Since their early 1991 infancy, Midwestern jam band Ekoostik Hookah have questioned their much-dreaded "jam band" label.
With blasé musical breakdowns through spiffy jazz arrangements, hard-drinkin' Southern rock phrasing and Grateful Dead inspired neo-hippisms, Ekoostik Hookah negotiates the waters of different genres with relative ease.
In fact, to hear drummer Eric Lanese tell it, the "jam band label" umbrellas these genres.
"I think that (the jam band label) represents more than one genre," Lanese said during a recent phone interview.
"There are so many viable genres existing within that label: jazz, rock, bluegrass [and] funk. To categorize music within that label is bullshit," he said.
Ekoostik Hookah's recent album, Seahorse, demonstrates the band's vast musical tolerance.
Seahorse intersperses hard-bop era saxophone, Southern-fried blues guitar licks and druggy Garcia-esque vocals straight out of San Francisco, circa 1969.
With still-climbing sales of more than 100,000, Seahorse is considered to be Ekoostik Hookah's crowning achievement both artistically and commercially.
And with tomorrow's show at the Elliston Street Festival, Ekoostik Hookah is bound to capitalize on their recent successes. Below are some tidbits that'll boost your Ekoostik knowledge.
Tidbit 1: Ekoostik Hookah played Bonnaroo. In June, Ekoostik Hookah increased its culty multitudes in Manchester, playing before a packed tent of stoners and drunken frat guys. Ekoostik Hookah publicist Todd Justus estimates that the band attracted thousands.
Eric Lanese recalls Bonnaroo 2003 with wistful nostalgia: "It was quite the experience," Lanese elaborated.
Tidbit 2: Screw the post-rock label, man. Word to the wise: Ekoostik Hookah isn't feeling that whole 'post-rock' label.
Tidbit 3: Willie Nelson still be chiefin'.
Ekoostik Hookah lists Willie Nelson and George Clinton as musical collaborators/toke buddies.
But when asked whether Willie can smoke George under the table, Lanese implied that Willie still has the goods.
"Willie is still the man. He has slowed down in recent years but (compared with George) I'd pick Willie. Hands down."
Tidbit 4: The Hookahville festivals are like ... wicked cool.
The Ohio-based band attracts 20,000 fans to Columbus's Frontier Ranch Music Center for biannual Hookahville festivals. The events are synchronized with both Memorial Day and Labor Day. In addition to the artists listed above, Bob Weir, Ratdog and Medeski Martin have joined Ekoostik Hookah onstage during the event.
And you know with a name like "Frontier Ranch Music Center," it has to be wicked cool.
Tidbit 5: Ekoostik Hookah has members other than the drummer.
Dave Katz (keyboards, vocals, acoustic guitar); Steve Sweney (lead guitar); Cliff Starbuck (bass, vocals); Ed McGee (rhythm guitar, vocals) and Johnny Polanksy (percussion).
For more information, visit Ekoostik Hookah online at their official Web site and Hookahville.
Be sure to catch Ekoostik Hookah at the Exit/In with Big Bad Wholly tomorrow night.
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