Ekoostik Hookah shines

When you have as much talent as Ekoostik Hookah, simple settings and small crowds do not deter you from giving a fantastic performance.\nEkoostik Hookah, a Columbus-based jam rock and roll band, took the stage at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., Thursday night, and received a warm welcome from the tie-dye clad crowd.\nDuring the opening song, "Treehouse," the audience began dancing to the sharp guitar riffs, which gradually shifted into a smoother piano melody, and continuously went back and forth between the two opposing sounds.\nAfter the first three songs, Hookah broke out into a blues version of its classic "Brighter Days." Hookah set a carefree and happy tone with a high-energy rendition of "Moonstone." The set ended with a hugely jammed-out version of "Keepin' Time," which got the entire crowd dancing and jumping around to the more bluegrass sound.\nDuring the set break, the energy of the crowd did not die down. People sat in circles on the ground anxiously awaiting the next set, as girls dressed in flowing skirts and flowers on their head danced around them, passing out tiny raspberry candies. The band members themselves came out from backstage to talk to their fans and relax before the next part of the show.\nThe second set began with "Ridgeway Sky," the rock and roll sound immediately brought the crowd to its feet.\nAfter an impressive acoustic solo by Dave Katz, the crowd went wild as Hookah broke out into a fan favorite, "Loner." In the middle of the song, Hookah showcased its improvisational talents and took the song in a different direction, with a smooth and much slower interlude led by percussionist John Polansky and drummer Eric Lanese.\n"Through Hiker" ended the set with a mix of airy, slower melodies and heavier, yet happy rhythms. During this song, the audience seemed to be on the same wavelength, dancing to the notes that seemed to be floating above our heads.\nOne rule of thumb for a good concert is to always leave the audience happy. Fortunately, Hookah was highly successful in this area. It ended the show with an encore of "When I Die," intermingled with a cover of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me." The high-energy of both the band and crowd caused guitarist Ed McGee and bassist Clif Starbuck to climb up on the speakers and jam out the rest of the the cover, which then led back into "When I Die." The two performers leapt down from their electronic towers on the final downbeat of the song. Naturally the crowd exploded in applause. \nEkoostic Hookah delivered a performance and atmosphere that was perfectly catered to the audience. The music followed the mood perfectly, when the crowd was up the music was up, when it started to get tired from dancing, the band slowed it down. Hookah connected with the audience, leaving few unsatisfied.