The Local H Lifers Database

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Tom Petty

Referenced in 24 episodes

Episode 261 cover
🎸 Replacements

#261: Mark Reznicek

July 3, 2026

Mark Reznicek, drummer for the Toadies, discusses the band's extensive touring behind their new album "The Charmer," recorded with Steve Albini shortly before his death, and reflects on their tumultuous major label experience with Interscope in the 1990s that led to a seven-year gap between albums. The conversation covers the Dallas-Fort Worth music scene, the band's breakup and reunion, and includes a "What's the Best?" segment where the hosts pick their favorite deep-cut Rolling Stones songs.

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#249: Balthazar De Ley

February 26, 2026

Balthazar De Ley, founding member of Menthol and former Hum guitarist, discusses the Champaign music scene's evolution, the band's major label struggles with Capitol Records, and his current work building and repairing guitar amplifiers after spending a decade with Smashing Pumpkins. The episode includes a "best debut records" segment where the hosts and guest debate classic first albums from Jesus and Mary Chain, Violent Femmes, Iron Maiden, and others.

Episode 245 cover
🎸 Replacements

#245: Selena Fragassi

January 16, 2026

This episode features a conversation with author and music journalist Selena Fragassi about her recent book "Pearl Jam Live," along with discussions about her journalism career, interviews with rock legends like Chrissie Hynde and Debbie Harry, and the Chicago music scene. The hosts and Fragassi engage in a "What's the Best" segment where they debate their favorite Pearl Jam songs.

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#227: Ozzy

July 25, 2025

Ozzy Osbourne, the pioneer of heavy metal music and reality television, died at age 76 after being treated for Parkinson's disease in recent years. The podcast hosts discuss Ozzy's life and career, from his working class upbringing in Birmingham to his success as lead singer of Black Sabbath and later as a solo artist known for his rock and roll excess. They also share personal stories and memories related to Ozzy's music and choose their favorite Ozzy and Black Sabbath songs.

Episode 213 cover
🎸 Replacements

#213: Jim Healy

March 28, 2025

Jim Healy, a film programmer and curator, discusses his career programming films at the Chicago International Film Festival, George Eastman House, and the Wisconsin Film Festival. Healy and the hosts discuss favorite movies about filmmaking, including The Bad and the Beautiful, Contempt, and Boogie Nights.

Episode 198 cover
🎸 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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#195: Pounding the Vote and Rocking the Pavement

November 1, 2024

In this podcast episode, Scott and his friends discuss the new Pavement documentary and share their favorite Pavement songs. They also talk about the upcoming US midterm elections and express concern about the possibility of Trump winning again in 2024.

Episode 173 cover
🎸 Replacements

#173: Jonny Polonsky

May 31, 2024

Jonny Polonsky discusses his musical journey from growing up in Chicago to becoming a professional musician in LA. As a teenager, he made home recordings that he sent to Frank Black of the Pixies, which led to getting signed to Rick Rubin's American Recordings label. Polonsky has since worked as a solo artist and played with bands like Puscifer. His new album Supernatural Radio is coming out on Loose Groove Records.

Episode 170 cover
🎸 Replacements

#170: 170. QUITTERS - Tim Edwards

May 10, 2024

Tim Edwards, former booking agent for the band Local H, discusses his career in the music industry and his decision to quit booking bands in 2018. He shares anecdotes about booking shows for Local H, including an infamous college frat party gig that went disastrously wrong.

Episode 146 cover
🤘 Iron Maiden

#146: Jess Margera

November 24, 2023

Jess Margera, drummer of the band CKY, discusses the early days of the band and how their unique mix of music and skate videos helped them gain a following. He shares stories of touring with Guns N' Roses in their "weirdest period" and reflects on the challenges of the music industry and staying creative during the pandemic. The hosts and guest also banter about their favorite songs with "black" in the title to tie into the Black Friday theme.

Episode 129 cover
🎸 Replacements

#129: REM Draft Day With Jason Narducy

August 4, 2023

Jason Narducy and Michael Shannon put on a show at Metro Chicago playing REM's album Murmur in full for the venue's 40th anniversary, with REM's Mike Mills making a surprise appearance to sing backing vocals. The podcast hosts and Narducy discuss the show, their favorite REM songs, and do an REM song draft.

Episode 118 cover
🤘 Iron Maiden

#118: Jerry Newbrough

May 19, 2023

Scott Lucas and his co-hosts Gabe and Ben interview Jerry Newbrough, an old friend of Scott's who he was in his first band with called the Family Cruisers back in the 1980s. They reminisce about playing music together, the punk rock scene in Madison, Wisconsin, and Jerry's experiences working at the legendary music venue OK's. Though Jerry no longer plays music publicly, he explains that quitting the music business allowed him to regain his pure love for music itself.

Episode 117 cover
🎸 Replacements

#117: Tommy Stinson

May 12, 2023

Tommy Stinson, founding member of The Replacements, discusses his early start in music, playing bass in The Replacements from age 11, the band's trajectory and breakup, and his later work with Guns N' Roses and other projects. He reflects on the music industry, learning experiences, and his continued passion for making music despite the challenges.

Episode 97 cover
🤘 Iron Maiden

#97: Kyle Stevenson

December 23, 2022

In this episode, Kyle Stevenson, current drummer for the band Helmet, discusses his musical career journey from attempting film school to playing in various LA-based bands in the 1990s and 2000s. He shares anecdotes about challenging tours, including one with the band Filter, and reflects on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Helmet's recent touring attempts. Throughout the conversation, Stevenson and the hosts also exchange humorous stories of their experiences playing music and touring together.

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#80: Guest Implosion

August 26, 2022

Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser discuss the song "Keep Your Girlfriend Away From Me" from Local H's album Here Comes the Zoo. Lucas shares the lyrical inspiration came from the movie In the Company of Men and toxic masculinity, but he feels the execution was clunky and the message may have been misunderstood by listeners. The hosts also briefly discuss and debate the merits of the bands Cinderella, Zebra and Boston.

Episode 76 cover
🎸 Replacements

#76: Max Crawford

July 29, 2022

Max Crawford, a multi-instrumentalist who plays trumpet, works the scoreboard at Wrigley Field, and has been a bartender at Metro in Chicago for 30 years. He has played with bands like Poi Dog Pondering and Wilco, and shares stories about his music career starting in Austin before moving to Chicago. Some of his favorite shows he's seen at Metro include Prince, Bob Dylan, and Tom Jones.

Episode 71 cover
🤘 Iron Maiden

#71: Ed Valauskas

June 24, 2022

Ed Valauskas, a producer and bassist who works at Q Division Studios in Boston, discusses his music career and involvement with the annual Hot Stove Cool Music charity event. Ed shares stories about playing with various artists like Graham Parker, making records with Juliana Hatfield, and the untimely passing of his friend and Fountains of Wayne member Adam Schlesinger.

Episode 56 cover

#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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#40: Road Report #9: Last Night of the Re-tour at the Metro

November 12, 2021

Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser discuss the final show of the Local H tour at the Metro in Chicago, which coincided with Gabe's 50th birthday. The show was filmed for a Local H movie, with the band giving the audience instructions on how to act and not look at the cameras. Throughout the evening, Ben interviews various people at the Metro about the band, the tour, and their experiences as Local H fans.

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#38: Road Report #7: A Day Off in NYC with Justine McMahon

October 29, 2021

Scott Lucas and Justine McMahon discuss their day off in New York City, which included seeing the movies Possession and The French Dispatch. They also reminisce about Justine's bartending days at NYC music venues like Trash Bar and Mercury Lounge, and humorously debate topics like tipping etiquette, pineapple on pizza, and the Ozzy vs Dio eras of Black Sabbath.

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#36: Brian Blockinger

October 15, 2021

Scott Lucas and his bandmate Ryan both tested positive for Covid in the middle of their tour, forcing them to cancel several sold-out shows and quarantine at home. Despite feeling relatively okay, Scott is bummed about having to miss shows right as the tour was hitting its stride. However, the band plans to resume the tour at the Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta which will take place outdoors.

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#20: John McCauley Part Two

June 25, 2021

John McCauley discusses his early years working at a movie theater, his love of horror films like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and the moment he decided to pursue music seriously despite naysayers. The conversation touches on his move from Nashville back to New England with his family, his musical tastes and influences, and funny tangents about movies and pop culture. Throughout, McCauley displays a laid-back, humorous rapport with the hosts.

Episode 19 cover

#19: John McCauley Part One

June 18, 2021

In this episode, Scott Lucas and John McCauley from the band Deer Tick discuss McCauley's musical career and influences. They also touch on McCauley's experiences playing with the surviving members of Nirvana.

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#11: Rachel Lichtman

April 23, 2021

In the podcast, Scott Lucas interviews Rachel Lichtman, the creator of Network 77. They discuss Rachel's creative process, her influences like SCTV and Fernwood Tonight, and her latest project Easy 66, a scripted comedy radio station that blurs the lines between reality and fiction.