SteelTownRock

Videos

Justin Moore Greets Y'All on SteelTownRock!

Veronica Ballestrini Gives a Shoutout

Live Concert Review-Ekoostik Hookah, Jones For Revival-Rex Theater-3.13.10

By Ryan Lowery
Published: March 15, 2010

Concert Review-Ekoostik Hookah-Pittsburgh, PA

Apparently some things never change. �Ekoostik Hookah with the support of the opening band, Jones For Revival, proved this by consistently and relentlessly giving the crowd their money�s worth on March 13th at the Rex Theater. �

Since 1991, Ekoostik Hookah has been cranking out the type of music that has built a foundation of loyal enthusiasts and a perpetual influx of melodic devotion. �This was apparent with the always welcoming sound of �Hoooookaaaaaaah� being howled from the drove of fervent onlookers that graced the venue.

The night started off promptly with Jones For Revival breaking into a song entitled �16 Dollars,� a mellow ditty that definitely captured most of the crowd�s attention with a smooth combination of energetic saxophone, nice bass lines and an overall persuasive sound. �They later played �West Side Willy,� a song that utilized solid synths and a very tight groove on guitar. �The crowd that was in attendance seemed to enjoy what they were hearing. �There was even a point during their gig when saxophonist / keyboardists, Fredo Burazer, was performing with dual saxophones as once. �It was a feat that actually intensified the execution of their set. �It also appeared that a lot of their set was improvised and you could tell that they were feeding off of each other�s energy.

In a brief discussion with drummer / percussionist, Gino West, he mentioned the band�s desire to create a fan base that could be more aptly referred to as a family. �He and the rest of Jones For Revival will have their chance to do just this, as this night was the beginning of their tour across most of America. �By playing with bands like Ekoostik Hookah and Toubab Krewe, they should have no problem establishing the basis for this symbiosis between band and fan.

Even though the music sounded very agreeable and rather proficient, one thing that was left to be desired was the lack of Concert Review-Ekoostik Hookah-Pittsburgh, PA

stage presence. �It seemed noticeable that more charisma would have elevated the aura of the show and would have perhaps produced more crowd participation. �Nonetheless, they sounded pretty darn good and they will have plenty of time to harness a deeper presence on stage in the months and years to come.

Although it was a rainy and somewhat gloomy day in Pittsburgh, where many were celebrating the luck of the Irish, the fortunate fans in attendance were very soon after greeted by Ekoostik Hookah with the appropriately uplifting song, �Brighter Days.� From here the jams were unswervingly and persistently what you might have come to expect: vintage Hookah. ��

From here on in the rather eclectic crowd was really starting to feel it. �As Ekoostik Hookah began kicking out jams like �Gina,� �Whiskey Woman,� and �Intrepid Traveler,� the crowd was undeniably caught up in the piquant flavor being emitted from the stage. �Guitarist Steve Sweney was up to his usual tricks and by the time the band was nearing the end of their first set it became apparent that the newly acquired addition to the band, bassist Phil Risko, could surly handle his own.

Hookah�s second set consisted of tracks like �Stuck in the Snow,� from their debut album �Under Full Sail.� This song was reminiscent of Hookah�s earlier days and had a slightly different feel from the rest of the set. �This was not so much a dichotomy from the rest of the set but merely evidence of their progression and growth as a band still evolving. �They continued to jam for what seemed like an eternity. �Given the circumstances, there is a strong contingency that would assume that no one cared, due to the fact that most of the crowd was taking Hookah�s energy and reciprocating it.�

The band closed the second set with �Carousel� from their 2007 album �Under Full Sail: It All Come Together,� and the classic song �Loner� from their 2002 album 'Dubbabuddah.� They intertwined �Loner� with the song �Grass� for what made from quite a memorable performance. �They brought it all home for the encore with the song �Steeped in Tears.�

With all the eccentric and righteous triumphs coming from the stage, there were only a few small downers during the course of the show. �A few times during the show Hookah jammed so hard that the guitars made the slick sounds of Dave Katz� keyboarding almost inaudible. �This didn�t totally detract from the overall quality of the show very much, but it was somewhat noticeable. �However, after the first set this was hardly an issue. �Also, with a band like Ekoostik Hookah it is sometimes a shame because they have so many quality songs and not enough time to play. �There were some people in the crowd that wanted to hear certain song that they didn�t play. �This is sometimes certainly just the way it goes, and for the person that may want to see an abundance of Hookah songs get played, it may be advantageous to attend one of the epic Hookahville shows.�

After a few months, and a gig in Negril, Jamaica for Jamrock 2010; Hookah will be back in the �burgh May 13th at the Rex Theater. �

All in all, both bands displayed very impressive performances and a good time was had by most everyone in the audience. �The up-and-coming Jones For Revival will more than likely gain popularity and the family fan base they are looking for, while the more established Ekoostik Hookah will continue to grow their family of fans for many years to come.

View Comments (0)
« Back