You would think being a member of an internationally celebrated band for more than 45 years would be enough for any musician. But David Uosikkinen is not just any musician.
Instead, he’s a musician who has devoted immeasurable amounts of blood, sweat (and probably even tears) to keeping alive the decades-old legacy of music made by Philadelphia—or Philly-adjacent–artists. His vehicle for doing so is “In The Pocket,” an unending series of recording projects of Philly-born tunes performed by a small army of veteran Delaware Valley musicians. Past ITP efforts have included covers of such Philly-signature songs as the early Hall & Oates track “Fall in Philadelphia,” The Soul Survivors’ “Expressway to Your Heart,” “Back Stabbers” by The O’Jays and Robert Hazard’s “Escalator of Life.”
Uosikkinen (pronounced aw-si-KIN-in; he’s of Finnish heritage) was certainly in a position to undertake the task of mounting a continuing celebration of the Delaware Valley’s music. As an original (and current) member of The Hooters—the 46-year-old unit that is the most successful rock act to remain based in the city–he is top-tier local-music royalty, which gives him the clout to easily recruit area musicians.
“In The Pocket” (musician-speak for the synchronization of bass guitar and drums in a band’s rhythm section) was conceived at a time when he was seeking something new and different to do with his life.
“I was living in San Diego and going through a divorce at the time,” recalled the 70-year-old Uosikkinen, who, on Sept. 26, brings ITP to the Ardmore Music Hall.
“I’d come back to work with The Hooters and I would sometimes have lunch with my friend, [Philly-based publicist] Dallyn Pavey. She too was divorced. I kid people when I say no one else would have us. And when I was around her, I just felt like everything was right in the world.
“And one day, we were walking through Rittenhouse Square. It was right after the Phillies won the 2008 World Series and I noticed a change in Philadelphia. The city was rocking. I used to live at 24th and Spruce, and I remember it was never like this. I felt a completely different city.
“I specifically remember this moment where we’re sitting on a bench and I said to her, ‘I gotta do something.’ I was seeing some ‘mailbox money’ [from royalties earned by Hooters’ records], so it wasn’t like I had to go find a gig every day. But I wanted to start a project.
“And I mentioned it and Dallyn said, ‘You gotta find something to do.’”
The ‘A-ha!’ moment
Actually, at the time, Uosikkinen did have a “day job” of sorts as a content director for an online music-streaming company called mp3.com. Because he was a drummer, he was dubbed the “In the Pocket Guy” by co-workers.
And then came the “a-ha!” moment.
During a discussion with Pavey–whom he married in 2017—Uosikkinen lamented that, despite being the home of so many successful musical artists, Philadelphia seemed to be known outside the city only for the music that emanated from Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff’s Philadelphia International record label, which was firmly entrenched in the worlds of soul and R&B music.
“The thing of it is,” he said, emphasizing how important the different types of music were to his development as a musician, “is that there was so much more to Philadelphia than Philly International. On the jazz level, the blues level, on the folk level. “It’s a melting pot of great music from all different genres. And I felt like there wasn’t just one specific genre” that was the city’s calling card.
“So, Dallyn said, ‘Well, why don’t you do a project that pays homage to the music that made you who you are?’” And thus, the concept—if not the name—was born.
Originally, Uosikkinen dubbed the project “The Essential Songs of Philadelphia.” But, he explained, “We got rid of that because I had a lot of people say to me, ‘Well, who are you to pick the essential songs?’ And so “In the Pocket” it became.
To date, Uosikkinen and his fellow ITPers—who have included bassist Kenny Aaronson, who’s backed the likes of Bob Dylan, Billy Idol and Joan Jett, Hooters teammates Rob Hyman, Eric Bazilian, John Lilley and Fran Smith Jr. and local-scene stalwarts Kenn Kweder, Tommy Conwell, guitarist Greg Davis, Richard Bush and Steve Butler of Smash Palace—have produced 24 files, all of which are available for purchase at songsinthepocket.org. While most are studio tracks, there are some live performances as well.
Uosikkinen said he’s been asked why he doesn’t take ITP beyond the boundaries of the Delaware Valley. The reason, he insisted, is that he didn’t undertake it as a commercial endeavor, but as what it is: A labor of love.
“I feel very fortunate to be in a position to be able to do a project like this and do it with Dallyn [who is deeply involved in promotion and other behind-the-scenes activities]. We have fun with it,” he said.
“I feel like it’s my way of paying thanks to Philadelphia for giving me something to get up for every day.”
For tickets to the Ardmore Music Hall show, go to ardmoremusichall.com.
