Dr. John performed his first live show since his hometown of New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina at this weekends Hookahville festivities. In addition to a set loaded with his own New Orleans sounds, Dr. John nodded to the Hookah Fans for Food fund drive which raised over $3,000 for the Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.
Festival hosts ekoostik hookah, who recently announced a post- New Years road break, also performed four-sets at Pataskala, OHs Frontier Ranch during the multi-day gathering. Saturday DJ Logic joined the Ohio-based bands for a number of songs including ‘Sugar Jam,’ Sister Sugar, We Want the Funk, Red Light Boogie and Chicago. Later Vince Herman, who is enjoying a road break himself from Leftover Salmon, joined in on Fixing to Die and John Henry. During the groups encore, original hookah drummer Steve Frye also reunited with his bandmates for a version of Old John Henry.
Covers characterized the groups performance Sunday set. During its encore hookah unveiled a number of classic-covers including Derek & The Dominoes Let It Rain, Van Morrisons These Dreams of You, Average White Bands Picking Up the Pieces, the Grateful Deads Blow Away and Little Walters Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights) Throughout the day members of Dave Katzs side project Katz-N-Jammers joined the group onstage including saxophonist Fred Gablick, vocalist Judy Russell and drummer Shane Frye (Frye is also a former member of JamOff winners The Shantee). Paul Brown, who leads the Columbus, OH band Paul Browns Science Gravy Orchestra also performed on Through Hiker. ekoostik hookah will perform next at Acme, PAs Church of Universal Love and Music Saturday.