Huffamoose Displays Its Nimble Style

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.

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.