Losing half of a band is like losing an arm and it’s even worse when you’re only a two-man band to begin with. On Wednesday night, Local H gets one date closer to the end of drummer Brian St. Clair’s tenure behind the kit of the band that Scott Lucas started while still in high school. After Columbus, only two dates remain (Grand Rapids, Michigan and Arlington Heights, Illinois).
The crazy thing to me is that while St. Clair’s been banging the drums for Local H for 14 years (Holy shit, has it really been that long???), I’ll still always think of him as Triple Fast Action’s drummer – a band that lasted all of about 5 years. When Local H played their final show with St. Clair in their hometown of Chicago, members of Triple Fast Action and Rights of the Accused (another band St. Clair played in) surprised the drummer by joining the duo on stage and running through a few songs. Unfortunately, that’s about the closest we’ll get to a Triple Fast Action reunion (singer Wes Kidd was notably absent from the surprise party).
While this will be a surely bittersweet occasion for Local H fans, St. Clair’s leaving Lucas to spend more time on his tour managing duties (Cheap Trick, among others) so it’s not like he’s lost the rock n’ roll bug. And, while there’s only been two drummers in Local H’s 23 year history (!!!!), I think it’s a safe bet to assume this won’t be the end of the band – there are probably drummers lining up hoping for a shot to sit in the magic seat following St. Clair’s departure.
I haven’t put a call into the box office so am not sure if this show is sold out yet but the last time Lucas and St. Clair played at The Basement, ticketless fans were turned away at the door due to the sell out.
Van Dale – my favorite local band (and featuring Tim from the “Lunch with Tim” series that we really need to get started back up!) – will open the show but that shouldn’t come as a surprise as they are playing something like 12 shows a week!
If there are tickets still available, you can get ’em at the door for $14. Van Dale goes on at 8:30 so don’t show up late.
