Local H is an alternative rock band which formed in 1987 in Zion, Illinois,… Read Full Bio ↴Local H is an alternative rock band which formed in 1987 in Zion, Illinois, United States. The band originally consisted of Scott Lucas (vocals, guitar, bass) and Joe Daniels (drums). Daniels left in 1999 and was replaced by Brian St. Clair who was the band's drummer until he left in late 2013. Ryan Harding would replace him, and is the current drummer for the duo. They are perhaps best known for their 1996 hit single "Bound for the Floor".

Each year, critics at the Chicago Tribune name a "Chicagoan of the Year." The 2008 winner for music was Local H.

Local H started as hard-rock duo formed by Scott Lucas (vocals/guitar/bass) and Joe Daniels (drums). The two began in 1987 at their mainline high school in Zion. After failed attempts at recruiting a bassist, Lucas added bass pickups to his electric guitar.

Local H's 1995 debut Ham Fisted was released to lukewarm reception, but their 1996 follow-up As Good as Dead was certified gold and contained the hits "Bound for the Floor" and "Eddie Vedder." It was better received by critics, as was 1998's Pack Up the Cats, which spawned the single "All the Kids Are Right." Unfortunately, their label Polygram merged with Universal, and the album was all but forgotten in transition.

Daniels left in 1999. Lucas recruited recent Triplefastaction drummer Brian St. Clair later that year. St. Clair was a drum tech for Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick. Lucas and St. Clair released their first album together, Here Comes the Zoo, in 2002 on Palm Pictures. The No Fun EP came next in 2003, and Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles? followed in 2004 to favorable reviews, with the track "Everyone Alive" being featured in the 2004 video game Burnout 3. The break-up concept album 12 Angry Months followed in 2008, and to coincide with the 2012 presidential election the group issued Hallelujah! I'm a Bum that year, both albums receiving critical praise.

Brian St. Clair would amicably leave the band, playing his last show in November 2013, before Ryan Harding joined to fill in his spot. In 2015, the duo would issue their ninth studio album Hey, Killer through G&P Records, an independent label they operate that has also been utilized for smaller releases for the band in the past. In 2020, the duo iussued Lifers through AntiFragile Music.

Local H garnered good publicity for a cover of the Britney Spears hit "Toxic". The cover was available on the band's web site and is the last track on the otherwise live album Alive '05, issued in 2005. "Toxic" has been performed at recent concerts.

Local H is known for creativity in concerts. In 2003, the band auctioned off a concert on eBay, and in 2004, performed at Fritz's Corner in Zion. In 2005, the duo performed a series of set-list request shows, where the audience got to vote on what they wanted the band to play. Gabe Rodriguez often accompanied the band on tour and provided back-up vocals or kazoo playing.

Every Halloween, Local H plays in Ardmore, masquerading as a certain group. They have performed as Nirvana, Tom Petty, Oasis, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, and Sex Pistols.

Hand To Mouth
Local H Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In 'bout a million hours from now
We're gonna find what life's about
We're gonna wrap our heads around
What no one could figure out
To find just one unbroken stare
A space in time to share
We're gonna stop these lies of ours
In 'bout a hundred million hours

You'll learn what really matters
You'll know what really counts
You'll hear the chitter-chatter
They say when you're living hand to mouth

And it may take two million years
To lift a single stone
We'll have to face a billion fears
Just to find we're all alone
To find just one unbroken stare, stare
Just a single one who cares, cares
Is that all it's about, about
These little lives of ours?

You'll learn what really matters
You'll know what really counts
You'll hear the chitter-chatter
They say when you're living hand to mouth

Ah, ah, ah, ah (x2)
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah (x2)

It's all you'll ever be (x2)

You'll learn what really matters
You'll know what really counts
You'll hear the chitter-chatter
They say when you're living hand to mouth (x2)
You'll learn what really matters
You'll know what really counts
You'll hear the chitter-chatter
They say when you're living hand to mouth (x2)
You'll learn, ah, ah, ah, ah, what really matters, ah
You'll know, ah, ah, ah, ah, what really counts, ah
You'll hear, ah, ah, ah, ah, the chitter-chatter, ah
They say, ah, ah, ah, ah, when you're living hand to mouth, ah (x3)
You'll learn, ah, ah, ah, ah, what really matters, ah, ah, ah, ah
You'll know, ah, ah, ah, ah, what really counts, ah, ah, ah, ah

You'll hear, ah, ah, ah, ah, the chitter-chatter, ah, ah, ah, ah
They say, ah, ah, ah, ah, when you're living hand to mouth, ah, ah, ah, ah (x3)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Local H's "Hand to Mouth" touch upon the existential search for meaning amidst the frustrations of living paycheck to paycheck. The band suggests that the answers to life's big questions require a profound shift in perception, one that could take millions, if not billions, of years to achieve. The opening stanza sets up this theme, suggesting that some distant moment in the future, people will finally "wrap [their] heads around what no one could figure out." The song's narrator notes that this quest for understanding requires significant effort and perseverance, and it's likely that individuals will need to confront their deepest fears to do so.

As the track progresses, it becomes clear that the notion of living "hand to mouth" has significant implications for the human experience. The lyrics suggest that when individuals are consumed with fulfilling their basic needs and struggling to make ends meet, they miss out on essential aspects of life. They fail to appreciate the beauty of the present moment or connect meaningfully with others. The song's chorus reinforces this idea, declaring that those living "hand to mouth" need to learn what really matters and what truly counts in life. The final stanza sums up the song's central message, stressing that true understanding requires "what really counts" and "what really matters" and that everyone must contend with the "chitter-chatter" of daily life to achieve it.

Overall, Local H's "Hand to Mouth" offers a thoughtful reflection on the human search for meaning in a world where so much emphasis is placed on basic survival. The lyrics ask listeners to consider how they can approach life on a deeper level, even when confronted with the frustrations of day-to-day living.

Line by Line Meaning

In 'bout a million hours from now
At some point in the distant future

We're gonna find what life's about
Discover the meaning and purpose of existence

We're gonna wrap our heads around
Fully comprehend and understand

What no one could figure out
The unsolvable mysteries of life

To find just one unbroken stare
To have a shared moment of clarity

A space in time to share
A moment to connect and bond

We're gonna stop these lies of ours
Stop deceiving ourselves

In 'bout a hundred million hours
Even further into the future

You'll learn what really matters
Discover what is truly important

You'll know what really counts
Understand what truly has value

You'll hear the chitter-chatter
The background noise and distractions of life