EKOOSTIK HOOKAH & TRUCKS ON HALLOWEEN

ekoostik hookah w/ Derek Trucks Band | 10.31.03 | Newport Music Hall | Columbus, OH

Halloween shows are always memorable for the costumes, but when the creativity in music matches the creativity in dress, it's bound to be a powerful show. Even the biggest of hookah fans have already labeled this show a "must-have" and many have ventured to call it hookah's best show of the year.

Derek Trucks Band was a great choice as an opener as they came out dressed as the funkiest bunch of monks around. Much like his performances with the Allmans, Trucks gave the audience a variety of tunes that highlighted his wide range of influences. From middle-eastern to Motown style tunes, the band incorporated bluesy riffs with funky flute and guitar to back Mike Mattison's incredible vocals. A Bob Marley cover towards the beginning of the show gave the crowd the chance to sing along while the instrumental tunes towards the end of the set allowed for a lull before hookah's storm.

Coming on just after 11 pm, hookah handed out its first treat with the popular tune, "Find Out," which hasn't opened a show since the Canal Street Tavern in Dayton back in 1994. The balcony of the Newport opened up and celebrities like the Slim Jim character, Homer Simpson, and Michael Jackson could be spotted grooving amongst the crowd. A few fans even came dressed as their favorite hookah band members and got lots of laughs.

"Find Out" fell into "Daffodils in Detroit" with ease and gave way to a nasty solo by Sweney. His giant joker mask bobbed as he dominated a large part of the tune against Ed's steady rhythm and Johnny's solid percussion.

When "Slipjig Through the Poppy Fields" appeared third in the lineup the crowd went nuts. First played in 1994 at Columbus' now defunct Chelsie's, this song can be called hookah fans' equivalent to Phish fans' "YEM." Though this 12-minute tune was a considerably shorter version of this sometimes 30-some minute long song, the crowd took full advantage and ate it up. The guitars, keys and drums took the tune to higher and higher levels as the energy surged from the stage. A group of nuns danced wildly in the front row while wizards and warlocks raised wands and scepters high above the crowd. The magic of Halloween descended on that particular tune (its first appearance in Columbus since maybe last Halloween?) and gave the audience the first real indication that this show would be a memorable one.

The next tune brought Derek Trucks back out to join the band for, "Through Hiker," an incredibly energetic song with Steve Sweney, Cliff Starbuck, Ed McGee and Derek Trucks all going at it simultaneously. The floor of the Newport literally shook during this opportunity to watch Trucks add to the already intense vibe on stage.

Moving into the Bad Company cover of "Seagull" gave Dave Katz the floor for a while. This cover has become a staple of hookah setlists and has been around for years. The crowd got to vocalize a bit on this one before square-dancing their way through the bluegrassy and upbeat "Deal With It," the only song that made it onto the setlist from the new album, Ohio Grown.

Ending the first set with "Alexander II," seemed a fitting Fright Night selection, as this tune is actually part two of a ghost story written by Ed McGee. A popular tune amongst hookahheads, this song left the crowd with lots of energy and great, big smiles.

The set II opener was a crowning moment of the evening as Pink Floyd's "Echoes" made its way to the Newport stage for the first time in more than two years. This rare cover brought a hush to the crowd and it was apparent that the band was pretty psyched about its reemergence as well. Sweney's mesmerizing solos and Johnny and Eric's intense percussion did Pink Floyd the justice that few can achieve.

Keeping the vibe and energy up, "Life is Good," was next. A funky jazzed out tune that debuted at the Buckeye Lake Music Center during Fall Hookahville of 2001, "Life is Good" is a personal favorite that usually goes heavy on the percussion and has been performed with many special guests in the past. Steve Kimock has sat in more than once (most recently at this year's Fall Hookahville), lending his jazz-oriented style to the already sultry tune.

Cliff Starbuck took the reins next by giving life to "Caravan," a playful Van Morrison tune that gives the crowd plenty of opportunity to sing along. Cliff's big smile was contagious throughout the song as he belted out even the more difficult scat vocals that makes Van Morrison a legend in his own time. A big Van fan himself, Cliff has been adding "Caravan" to the band's repertoire for several years now and it just keeps getting better.

"Lax" and "Octifrye" kept set II nice and solid. The energy remained high, especially since "Echoes" had been left unfinished the first time and was bound to reappear. By the time "Echoes" came back, the crowd had anticipated its return and just exploded once it happened. The encore was already set up to be amazing.

A "Spiders" tease at the beginning of the encore indicated that this would be a long and spectacular conclusion. Already close to 2 am by this point, the Newport was still rocking and showing no signs of slowing down. The tease gave way to an unfinished "Indica & Sativa," a tune that every person in the room can sing along to. From "I & S" came the surprise that hookah fans had been waiting for. Louis Shockton appeared on stage dressed in a 3-piece suit with Werewolf face paint and belted out the Halloween favorite, "Werewolves of London." Since this Warren Zevon tune sounds eerily close to Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama," the band had some fun with the similarities and did several Skynyrd teases throughout the song. Shockton caught on and even threw in a verse from "Sweet Home Alabama" about half way through the tune before going back into "Werewolves."

"Spiders" came back and wrapped up an unusually long encore medley. Striking the final chords at just before 2:30 am, "Spiders" capped off the evening on a very high note.

In typical hookah fashion, Halloween references were everywhere throughout the night. From the Michael Jackson "Thriller" set break music to the theme from Friday the 13th teases throughout the encore, the band took advantage of this opportunity and had a little fun. The Halloween Newport show ranks amongst the finest hookah shows in a while, and will hopefully be the precursor to a killer NYE performance.

SETLIST:
I: Find Out> Daffodils in Detroit, Slipjig Through the Poppy Fields, Through Hiker*, Seagull**, Deal With It, Alexander II

II: Echoes^> Life is Good, Caravan^^, Lax, Octofrye, Echoes

E: Spiders tease> Indica & Sativa> Werewolves of London#> Spiders

Comments:
*with Derek Trucks on guitar
** Bad Company cover
^ Pink Floyd cover
^^ Van Morrison cover
# Warren Zevon cover; with Louis Shockon on vocals; with "Sweet Home Alabama" tease

Words by: Samantha Hanford
Images by: Gene A Felice II
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