Photo Credit: Audrey Leon

Hard rock duo Local H conjured up a special space-themed New Year’s Eve show for a sold out performance at the Double Door last Thursday.

Dubbed “2010: The Year We Break Contracts” — a play on the movie title 2010: The Year We Make Contact, the 1984 sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s acclaimed 2001: A Space Odyssey — the show began with frontman Scott Lucas and drummer Brian St. Clair donning matching white space suits equipped with helmets. Local H ripped through such spacey rock classics as Pixies’ “Planet of Sound,” David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream” and Pink Floyd’s “Eclipse” before launching into its own material.

For a band that has six full-length albums in its repertoire, Local H is extremely adept in making set lists that include a bit from each. Local H kicked off its part of the show with the quiet seriousness of “Hands on the Bible,” from 2002’s Here Comes the Zoo before launching into the ever-popular around any city that is not located on the east or west coast “California Songs.”

Photo Credit: Audrey Leon

Adding to the post-apocalyptic atmosphere, film clips of several Sci-Fi movies including RoboCop, Starship Troopers and 2010 appeared on the screen behind the band. Local H expertly crafted this mood to prepare the audience for the ultimate New Year’s jam, “What Would You Have Me Do,” from 2002’s Here Comes The Zoo, a song in which Lucas details his party plans: “We don’t need nothing but cyanide / pull the teeth won’t be identified.”

While the crowd ate up songs like “High Fiving MF” and “Eddie Vedder,” from 1996‘s As Good As Dead, an electrified version of “No Problem,” from the same album, was an unexpected gem on this night. The song spanned 10 minutes and included a lengthy jam. It was the perfect last song (before the encore) with Lucas crooning the lyrics, “You had me but it’s over now.”

Photo Credit: Audrey Leon

The sound at the Double Door last Thursday was excellent. Both St. Clair, who bashed the skins as if his life depended upon it, and Lucas gave solid performances; Lucas was in a good mood and it showed. Our heroic astronauts were assisted throughout the night by a variety of guests including Ace Frehley (Married Men guitarist Peter Muschong), Jesus, and a high school letterman-jacket wearing alien (Gabe Rodriguez) who could scream like nobody’s business.

While the setting may have depicted a bleak future to come, Local H warmed the cockles of my icy heart during its 90+ minute set before sending me back out into Chicago’s brutal cold.

Set List

Robot Rock (Daft Punk)
Planet Of Sound (Pixies)
Rocket Ride (Kiss)
Astro Zombies (The Misfits)
Moonage Daydream (David Bowie)
Space Age Love Song (A Flock of Seagulls)
Eclipse (Pink Floyd)

Encore
What Would You Have Me Do?
Wolf Like Me (TV on the Radio)