basshunter
05-02-2007, 10:10 AM
There are those moments in life where something grabs you, reaches down to the very depths of your soul and impacts you in unforseen ways. And when that something is music, you have locked into something you can carry with you for a very long time.
This story of just such a moment begins in the hot, humid, hashish and Anchor Steam fueled summer of 1991. Strangely, despite this, I actually remember it as though it was yesterday. It was a Monday afternoon, and I had the day off from work. My housemate Jon and I were debating the finer points of which swimming hole to head to when our other housemate Neil returned from a trip to Columus, Ohio, where he was visiting his girlfriend (now wife). As he bounded up the stairs (he really bounded, this was Neil's way, you could hear him coming from 300 yeards), he shouted "You guys HAVE to hear this!"
This, in and of itself, was unremarkable, because with Neil ANY newly acquired Dead show instantly became required listening for everyone in the house, regardless of whether or not you were in the mood. But rather than that, he produced a cassette with a white label featuring a black ink drawing of a saling ship. The title read "ekoostik Hookah - Under Full Sail".
http://merchpurch.net/Mediumimages%2F181%2Ejpg
It took about 15 seconds to realize, hey, these guys were GOOD. We listened to that cassette over and over for days, and it wasn't too long after that when we ALL made the trek to Ohio to see the band and begin what has been a long-standing friendship with the guys of Hookah. I say this because as you read on, you'll have to understand everything I say might just have an edge of bias. These guys aren't just great musicians, they are also my friends. So forgive me, but please, hear what I'm saying.
We'll fast forward through the Hookah history lesson to last spring. After second generation Hookah member Ed McGee had left the band, there was a great deal of speculation as to how they would continue. I found out before it went public, and held my tongue for 2 months until it was announced that founding member John Mullins was returning. Personally, I was thrilled. This was the Hookah I'd loved when I first heard them that hazy summer 15 years earlier, and while Ed's tenure was good, I'd always preferred John's music and voice (even if I did have to throw him out of my house once).
I dutifully downloaded the first shows of his return, and the magic was right there. When I heard that they were going to re-record the music from "Under Full Sail", it took me seconds to make sure I was on the list for a copy.
Well, last night ekoostik Hookah's "Under Full Sail - It All Comes Together" appeared in my mailbox. All I can say say is WOW. A 2 disc compilation, Disc 1 is studio tracks, Disc 2 is live tracks.
http://merchpurch.com/images%2Fproducts%2FWEB%5FUFS%2Ejpg
These discs take everything the original album offered and infuses them with new energy, a decade and a half of maturation as human beings and musicians, and the pure joy of all being together again and makes for a musical flashback that's actually better than the original. Please, do yourself a favor and invest a few bucks in picking up this album. You can get it HERE!!!!! (http://merchpurch.com/item.asp?PID=243)
If you aren't familiar with ekoostik Hookah, You Might Give This Show A Listen (http://www.archive.org/details/eh2007-04-20.eh2007-04-04.aud.flac16), you can stream it right there on the Archive.
Also, Check out the ekoostik Hookah website! (http://www.ekoostik.com/)
Go on now, check it out!!!!!!
This story of just such a moment begins in the hot, humid, hashish and Anchor Steam fueled summer of 1991. Strangely, despite this, I actually remember it as though it was yesterday. It was a Monday afternoon, and I had the day off from work. My housemate Jon and I were debating the finer points of which swimming hole to head to when our other housemate Neil returned from a trip to Columus, Ohio, where he was visiting his girlfriend (now wife). As he bounded up the stairs (he really bounded, this was Neil's way, you could hear him coming from 300 yeards), he shouted "You guys HAVE to hear this!"
This, in and of itself, was unremarkable, because with Neil ANY newly acquired Dead show instantly became required listening for everyone in the house, regardless of whether or not you were in the mood. But rather than that, he produced a cassette with a white label featuring a black ink drawing of a saling ship. The title read "ekoostik Hookah - Under Full Sail".
http://merchpurch.net/Mediumimages%2F181%2Ejpg
It took about 15 seconds to realize, hey, these guys were GOOD. We listened to that cassette over and over for days, and it wasn't too long after that when we ALL made the trek to Ohio to see the band and begin what has been a long-standing friendship with the guys of Hookah. I say this because as you read on, you'll have to understand everything I say might just have an edge of bias. These guys aren't just great musicians, they are also my friends. So forgive me, but please, hear what I'm saying.
We'll fast forward through the Hookah history lesson to last spring. After second generation Hookah member Ed McGee had left the band, there was a great deal of speculation as to how they would continue. I found out before it went public, and held my tongue for 2 months until it was announced that founding member John Mullins was returning. Personally, I was thrilled. This was the Hookah I'd loved when I first heard them that hazy summer 15 years earlier, and while Ed's tenure was good, I'd always preferred John's music and voice (even if I did have to throw him out of my house once).
I dutifully downloaded the first shows of his return, and the magic was right there. When I heard that they were going to re-record the music from "Under Full Sail", it took me seconds to make sure I was on the list for a copy.
Well, last night ekoostik Hookah's "Under Full Sail - It All Comes Together" appeared in my mailbox. All I can say say is WOW. A 2 disc compilation, Disc 1 is studio tracks, Disc 2 is live tracks.
http://merchpurch.com/images%2Fproducts%2FWEB%5FUFS%2Ejpg
These discs take everything the original album offered and infuses them with new energy, a decade and a half of maturation as human beings and musicians, and the pure joy of all being together again and makes for a musical flashback that's actually better than the original. Please, do yourself a favor and invest a few bucks in picking up this album. You can get it HERE!!!!! (http://merchpurch.com/item.asp?PID=243)
If you aren't familiar with ekoostik Hookah, You Might Give This Show A Listen (http://www.archive.org/details/eh2007-04-20.eh2007-04-04.aud.flac16), you can stream it right there on the Archive.
Also, Check out the ekoostik Hookah website! (http://www.ekoostik.com/)
Go on now, check it out!!!!!!