After nine and a half years, guitarist/vocalist Ed McGee performed his final show as member of ekoostik hookah at Columbus, OHs Lifestyles Communities
Pavilion. Earlier this year, McGee announced his impending departure, which will begin a four and a half month hookah road hiatus while the groups remaining members ponder their collective future. On New Years Eve, attendees were treated to over three hours of music from hookah, with emotive introductions from long time soundman, Dan Mesnard, and band archivist Greg
Dubba Frahn, along with powerful performances of some of hookahs most lively material beginning with Utopia. Later, the group rang in 2006 on a
Father Time Flout before offering an electric Auld Lang Syne and Slipping Through the Poppy Fields. An appropriate encore as any, McGee wrapped up his time in hookah with Somewhere Down the Line.
During hookahs hiatus, the groups past and present members will perform in a number of intriguing projects. Lead guitarist Steve Sweney will gig with
Columbus, OHs The Spikedrivers, while

keyboardist/vocalist Dave Katz will lead the eclectic nine-piece, Katz-N-Jammers. Meanwhile, bassist/vocalist Cliff Starbuck will relocate to Colorado to join Vince Herman and his new all star group, Great American Tax. In addition, McGee has configured extensive
dates with One Under who are also headed into the studio this week to begin recording what will become their debut studio CD. One Under also includes the contributions or former ekoostik hookah percussionist Johnny Polansky.

While no new ekoostik hookah dates are forthcoming, a band called Under Full Sail, made up of members from the bands 1993 era lineup, including founding
guitarist/vocalist John Mullins, have confirmed three gigs in Negril, Jamaica as part of the Jamm in Jamaica festival along with Donna The Buffalo, Railroad Earth, Hot Buttered Rum String Band, The Everyone Orchestra, David Gans, The Big Wu, and Vince Herman.