Local H's Scott Lucas shares Chicago's top holiday spots, plays Bottom Lounge on New Year's Eve

After 12 Angry Months, Chicago’s own alterna-rockers Local H are coming home for the holidays with a show sure to be both naughty and nice. December 31 marks the band’s annual New Year’s Eve event, held this year at the Bottom Lounge, where fans can feast on the best of the band’s six-disc catalogue before embarking on New Year resolutions. Before the clock strikes midnight, Local H frontman Scott Lucas counts down the top five ways Chicago rocks during the holidays for Paste:Local. 

Best Chicago holiday tradition
It's A Wonderful Life at The Music Box Theatre. “It’s quite possibly my favorite movie. The Music Box shows it every year along with White Christmas and a Christmas sing-along. I'm at the point now where I start bawling during the opening credits. Afterwards, I go to the Gingerman and watch it again on their TV at which point Dave the bartender starts pouring shots of Rumplemintz until my mood turns from 'George Bailey cheer' to 'Mr. Potter crank'."

Best neighborhood place to escape the holiday visitors
Beachwood Inn. “I'm pretty sure that you can escape from anybody in that place.”

Best place to get a meal that doesn’t include turkey
“Me and my friend Mike always go to Carmine's for Thanksgiving. From there we hit some shitty bar on Division until cougars hound us so bad that I throw up my eggplant parmigiana in a red-spray jet stream.”

Best music joint when you don’t want silent nights
“Take your pick. How do you choose just one? It's fucking impossible. Luckily we live in a city that's infested with great music venues. Who else has it so good?”

Best shop to wrap up your holiday gift list
“Uncle Fun is the greatest establishment ever established. A friend who wouldn't want a gift from there is not a friend worth having. Uncle Fun knows a thing or two about cheer… and fake poo.”

Related links:
Paste:Local: Anathallo's Top 5 most serendipitous Canopy Glow moments
Paste:Local: Greg Kot pens basketball book, compares coaching and music writing
Paste:Local: Rachael Yamagata's favorite spots for dating, breaking up, and navigating other matters of the heart