MULLINS BACK ON HOOKAH

This is what I've been waiting to hear!! And for John to come right out and face his past demons in his letter is great. I became a Hookah fan in '95 and have been to many H'villes and other shows, but I'm sorry, Ed didn't do it for me. I'm very pleased!!

This is great news. anyone who is looking for a great time should go to the ledges to check this out, and make sure you bring your gameface, because we are ready to get down.

This is great news! I thought John Mullins was a key part of Hookah in their early years and am very excited to see him back.

ah yes!!!!!!!!!thats music to my ears!!!!!!now if i could those guys to tour down south!!!!!!!!!HOOKAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Congratulations to John, and to the rest of ekoostik hookah. I know this is going to be one hell of a year.

I CANNOT wait for these shows.

...and Hookahville too? I was afraid that festival might have gone the way of the dinosaurs but hell it's even at Buckeye Lake! Bring on Hookahville 25!

HALLELUIAH!! Now all we need is Don back.

This puts a smile on my face 10 miles wide!!!! Seeing these guys from 93-96 was a blast and I can't wait to take up where they left off! Congratulations John, you deserve this! See you at the Ledges!

Welcome back to the original loner...time to retire Hookah you are way past your time...I think that Ed leaving was a hint and you guys didnt take it...you are now like a bad nostalgic act.

First off, HELLLLLLL YEA! Can't wait. I got into Hookah after Mullins left the band, and from what I've heard from longer-term Hookah fans is that I missed out on the best. Ed wrote some good songs, but his stage presence always bugged me. He seemed more interested in showing off his arms and flirting with chicks on stage than playing the music. Either way, I'm excited to experience a new era of Hookah and even more excited to hear the same old Hookah. Welcome back boys, don't forget about Michigan!

Good news, good news!!! What great timing huh? Can't wait for my next Hookahville!!

After seeing John Jam with the Hookah boys last fall at the Ledges. I must say I was hoping and saw this coming around. With many years of watching Ed keep trying to fit into a band in which he never belonged, was getting very hard to watch and hear. The way Dave, Cliff, Eric, and Steve jam as one, smileing enjoying themselves is what it's all about. If a band is enjoying what there are creating together, so will the people. I'm very happy for the Columbus boys!!!!! Come play in Colorado and UTAH!!!!

First of all, chrisgearing, you have obviously never experienced a pre-Ed Hookah show, or you were beaten down by the C-Bus police at Newport one night and have never forgiven the band, because your comments show you have no knowledge of what Hookah was all about in the early 90's. You have your right to your opinion, but as you can see, you are definitely the minority here.

Mullins was a smokey, raspy singer songwriter who gave Hookah the darkness that was a very important part of the band's personality. When Mullins left and Ed, with his wife-beater, Bobby Wanna-Be outfits on, that was a tough pill to swallow for many who had seen the band so many times from 90-95. This move, although too late to make a large "national scene" impact, is the way it should be with Hookah. These guys are do it yourselfer's - they have done it themselves from the inception. What a great way to spend the next however many years, together, as the original cast.

These guys won't ever make it to the big time - but I can assure you, these guys will be back to their 5-days a week, 45 weeks a year, very soon and you will be lucky to catch as many of those shows as possible.

BTW - Saw first Mullins' Viper->McCully-Viper sandwich ever at Lynaughs in Lexington. Still the only one ever with a SBD tape of that show - thanks Dubba!

OUT

Amazing...I was hoping the hiatus wouldn't last too long...but the dust settled alot quicker than I expected. I have to admit i was enjoying running around tryin to catch everyone's shows...but I'm so excited that they are back already for the upcoming festival season...and back at buckeye lake for hookahville!! that was always my favorite place for some reason, minus the rain :)

sweeeeet!!!! Don's back, that is awsome!!!! Now only if Hooka would just break up and never play again the world would better place. Where you at Yoko?

I have heard many things about this John Mullins fellow, one about his stage presence, I hope it dosent end up like before. Also about his music, the sound lyrics hes been able to write. I am looking forward to seeing a different version of the schwa. Following the footsteps of old bill, ill see yall at ..........

oh yeah -- mullins is back --- the schwa has returned --- and hoookahville is back and will be better than ever -- legend valley here i come -- peace and SCHWA !!!!

Hell ya, cant wait to here the old hookah again.The fake is out and the real is finally together again.

I've been seeing Hookah since Spring H'vlle '96 - John's last one and honestly, I don't even remember him making a dent in my memory - and not because I was wasted either- I was stone sober at the show. I am proud of John for moving on and recognizing mistakes - that's not easy to do. I expect even more now from our boys since the lineup has changed once again. This music hits places in my heart that nothing else EVER has. I only hope they can continue to do so...

Well, this is great news, but since I had a heart attack and died when I read this letter, I unfortunately will miss out on all the fun.

So does this mean no more John Mullins Band? Whatever will Bill K. do to fill his free time? He's only in like 6 other bands...

Addendum:

I love Ed. I thought he was great.

You don't have to be a "HATER" to see how natural of a move this was for ekoostik Hookah, and how this energy will be the perfect way to come out of hiatus. Plus, this couldn't have happened at any other time... the band was ready, and John was ready. I'm READY. set...

Ahhh...yes I am definatelly the minority here...out of 19 people who have commented...I have experienced Hookah in all its glory...I just think that they need to retire and save some self respect...save some pride. They will go back to touring 5 nights a week but only in Ohio...how many people that have commented here are not from Ohio prob. only one and that is me...they are big in Ohio and nowhere else...have fun seeing them at Ruby Tuesdays!

Music to my ears! I have secretly fantasized about this reuinte for years! Ed was OK, grew on me a little over the years but "old school" rules! I feel like I'm going to get to relive a little of my youth. :)
hey, chrisgearing, if you're so down on hookah, GO AWAY! If they play at Ruby Tuesday's and I don't have to put up with people like you cramming the place, I will be one happy girl!
See all you happy hookah heads at Hookahville!!!

yay ! hookaville is not on hiatus -- & with it being moved from the ranch to legend valley (formerly buckeye lake) we can expect some good acts over the long weekend -- (already booked)-blues traveler is decent - but c'mon let's go big time -- how about SCI or little feat - sam bush band would be nice - as would john prine & a bunch of others (excluding death cab for cutie, of course) - hey a central oh boy can dream - not going to clearchannel-roo this year - so this & west-by-god fests will have to do -- if i see you there - you better have something good to trade for some nice tasty boots!!!!

Well, I'm glad to hear there'll be a Hookahville. I've even thought about making the drive/flight from Phoenix to be there to see John's reunion with the band. I'll kick that idea around for a while.

As someone who's only known Ed, and who's only heard rumors about J.M., I hope he's sincere about the professionalism and dedication to music part of his letter. If so, this could be something really special to see.

I'm looking forward to seeing some reviews of the Jamaica shows, and hearing what other bands are being added to the bill. That should inform me about whether or not I should make the trip to Ohio.

Now, I wonder if they could use another drummer? Hmmmm...

:-) Somewhere down the line,
Jay

I have been a devoted Hookah fan since '93 and couldn't be happier about John's return to the family. Years ago when Hookah used to play in Columbus at Not AL's Rockers, I fell in love with the music. I am so excited that I now have to figure out how to do Langerado in South Florida (I live in Miami now) and then make it Hookaville two weeks later. Welcome back John! I can't wait.

im glad to see mullin is back. but i remember a john mullins who was to wasted on stage even to play. i went to a mullins band show at the phantasy theater in lakewood ohio after he left hookah and he broke a string. he was so wasted he had to sit down on the stage to fix it. it took about a half hour. while he was fixing it his band was tryin to jam but it was horrible. when he finaly got back up he was lost in the jam and the rest of the show was just sad. my point is i hope he is ready for hookah i dont want them to get back in the groove and have john fall off the satge. hookahville will be the test. thats when they play there best. i hope he dosent have to much to drink before the show or between sets. i

It's the most WONDERFUL new I've had in a while, when I found out from a friend that there maybe no more Hookahville's I denied it, I went looking to find out was going on. I found newspaper articles and responses from the Band that they were unsure what was going to happen. Then I found the they were still going to be playing in legend valley memerial weekend but it was call Ville in the Valley so I had came to a concusion that this was Hookahville in their terms, but it didn't seem right to call it Ville in the Valley, Hookahville sounds so beautiful to my ear and to many other in Ohio.

Peace, Ohio Grown Girl

I knew you wouldn't disappoint us....Rumor was Hookah wasn't happenin and I just new it wasn't true..and havin John back makes it even more exciting..Can't wait to see you all you kids in the Valley this spring....Rock on!

HOOKAH!

LostSparkle

John Mullins gives Hookah a very special spark that I havent seen before. I am a new fan of Hookah and have only been to a few shows before the retun of Mullins, but I have to say that I believe he is the reason why I even considered seeing the band again. I just got home from my first hookahville and had an AMAZING time. One popular rumor that I heard and have to share is... Mullins telling telling the ladies to shave the schwa in thier pubic hair!!! Did that really happen??? Looking forward to become a hookahead!

I just finished watching the four videos of spring Hookahville, and all I can say is, you guys are simply friggin amazing. Pigs blew me away. I've always been a huge Floyd fan and you guys were right on with Pigs. I've only had the privilege to see ya'll live at Sunshine Daydream 05. I would be so stoked if ya'll could make it to Austin, TX in the near future. John, I've read some storys about your past, and I admire you for admiting your past mishaps. There is no reason in the world why you guys should even consider hanging it up for years to come. Your following seems to grow by leaps and bounds still.

Just saw them at Martyrs in Chicago, and it was a great show. I've seen Ed's new band One Under and they are great too. I think they are all better off for the change, Hookah is way earthier and bluesier now, and Ed's One Under has his funky danceable thing with a lighter feel. chrisgearing_78 seems to like to go around the net trash talking other musicians to make up for his own short comings and narrow tastes. poor guy. Hookah is still smoking.

All I can say is GAME ON!!!