Saturday Morning Soundtrack -- "All The Kids Are Right" by Local H

Getting after it a little late this weekend, but better late than never! In the Saturday Morning Soundtrack series we have friend and former band mate Dan Joyce here from the blog Green Chamber Studio to take us (me) on a trip down memory lane.

---

"All The Kids Are Right" -- Local H (1998)

The return of summer brings back memories of growing up and playing in a garage band. Well, actually, it was a basement band. But we had fun and like many high school rock bands, we played a few shows, had a few fights, and never made it big. To continue the trip down memory lane, I could put on one our CD’s, but instead I reach for the grunge/punk sounds of 90’s duo Local H. “All The Kids Are Right” is off their 1998 album, Pack Up The Cats. The song begins with guitar and vocals, presenting a lonely lament about a show that didn’t live up to expectations. And that’s something that we can all relate to in one way or another. Often you only get one chance to make an impression and after that, well, you’re left with the sounds of your own voice.

On a lighter note, the lyrics highlight all the things that can go wrong at a show. Faulty wiring, drunken band members, and a fickle crowd all contribute to the (perhaps inevitable) demise of a well-intentioned gig. But this humor has a lesson in it, commenting on the dangers of trying to impress the masses, whose tastes and loyalties are fair-weather, at best.

“You heard that we were great / now you know we’re lame / since you saw the show last night / you hoped that we would rock / wish that we’d just stop / finally we said goodnight / when we returned for the encore / you turned and headed for the door / no one wanted more”

The cool basement on a Saturday morning, the hum of of our amps, and the freedom of playing in your own garage band as you and your friends burn through the summer--I’ll remember those days fondly as I sit here today, squinting into the summer sun and straining my ears for the sound of the next local garage band warming up in their parents’ basement. Summer is a reminder of spent youth and the stories we carry on into adulthood. You don’t have to make it big to create great memories . . . though it couldn’t hurt.

---

Love the song? Hate it? Have thoughts to share? Please, feel free to leave a message in the comments below. And, if you would like to write a Guest Entry for the "Saturday Morning Soundtrack" series where you creatively respond to one of your favorite rock songs, don't hesitate to contact me with queries.