iradiophilly | Culture - 'Wait' No More: The Return of Huffamoose at the Ardmore Music Hall to Benefit "Dan's Voice"

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'Wait' No More: The Return of Huffamoose at the Ardmore Music Hall to Benefit "Dan's Voice"

by: Adrian Hickman - Havertown, PA
started: 11/14/14 10:18 pm | updated: 11/14/14 10:18 pm

There are few things more wonderful in life than family and getting together for family. That includes families that go beyond just blood relations. This is what is happening Sunday, November 23rd at the Ardmore Music Hall as Philly legends Huffamoose return to the stage, bringing their friends to play music to support other friends involved with Dan's Voice.

Dan's Voice for Head and Neck Cancer (http://www.dansvoice.org) was founded by Brenda Rich, the wife of Dan Rich, to fund research, advanced diagnostic tools, and enhanced patient care and support for those suffering from head and neck cancer. The organization is inspired by Danâ€™s battle to not let throat cancer kill his will to live.

I spoke on the phone with Kevin Hanson, guitarist and vocalist with Huffamoose, about the upcoming event. This is where the extended family comes in. Kevin gave credit to his good friend Paul Ritano, who is a throat cancer survivor and who came up with the thought that Philly would love to see and hear Huffamoose again. The band and he felt that it was a great opportunity to advance the mission, message, and impact of Dan's Voice.

This idea was powerful enough to reunite the well loved Philly band despite having officially broken up back in 2001 and the distance now separating them, with Craig Elkins living in LA and Kevin, Jim Stager, and Erik Johnson back here in Philly. Kevin and the band extended invitations to Jim Boggia and Ben Arnold as well as The Fractals to join them for the night.

Huffamoose was a vital part of the 90â€™s music scene in Philly. With Temple University as common ground for all of them to meet, Kevin, Jim, and Erik started out performing as a jazz combo in the early 90â€™s, then joining up with Craig to form Huffamoose. In a short time, 90â€™s rock radio was taking notice. WXPN picked up on their song "James" which kicked off almost a decade of activity, including time spent with Interscope Records.

Their influences couldnâ€™t be better chosen, including Todd Rundgren, Steeley Dan and the album that Kevin said blew them away when they first heard it, Jeff Buckley's Grace. Kevin mentioned that the band also developed an R&B undercurrent that recalled artists like Stevie Wonder.

During the next few months of local shows, Kevin says they became a tight cohesive rock band, and that would be honed even further with some intense touring. There was a tour in 1993 but the ones that really clicked started in 1994, when Huffamoose won a slot at Woodstock â€™94.

Over the next few years, they motor-homed constantly around the country. Kevin pointed to a strong following that developed in the western United States, including Dallas, Denver and San Francisco.

In two years, Huffamoose circled the country 5 times. This also led to a documentary, Here Comes Huffamoose, that director Cameron Crowe cites as one of his favorites. More national acclaim came with their 1998 appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien to perform the song "Wait".

However, the constant touring eventually created conflict and a decade after they started, Huffamoose broke up. But that was only as an active band. The members of Huffamoose remained good friends and reunited briefly for two shows in 2009 at World CafÃ© Live and The Grape Room.

And that brings up to today. One reason why this reunion show was so exciting, in spite of those past conflicts, is that the band members have remained friends. Kevin said that â€œThe music is really fun to play. Iâ€™m really excited about playing these songs again. When we did it the last time (2009), we just picked up our instruments. We hadnâ€™t played in ten years and from the first note, we just played everything down cold, without thinking about it at all. No second guessing because we played those songs so much, itâ€™s like part of our skeletonâ€.

Thatâ€™s how families are. Even years apart drift away when you get back together, and that is how the Return of Huffamoose benefiting Dan's Voice will be. You can join this family and support a vital cause: Dan's Voice Loud and Clear Musical Festival 2014, (event sponsored by EMS). Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 day of show. Doors open at 5:30 and the show starts at 6 PM. The Ardmore Music Hall is at 23 E. Lancaster Ave in Ardmore Pa. Tickets can be ordered at http://www.ardmoremusichall.com

You can also follow the event on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/1492520554350159/?ref=br_tf