Tonight’s line-up at the M-Shop sends a collage of feelings through my mind. Memories too good to be true and too hard to handle are twisting themselves around my head. Tripping Daisy’s opening act, Local H, were more a part of my past than you could ever imagine. The story of Local H and their voyage to Urbandale High School is like a fairy tale, without the mystical ending.

Most up and rising bands are looking for something to put their name in the press. But when newspapers throughout central Iowa and independent magazines from all around the Midwest published stories about Local H, it wasn’t quite what they had wished for.

The Local H tragedy of Urbandale High began back in January of ’95. I was adding another dimension to my CD review column in our school paper by contacting distributors of major record labels. I was informed of “the next Nirvana” on my very first call. According to Polygram Distributor Scott White, all Local H needed was to be heard.

As expected, the idealistic half of my brain instantly took over. I was quick to review Ham Fisted, Local H’s debut CD. After a perfect review, Local H stayed in my CD player and in my mind for months to come. Impressed with the review, White and I conversed more and more about the “dynamic duo.” The two of us quickly dreamed up the possibility of a Local H concert at Urbandale.

Pieces began to fit together like a puzzle. A few things would work out and I would hit an obstacle. I would work my way around one, only to find another. Eventually, permission was granted by my principal, and Local H officially placed Urbandale on their concert calendar.

Local H had volunteered to play for free, as well as the both opening acts.

After a hectic month of final touches, constant publicity, and ticket sales, the night I had been dreaming of for months had finally arrived. On Friday, April 14, we managed to change the quiet little Junior High gym into a massive concert hall.

With my head pounding and body shaking, I took the stage to introduce the Island recording artist, Local H. I warned the crowd intently of the consequences of their behavior. When I left the stage that night, I experienced a fear incomparable to anything I have ever felt.

Daniels, who handles the drums for the band, glanced at Lucas and intensely went into their first song. Lucas, who manages guitar and bass, used his custom-built guitar to energize an already enthusiastic crowd with the screaming tune “Bag of Hammers.”

For the first time, in all of the minds that cluttered that gym, Urbandale High School was cool. At that instant, all of the struggles were worth it.

Lucas grabbed the microphone after their third song and informed me and the 500 kids begging to hear more, that administrators were “afraid of all the dancing.” Without my knowledge, our principal had decided to end the show early. Big mistake.

When Local H began what they hoped would be a song to calm the crowd down and allow them to play longer, the anger and frustration of the students was let out. As the lights slowly faded in, everyone knew it was their final opportunity to feel cool. Slam dancing and crowd surfing were instantly entered into the vocabulary of the administration.

My body completely crumbled when the instruments from the two heroes of my life were unplugged. Tears poured down my face as I watched Daniels kick his drum set over in anger and Lucas plead with my principal. Protests by the students were short to last as the gym quickly emptied out. All that was left in the gym that once defined happiness, was one angry high school kid and two of his newest friends, comforting him.

I’ll always remember the last words of Local H as they packed up to leave Iowa. “We’ll be back.” Tonight, these words come true, and you can bet I’ll be the standing front center, belting out the lyrics from my favorite band. Local H will embrace you with their talent, and for the first time in Iowa, play their entire show.