ekoostik hookah to play Michigan

Call Woody Harrelson, pick up the newest copy of "High Times" and say a quick prayer for the late Timothy Leary, because Hash Bash is here.

Thanks to this annual celebration of the cannabis plant, hemp enthusiasts and marijuana supporters will be found mingling on the Diag with hippie bead-weavers and undercover narcs. The sound of African drum circles and the ever-familiar aroma of patchouli will complete the sensory experience. And providing the soundtrack to this festive occasion is the Midwest's premier jam band, ekoostik hookah.

Though the group keeps its base of operations in Ohio, it has found a second home in Michigan, playing frequent club dates throughout the year at Kalamazoo's Club Soda, Ferndale's Magic Bag and Ann Arbor's own Blind Pig. Last April saw the five-piece band share a headlining bill with Guster at the Michigan Theater, where it will return on Saturday night as the featured performer in a special night-of-Hash Bash concert.

"The Michigan Theater is a really cool place to play, and we're excited to be coming back, especially for a night like this," said hookah bassist Cliff Starbuck.

In addition to hookah's traditional two-set performance, Domestic Problems, a get-down, get-funky party band from Grand Rapids, will be opening the show. And between bands, ganja-friendly comedian Tommy Chong will be performing his stand-up routine.

"All I have to say is be prepared," Starbuck said with a laugh.

In the last year, hookah has certainly been prepared to take the next step from its current status of popular regional success to the national level. The band has consistently toured new markets, finding friendly responses in jam-happy Colorado and venturing as far west as California and the Northwest.

The band's newest album, "Sharp in the Flats," was also released in February. A double live disc recorded during a gig at Cleveland's Odeon, the record finds the band at their best - jamming on-stage.

"There was a little bit of pressure on us that night, knowing that it was going to be the live album," Starbuck said. "But once we got into our groove, just playing together like we always do, it all came out really nicely."

The band's musical formula has remained constant throughout the years. Drawing equally upon smoky blues, jazz-flavored rock, romping bluegrass and a touch of polyrhythmic psychedelia, hookah embarks upon sprawling improvisations that swirl around the audience like a melodic dust storm.

The energy created is not lost upon the band's rabid fan base, either.

"It's cool to feel the support from people who are really enthusiastic about how we make them so happy with our music," Starbuck said.

As a way to give back to their loyal followers, hookah puts on Hookahville, its two day, bi-annual music festival, which is set for Memorial Day weekend at Buckeye Lake Amphitheater in Ohio.

"We announced it at our last show," Starbuck said. "We're getting Bob Weir and his band Ratdog to play with us this year, along with some other people, so it should be a lot of fun."

ekoostik hookah will be appearing with Tommy Chong and Domestic Problems. Tickets are $16.50, available at all Ticketmaster

outlets.

04-02-99