of the Metro and Smart Bar in Chicago, discusses the venues' 40-year history. He shares stories of booking and befriending influential artists like REM, Nirvana, New Order and Gang of Four in the 1980s and 90s. Shanahan also talks about his own battle with cancer and subsequent activism to support cancer research.

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#56: Happy Anniversary!

March 4, 2022

Scott, Gabe and Ben celebrate the one year anniversary of their Lifers podcast by discussing listener feedback on favorite moments and guests from the past year. They reflect on how the podcast has evolved, their own rapport and dynamic, and memorable interviews with musicians like Justine Frischmann, John McCauley, and Scott's dad. Despite not having a clear mission, the hosts agree the podcast works as an entertaining hangout capturing the experience of friends casually discussing music and life.

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#49: Joe Dapier and The French Dispatch

January 14, 2022

In this podcast episode, Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser discuss the movie The French Dispatch and other pop culture topics with their guest Joe Dapier, who was the drummer for the band Dovetail Joint. They debate the merits of various Wes Anderson and Woody Allen films, reminisce about the 90s Chicago music scene, and argue about Led Zeppelin songs.

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#47: Page Hamilton

December 31, 2021

Page Hamilton, guitarist and vocalist of the band Helmet, discusses the band's early days playing in New York City in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He talks about the influence of jazz and classical music on his guitar playing, getting signed to Interscope Records amidst a major label bidding war in the wake of Nirvana's success, and briefly playing guitar with David Bowie in the late 1990s.

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#29: Road Report #2: Three Days of the Wyndham (In West Virginia with Jeneen Anderson)

August 27, 2021

While stuck in a hotel in Charleston, West Virginia for three days due to show cancellations, Scott Lucas and Ryan Smith from the band Local H discuss their current tour, music, and movies with their tour manager Janine Anderson. Janine shares stories about working her way up in the music industry as a woman tour manager, dealing with difficult people along the way, and learning to navigate the job with more confidence over the years. Despite the challenges, Janine expresses feeling lucky to work with the band and crew she currently tours with.

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#25: Dave Pirner

July 31, 2021

In the podcast, Scott Lucas from the band Local H interviews Dave Pirner from Soul Asylum. They discuss the 1980s Minneapolis music scene that Soul Asylum emerged from, Pirner's creative influences and approach to songwriting, the challenges of sudden fame in the 1990s, and Pirner's move to New Orleans to recenter himself. Lucas and Pirner also share their frustrations with people refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19, forcing them to postpone touring plans.

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#24: Hey, Killer/Side 2

July 23, 2021

The members of the band Local H reflect on the writing and recording of their 2015 album Hey, Killer. They discuss the creative process behind specific songs, the production techniques used in the studio, and their thoughts on the album's lyrical themes of death, religion, and personal choice. The conversation also touches on the largely positive critical reception to the record upon its release.

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#8: March Plaidness

April 2, 2021

In this episode, the hosts discuss the March Plaidness online tournament, where essays were written about 90s alternative/grunge songs and people voted on their favorites. An essay about the band Local H and their song "Bound for the Floor" ended up winning the tournament. The hosts interview Andrew Monson, one of the organizers of the annual March Xness tournaments, who provides background on how the tournaments started and some memorable moments from past years.