Local H @ the Met | Concert Review

Local H played a tireless show for their fans on Thursday night, one that covered their classic 90’s hits and even revealed some new music. Six Star General, a local band (check out their recent HomeBRU’d session here!) from Warren, RI, did a great job warming...

Local H played a tireless show for their fans on Thursday night, one that covered their classic 90’s hits and even revealed some new music.

Six Star General, a local band (check out their recent HomeBRU’d session here!) from Warren, RI, did a great job warming up the early arrivals (many already clad in their Local H shirts). Lead guitarist Kyle Jackson comes into his own on the high notes of the melody. “Thank you very much, guys,” he shouts before flying into their last song, a guitar-and-drum-filled jam that closes out their portion of the set strongly.

The second band, Aeges, is on tour from LA. After setting up equipment and testing the mics, they (literally) turn up the volume. Reverb-y bass notes create a dense sound before, during, and after the songs.  The first song begins with several bars of a distinctive syncopated drum pattern—drummer Mike Land puts his whole body into it. Soon enough, the whole band, including the long-haired guitarists (their hair-tossing was unreal), is into it. Their energy and earnestness roll across the crowd as they tear through their set. They introduce Local H by saying, “They rip. They seriously rip.”

 

By the time Local H is onstage, the Met has filled up with dedicated fans both old and young. The duo—Local H has been the project of drummer Ryan Harding and vocalist/guitarist Scott Lucas since before their first record contract, in 1994—fills the stage impressively. One side is all crashing cymbals and reverberating bass drum; the other holds Lucas’ sporadic movements and passionate singing. The band holds the audience in suspense as they draw out the opening to their first song. Finally, they launch into the “aaahs” of “The Last Picture Show in Zion.” Lucas throws his head back as he wails on the last chorus. They move right into “Creature Comforted,” and the audience starts to move with the drumbeat. By the third song, “All the Kids Are Right,” people are singing along—Lucas holds out the microphone, letting the audience take over on this favorite. Other favorite moments include a cover of Lorde’s “Team”—very different from the original: the verses are sped up, almost rapped, and the chorus, “we’re on each others’ team,” becomes a drawn-out ode to the strong bonds of this experienced band. They also play some songs of their new album, Hey, Killer. “Mansplainer” is a little more melodically detailed, a little self-conscious. The audience receives it well, although they are less familiar with it.   When the band pauses to introduce themselves, “Thank you, we’re Local H,” the audience members engage: “Yeah!” “We love you!!” “USA!” Many of them were at the Boston show the night before; still more have Local H shirts. Later on, one guy will hop up on his friends’ shoulders and crowd surf around, a remarkable feat in such a small space. The band plays along with high-energy and lots of interaction. At one point, Lucas takes a selfie with an audience member’s phone. They’ve been here before, and they declare their love for Lupo’s, the Met, and Providence in general. They finish after fifteen songs, but we all knew that wasn’t going to be the real end: they’re soon back for an extended encore, playing such hits as “Bound for the Floor,” a Green Day cover, and a Beatles cover. After “That’s What They All Say,” they fake an ending for five minutes before leading into the last song. The whole set is raucous, long, and gave the audience exactly what they wanted: Almost two hours of unadulterated Local H.  

Check out all the photos below!

Photos courtesy of staff photographer Austen Sharpe

Photos courtesy of Seth Shapiro