At 42, Scott Lucas may be getting older, but hes not giving up on music. In fact, hes even more committed.
As half of the Chicago rock duo Local H (Bound to the Floor), Lucas evidently found one bands full slate of touring and recording as not enough, so he struck up a solo project, Scott Lucas and the Married Men, which releases its second album on June 5.
I was writing these songs, and they totally werent Local H songs. It felt totally right for a solo record, Lucas said. I love playing and I love to tour; the more I can do, the better.
The Married Men tracks take on a more Americana-influenced, folk-flavored sound than the grungier one Local H is known for, but the line can be fuzzy, since Lucas always wanted the Local H sound to be ambiguous.
Id always wanted Local H to be able to play anything, so its not always a clear distinction, at least to listeners. Its kind of like pornography: You dont know what it is, but you know when you see it, he said. I dont see myself stopping Local H anytime soon. If I did that, it would mean that I stopped writing Local H records, and that doesnt happen.
Hes backed up those words with action. Local Hs seventh studio album, Hallelujah! Im a Bum, is due this year.
We had an idea of what it would be pretty early on, and Im glad we pulled it off. Its big double-record big. Its the biggest thing weve tried to do thus far, Lucas said. Itll be interesting to see reactions. The last record was so personal. This record, I wanted to look around at the country and write about that feeling. Its very of-the-moment.
Even as Local H celebrates 25 years together, Lucas doesnt see him and Brian St. Clair slowing down any time soon. So whats kept them around?
Bullheadedishness a sense of always trying to be present, he said. Its never gotten to a point where we looked to rest on past records. Were always looking forward and trying to do something else. Its a certain level of commitment that not everyone has. Its just the way it is.