Posted: May 11, 2010 at 2:37 PM [May 11, 2010]
Ekoostik Hookah, playing Wednesday, May 12 at the Savoy in Ypsilanti, will celebrating their 20th year touring in 2010 with new songs and new members. Phil Risko and Eric Sargent, both formerly of The Recipe, have been added to the veteran jam-band recently. The new members will help the Ohio-grown party band continue their legacy, built on years of constant touring, recording, and adapting to change.
Bassist Phil Risko was added to the group when original bassist Cliff Starbuck announced his planned departure from the group at the end of 2009. Starbuck has moved to Los Angeles in search of new musical collaborators and “greener pastures.”
Eric Sargent, currently only a temporary member of the band, was added as a last-minute replacement on April 3rd when songwriter John Mullins abruptly resigned. The resignation occurred during a recording session near Athens, Ohio, one day before the band was scheduled to play an all-requests concert billed as the “Dream Show.” Though the band’s official letter to fans said “John Mullins has decided to move on and pursue other musical outlets,” a late-night posting by the singer on fansite Hookahheads.com simply said, “I love all you Hookahheads but… I quit today!”
Mullins was the subject of controversy in 1996 when he was fired from the band for a much-publicized problem with alcoholism. His return to the band in 2006 marked a return to the band’s original line-up, which they celebrated by re-recording the 1991 album “Under Full Sail.”
The new line-up seems to have infused some creative energy into the group, and they have again entered the recording studio to record new material. Keyboardist and songwriter Dave Katz said he is excited about the new sound.
“Right now we’re getting used to playing together,” Katz said. “We’re really excited about how we’re sounding.”
Ekoostik Hookah plays May 12 at the Savoy in Ypsilanti. Doors open at 8 p.m. and locals SoundHound open the show.
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