Toadies, Local H, et Vandoliers

The band formed in 1989 and from the get go made no attempt in hiding their influences who spanned from lo-fi punk variants like Mudhoney, Butthole Surffers, Meat Puppets, and Husker Du to classic rock legends such as the cultic/celtic heavy metal forgers Led Zeppelin, country tinged Creedence Clearwater Revival, and doom ridden rockers Black Sabbath. Toadies leapt into the cultural stream inhabited by the fanatic cassette trading generation and self-released some of their first recordings exclusively on this format. These early releases include “Dig a Hole / I Hope You Die” the 7” single “Mister Love” and the cassette EP “Velvet” (a release which included the Pylon cover “Stop It”). Comparisons to the Pixies were further cemented when bassist Kim Deal claimed that “it sounds like us” in regards to the single “Dig a Hole”.

Their EP “Pleather” was issued on Grass Records in 1993 and paved the way for their recording contract with Interscope Records. “Rubberneck” the group’s studio debut album came out on 23 August 1993 and contained their best known song to date “Possum King” (a reference to a lake near the group’s hometown Fortworth). Over half of the album consisted of singles and this strong song selection seemed to be the very force responsible for hurtling the LP into the No.1 spot on the Heatseekers chart and No. 56 on the Billboard 200. The group toured heavily in promotion for this album, headlining shows and opening for acts like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bush, Butthole Surfers, and White Zombie.

In 1997 the group returned to the studio to record their follow up album, which was originally entitled “Feeler”; however, Interscope did not approve of the final product and eventually shelved the project. Two years later the band compiled some of the abandoned tracks and composed newer ones for their 2nd official studio album “Hell Below/Stars Above”. The album featured the title track which sported a guest appearances from the talented singer-songwriter Elliott Smith and the Top 50 single “Push the Hand”. Comparative to the group’s studio debut, this album suffered from poor sales and just five months after it’s release the band called it quits, citing Lisa Umbarger’s departure as the reason.

Toadies reformed in 2006 and on 19 August 2008 released their 3rd studio album “No Deliverance” through Kirtland Records. The album was a successful return for the group as it managed to climb to No. 4 on the Top Independent Albums chart and No. 59 on the Billboard 200. It contained the two popular singles “Song I Hate” and “No Deliverance” as well as a cover of the Cure’s “A Forest”.

The band’s intentional 2nd album “Feeler” finally saw release 13 years after it’s recording. Since the band’s reformation rough demos had been circulating the internet quite frequently and the realization of the public’s interest in these “lost” recordings instigated the group to release the album in a newly mastered format. Because Interscope refused to relinquish the rights of these recording’s the group re-recorded all of these tracks for the 2010 release.

Two years later the band issued it’s 5th studio album “Play.Rock.Music”, which consisted entirely of new material. It was the 1st album to feature Doni Blair on bass and was proceeded by a 20th anniversary reissue of the band’s 1st album “Rubberneck”.

Originally formed whilst in high school, guitarist Scott Lucas and drummer Joe Daniels began jamming together and later invited John Sparkman and Matt Garcia to fill out the sound. Garcia and Sparkman left in the early ‘90s however, and Lucas and Daniels decided to continue on as a duo. After honing their skills as a novel two piece, with Lucas playing a six-string with added bass pick-ups, Local H signed with Island Records in 1995. The band made their debut the same year with “Ham Fisted”, which failed to create a stir with similarities drawn with high-flying Nirvana.

A year later however Local H made their mark as feedback wielding, cynical-lyric delivering rock Mid-westerners, with the 1996 album “As Good as Dead”. Aided by No. 5 single on the US Alternative Billboard chart “Bound for the Floor”, as well as the singles “Eddie Vedder” and “Fritz’s Corner”, the album was later certified gold and earned the band a considerable following. “Pack Up the Cats” was issued in 1998 and maintained the group’s alt-rock and hard rock appeal, however lacked some of the focus of its predecessor.

After Island Records’ parent company Polygram was bought out by Universal Music, the band were lost in the merger, which resulted in Daniels leaving the band, and Local H took three years off from recording music. Replaced by former Triple Fast Action drummer Brian St. Clair, Local H returned in 2002 and released “Here Comes the Zoo” on Palm Pictures Records. Featuring more frantic and aggressive drumming, and lyrics, cutting in their design, the album proved there was still life in the Local H beast. After supporting the album with an extensive touring schedule, the band followed the release with the EP “No Fun” in 2003.

Local H subsequently released their fifth studio album “Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles?” in April 2004, followed by a cover of Britney Spears’ “Toxic”, which earned the band significant publicity. The full-length concept album “Twelve Angry Months” appeared in 2008, and two years later their seventh studio album “Hallelujah! I’m a Bum” hit the shelves. 2011 brought the band first best-of compilation entitled “The Island Years” and in 2013 the EP “The Another February” found its release on Slimstyle Records.