ekoostik hookah - SEAHORSE
Dynamic, funky, original ekoostik hookah is an Ohio-based band performing southern rock, psychedelic rock 'n' roll, and bluegrass encrusted with terrific harmonies and musicianship. Their newest album Seahorse (their 6th release) is over 71 minutes of sheer delight!
ekoostik hookah is a six-member band with a big sound. They are lead by Dave Katz on piano, organ, acoustic guitar and vocals. Adding drums and vocals is Eric Lanese, Ed McGee on guitar and vocals, Johnny Polansky percussion, Cliff Starbuck bass and vocals and Steve Sweney on lead and slide guitars. They are supported on Seahorse by a further collection of talented musicians and background singers.
Seahorse will be enjoyed by a wide range of music fans, although it would probably appeal mostly to the fans of southern rock, progressive rock and rockabilly. The musicianship on the album is nothing short of sensational. The music can be full-tilt one minute and soft and subtle the next. The title track is one of the best on the CD and a mesmerizing and very well put together nine minutes of melodious rock. All nine tracks are ekoostik hookah originals with Katz, McGee and Lanese doing all the writing.
After Seahorse, the most ambitious of the tunes is Tree House a fine upbeat song with a terrific piano solo by Katz. For guitar fans, Steve Sweney provides some real nice playing throughout, but especially on Ridgeway Sky, Alexander II and Tree House. ekoostik hookah music is orchestrated very well with wonderful vocals that often build to powerful crescendos.
In addition to the band’s fame in Ohio, they are well-traveled and have preformed in more than 30 states at venues including New York's Knitting Factory, Chicago's House of Blues, Cleveland's Nautica Stage, Atlanta's Variety Playhouse, Boulder's Fox Theater and San Francisco's Great American Music Hall. Seahorse as well as the band’s five previous releases, Under Full Sail (1991), Dubbahbuddah (1994), Double Live (1996), Where the Fields Grow Green (1998), Sharp in the Flats (1999), can be purchased at the ekoostik hookah web site.
Hookahville, the band's home-thrown festival featuring two nights of music and camping in Ohio's quiet green hills, has been called by fans the best music festival campout in the nation. The semi-annual happening began in 1994 as a camp-out in Dave Katz and band manager Jeff Spencer's backyard. Growing steadily, attendance for Hookahville Spring 2000 exceeded 16,000. The festival is managed by the band's own production company Acoustic Productions, Inc. Hookahville's "no hassles or bad attitudes" playing environment that has allowed the band to share the stage with many fine live acts such as Willie Nelson, Little Feat, Ratdog, CPR with David Crosby, Arlo Guthrie, David Grisman, Dickey Betts, Dr. John, among others. For information on this year’s events, go to the Hookahville web site.
