October 2007 Cover Story
FELIX & THE HURRICANES
– A CATEGORY 5 MUSICAL STORM
by Jim Price
You might have heard in last month's news headlines that Hurricane Felix, at one point category 5 in strength, caused stormy conditions along the Central American coast.
Closer to home, a group of Hurricanes led by a Felix has been creating stormy blues rock conditions on regional stages for nearly two decades. A workhorse band that plays well over 200 shows a year, Felix & the Hurricanes have long since become a west-central Pennsylvania institution, and a name synonymous with exciting performances, stellar musicianship, and good times.
The group's namesake and leader, guitarist and singer Felix Kos, first formed the Hurricanes in 1989. The current edition of the group; Felix, bassist and singer Jeff Clapper and drummer Bob Watters; first played together in 1991. Both Boband Jeff eventually departed the band for a few years to pursue other projects, but reunited with Felix in 1998 and have been going strong ever since. The group issued their first studio album, The Feeling, in 2001; and their follow-up, Travelers Not Forgotten, two years later. A third album is currently being recorded, with a possible release before year’s end.
Since day one, The Hurricanes style has been rooted in blues and blues rock, and Southern-styled blues rock in particular. The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Stevie Ray Vaughan have always been strong reference points in TheHurricanes’ sound. That foundation serves as the launching pad for the group to explore and incorporate elements of soul, country, funk and even jazz into their musical identity.
Each band member brings a different background and edge to The Hurricanes’ sound. Felix’s southern rock and blues background is the prevailing and driving presence behind his distinctive guitar style and soulful vocal wail. His skills honed by over 40 years of playing experience in rock’n’roll and country bands, Jeff brings a driving, fluid and powerful bass foundation, clear and strong singing voice, and melodic sharpness into the mix. And after his early years providing the drum thunder behind several area heavy metal bands, Bob (nicknamed “Thunderfoot”) has evolved his dynamic drumming style with The Hurricanes, blending driving power with control and finesse.
On the live stage is where The Hurricanes’ magic truly happens. A Hurricanes show is always three seasoned players executing like a well-oiled machine, throwing caution to the wind and feeding off each others’ cues and the vibe of the audience. The Hurricanes never use a setlist, improvising their song selection on any given night based on the mood of the crowd. Each show is a different adventure, and the music is often nonstop. Felix guides the way, frequently teasing the chords of the next song out of the previous song’s ending, with Jeff and Bob following his lead and picking up on the cue, and the audience hanging on for the ride! All three musicians frequently push each other to the edge, elevating the songs to exciting and furious climaxes. Their chemistry onstage is constant, demonstrating a tightness developed by years of playing together and knowing each other’s styles, cues and tendencies. Their performances have become the natural extensions of their collective mood and personality on any given night. And the fireworks intensify even more if there are guest musicians in the house; The Hurricanes frequently welcome guests onstage to mix it up and have some fun.
Every show features a number of Hurricanes original song favorites, such as vibrant rock-and-rollers like “Keep On Rockin’” and “The Lonely One,” the upbeat and soulful “Walking A Straight Line,” the lowdown blues of “On the Bottom Again,” the reggae-informed “Talk About Love,” bold and boisterous rockers like “Issues” and “Black Widow,” and more. The group’s cover song selection often contains ample doses of Southern rock classics, from Lynyrd Skynyrd canons like “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Call Me The Breeze” and “Ballad of Curtis Loew” to Allman Brothers jam workouts like “Revival,” “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and “No One to Run With,” to the group’s trademark showstopper rendition of The Outlaws’ “Green Grass and High Tides,” plus selections from Stevie Ray Vaughan, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, ZZ Top, Marshall Tucker Band and more. A diverse range of other classics abound during Hurricanes performances as well, spanning the Beatles’ “Something” to Pat Travers’ “Snortin’ Whiskey,” from the Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody” to Los Lonely Boys’ “Heaven,” from Iron Butterfly’s “Innagaddadavida” and Grand Funk Railroad’s “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)” to John Mellencamp’s “Rain on the Scarecrow;” and even some country favorites such as Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” John Michael Montgomery’s “Sold (The Grundy County Auction),” Brooks & Dunn’s “Neon Moon,” Eddie Rabbitt’s “Driving My Life Away” and much more. The Hurricanes’ wide library of songs enables the group to keep each show fresh; in situations where they play two or three shows in one day, they often do so without repeating a song the entire day!
The Hurricanes continue to grow and keep it fresh. The group continually stage-tests and hones new song material at their shows. Songs from the forthcoming new album show the group exploring more different avenues; the song “Postman Jack” incorporates jazz elements into the mix, the dreamy “La La Land” takes on a relaxed tropical flavor, and “Hurtin’ People” shows a stern and angrier edge. As Felix says in the liner notes of the Travelers Not Forgotten CD, “To grow is the greatest experience of any living being…If you stay put, you will die in your own tracks. You gotta move on and grow!”
The Hurricanes have always had a special relationship with their fans, affectionately dubbed “Hurricaniacs.” The Hurricaniacs are a loyal bunch, often following the group far and wide, street-teaming and promoting the group’s performances, and sometimes even doing roadie work. The Hurricanes are always thankful and appreciate their fans, feeding off their love and support during each show. And The Hurricanes throw special parties for their fans, including several “Blues Cruises” aboard The Proud Mary riverboat at Lake Raystown each summer and fall. New fans are always welcome, and the legion of hardcore Hurricaniacs continues to expand.
The image of Felix working the heavy strings of his weathered Strat, Jeff’s focused look of intensity as he booms out his sturdy bass lines, and Bob confidently leveling his driving drumbeats has become one of the most familiar and enduring images on Altoona area stages. The Hurricanes are proud of their long-running tradition, and they continue to strive to please everyone in attendance at their shows. They dig into their hearts and souls to make every show a memorable experience, and to achieve the ultimate high in their expression of music. They are devoted to continuing to spread their magic to the masses. It has been a wild and pleasurable ride thus far, and the end is nowhere in sight.
Jim Price on the “Summer Blues Cruise” with Felix and the Hurricanes
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