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Ekoostik Hookah rocks out New Years Eve

By Mollie Wells

Devoted ekoostik hookah fans were not deterred by bad weather or highly priced tickets New Years Eve. They filled the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion Sunday night to witness the first concert of 2007 showcasing a band looking back to its roots in more ways than one.

Ekoostik Hookah performed at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion Sunday night. Photo by bram fulk /UW

The event, held annually in Columbus, has always been a chance for hookah to pay tribute to its hometown and loyal fans. But on this particular New Years Eve, the band was returning to the same venue, where one year ago Dave Katz, Eric Lanese, Steve Sweney and Cliff Starbuck played their last show with guitarist of nine years Ed McGee and announced that the New Years concert would be followed by an ekoostik hiatus in early 2006.

Though the fate of the schwa was in question for much of last year, the New Year proved once again a time to celebrate. With the return of the band’s original guitarist/vocalist John Mullins and a new album Under Full Sail: It All Comes Together (a nod to their very first album, Under Full Sail, recorded with Mullins in 1991) coming out later this month, the evening saw a solid, understated performance by a band obviously back in business.

Amid chanting of “hookah” from the crowd, the first set opened with Ecstasy, featuring keyboardist Dave Katz on guitar and lead vocals. For the next thirty minutes, one song flowed energetically to the next, the heavy music only lifting to highlight guitarist Steve Sweney in his extensive solos. With Mullins’ raspy vocals taking the lead, the sound during this opening sequence was more reminiscent of a Pink Floyd electric acid trip than the band’s own moniker. Just as the tone seemed set for a rock concert, though, a bluegrass style jam, during which Starbuck, Mullins and Katz all harmonized, offered a welcome change and a glimpse into the group’s musical diversity. The last song of the set, Schwa, featured opening act Mike Perkins in a fan-favorite named after the group’s phonetic symbol.

Just before midnight, the band came back on stage to celebrate as the Times’ Square countdown appeared on the big screen. To ring in the New Year, they played Waterbear, the only song of the evening from the upcoming album. Their second set lasted an impressive two hours, not unusual for an ekoostik hookah show, with the final encore a Led Zeppelin cover.

Though ekoostik hookah’s five members are not exactly visual performers, they certainly put on a commendable show. After all, they drew in and held a humbled crowd for nearly four hours. And the fans didn’t seem to be focused on the band itself, but rather on letting the substance of the music take them higher. Well, maybe there were other substances involved as well, but at $50 a ticket, the schwa must be doing something right.

Originally Published: January 3, 2007

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