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.

Simple Pleas
Local H Lyrics

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There's no one left to lie and no one knows what you're talking about
The vultures are in sight and all the jackals, they're checkin' you out
I thought I was in love but you cured me of that notion fast
You're beyond and you're above, some illusions never seem to last

Baby just don't lie to me
You know I thrive on jealousies
I'll boil it down to simple pleas

Baby, just don't lie to me

No one knows what you're talkin' about
Miscast in the role, in the role that I was born to play
This loser act I know, is only gettin' sadder each day
I guess you were too new, I needed someone who was damaged like me
I think I thought you'd do

Baby, just don't lie to me
You know I thrive on jealousies
I'll boil it down to simple pleas
Baby, just don't lie to me

Don't lie to me... let go

I can't let go, I can't let go
I know you want one thing, I know you wanna get away
But I can't let go, I can't let go
I know you wanna clean break, I know you wanna get away
I always said you were too good
I always said you were too good
I always said you were too good and now you believe
I think I always knew that you were gonna leave

And I can't let go, I can't let go
I know you wanna get away, I know you want one thing

I can't let go, I can't let go
I know you wanna clean break but I just can't let go

Overall Meaning

"Simple Pleas" by Local H is a song about a failed relationship where the singer feels deceived and forgotten. The song begins by describing how there is nobody left to lie to, and how the vultures and jackals are checking the singer out. This line demonstrates the singer's angst and the feeling of being watched and judged by others. The lyrics then talk about how the singer was in love with the other person, but they cured him of that notion fast. He realizes that some illusions never seem to last, and that the other person is beyond and above him.

The chorus has the singer pleading with the other person, asking them not to lie to him. He thrives on jealousies and can boil the request down to simple pleas. The song continues with the singer feeling miscast in the role he was born to play, and that his loser act is only getting sadder each day. Despite this, the singer needed a partner who was damaged like him, and he thought the other person would do.

Line by Line Meaning

There's no one left to lie and no one knows what you're talking about
You're all alone with no one left to deceive and no one to understand what you're trying to say

The vultures are in sight and all the jackals, they're checkin' you out
People are waiting for you to fail, and they're circling you like vultures and jackals, ready to pounce

I thought I was in love but you cured me of that notion fast
I believed I was in love with you, but you quickly showed me that my feelings were unfounded

You're beyond and you're above, some illusions never seem to last
You are on a level that I cannot reach, and some things that I have believed to be true will never last with you

Baby just don't lie to me
Please be honest with me and don't deceive me

You know I thrive on jealousies
I have a tendency to become jealous, and that fuels me in some way

I'll boil it down to simple pleas
I just want you to be straightforward with me and tell me the truth

No one knows what you're talkin' about
You're being unclear and no one understands what you're saying

Miscast in the role, in the role that I was born to play
I feel like I'm being forced to play a part that I don't belong in

This loser act I know, is only gettin' sadder each day
My behavior is pathetic and it's only getting worse over time

I guess you were too new, I needed someone who was damaged like me
You were too different from me, I needed someone who was broken in the same way that I am

I think I thought you'd do
I hoped you would be the right fit for me, but it turns out I was wrong

Don't lie to me... let go
Please don't deceive me anymore and just move on from this situation

I can't let go, I can't let go
I'm unable to move on from you

I know you want one thing, I know you wanna get away
I am aware that all you want is to leave this situation behind

But I can't let go, I can't let go
Unfortunately, I cannot let this go

I know you wanna clean break, I know you wanna get away
I understand that you want a clean break and to move on

I always said you were too good
I always felt like you were better than me in some way

And now you believe, I think I always knew that you were gonna leave
You now believe that I am not the right person for you, and I think deep down, I always knew that you would eventually leave

Contributed by Taylor F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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