Walking down the Amphitheater’s main walkway to the stage area, I started to feel the hair stand up on the back of my neck as the energy of the crowd began to engulf me. I knew at that time it was going to be another spine-tingling and energy filled Hookahville.Hookahville is a weekend long music festival put together by the Columbus based band, Ekoostik Hookah. “Hookahville always proves to be a special show,” said Ed McGee, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist. The bill included Al Beaver’s Belshuer Mountain Bluegrass Band, Merl Saunders and the Rain forest band and Ekoostik Hookah.”Everybody shows up in good spirits, and has a really good time,” McGee said. “Hookahville thrives on the atmosphere created by the crowd.”Hookahville drew in 8,000 people at Alpine Hills Amphitheater in Dover, Ohio, which is the largest crowd Hookah has ever played for. Past Hookahville’s have pushed 7,000 people and forced Hookah to choose larger venues. “We invest as much as possible into Hookahville,” said Clifford Starbuck, bassist for Hookah. “It is great to be making people happy, and that seems like the main affect Hookahville has on people.”Hookahville is a notion of a peaceful place that tends to follow Hookah around every Memorial and Labor day weekends. “I’ve seen the last couple of Hookahvilles, and it is remarkable how they have grown in size,” said Gary Bair, a 25-year-old Columbus resident. “I guess that shows the depth of their musical ability, and how that translates into ticket sales.”Ekoostik Hookah plays an entrancing blend of psychedelic rock and intense instrumental jams. “The show was so good. Everything sounded right on.” said Kenny Hathaway, Hookah enthusiast and drummer for Columbus’s Le muria. “With that sound stage you could really see where your money was going.”As Ekoostik Hookah heads into its seventh year, it appears the band has hit a groove. Their presence has been felt in the Midwest’s music scene, and it looks as though it will continue to grow. “Steve Sweney is one of the best guitarists in Ohio,” said Hathaway. “Hookah’s sound is so on that it is really getting them the recognition they deserve.”Ekoostik Hookah has been getting national recognition. They have been booked as far away as California for shows this summer. Ekoostik Hookah has released two full length CDs, “Under Full Sail” in 1991 and “Dubbabuddah” in 1994. Their latest release, a double CD which includes 18 live songs, (some of which were recorded at 1996’s Memorial weekend’s Hookahville). If there is one suggestion that I could give to somebody who loves great music, it is to go out of the way to see Ekoostik Hookah. Hookah will be playing in Ohio and the Midwest throughout the summer, and will be playing selected stops on the way to The High Sierra Festival in Bear Valley, California, July 3.