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Huffamoose Displays Its Nimble Style

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Huffamoose is an unassuming band that stubbornly shrugs off quick categorization. Its single, “James,” charts two idealistic kids as they face life’s hard (read: financial) realities. During an early evening set at the Troubadour on Thursday, the Philadelphia quartet hinted of Cake’s freewheeling attitude, local garage-folk group Thelonious Monster’s literate wordplay and Steely Dan’s jazz bent.

Singer Craig Elkins hardly appears to harbor big rock-star dreams. He started Huffamoose to combat a severe episode of hypochondria. With his eyes closed and looking like a university teacher’s assistant, he sang numbers from the group’s debut album, “We’ve Been Had Again,” with a complete lack of attitude. Charred yet never quite cynical, Elkins delivered such self-deprecating zingers as “You are rhythm, I’m a cold shower” and “I write the songs that make the whole world think about absolutely nothing.”

Elkins has a deep, seductive voice when he’s not straining for the higher registers, but Huffamoose also revealed an astute musical sense. With a foundation in country and modern jazz, the band delved into strange tempo shifts and odd melodies, and nevertheless managed to make it all rock.

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The sound is definitely an acquired taste. By the time Elkins launched into the unabashedly romantic “Buy You a Ring,” however, it was obvious that, although Huffamoose might never make the world sing, it does have two nice things up its collective sleeve: a refreshingly nimble musical style and Elkins’ sober honesty.

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