New Year's Eve at Mirrors
Mirrors, 33 New York Avenue NE Washington, DC 20002


Robin, Lisa of the World, Tracey G., Torrie, Nikia, Mona, Eboni, Nicki, Isha, Juanita, and Cherie were there.

Familiar Faces
This was the debut of John "Stinky Dink" Bowman (rapper) in the line up.

Wendell, Lorenzo, Quese, Damila, Sean, Donnell, Stinky Dink, Bojack, Packy, Smoke, DP


Donnell, Jammin' Jeff, Stinky Dink, Bojack, Packy, Smoke, DP, Mike


Wendell, Godfather, Lorenzo, Sean, Damila, Jammin' Jeff
First set
1) Alternating Quese-led T-Pain's Can't Believe It / Percussion solo - it cranked
2) Damila-led Jill Scott's When You're Around - it cranked
3) Donnell-led "It all started" - it cranked / Stinky Dink-led One Track Mind / Alternating Stinky Dink rapped / Countdown to Midnight - the band members hugged each other after Midnight
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
5) Quese-led "Can we do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" - the crowd response was loud" / Donnell-led "Hey ay, hey ay" / "Familiar Faces is for the Grown & Sexy"
6) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda - it cranked
7) Damila-led Rihanna's Take a Bow - it cranked, it was interrupted, the horn players lifted their horns at the beats, Donnell thanked the audience, Donnell said, "Stinky Dink is gonna be with us, that's how it is"
Donnell said, "We didn't practice this":
8) Damila-led Jazmine Sullivan's Lions, Tigers & Bears / Jammin' Jeff drum outtro

During the break, Donnell performed acapella Usher's Bad Girl and "DC Girls, they drive me crazy".

White Girl (Ebony), Rhonda, and Pocahontas were there.


Nicki

Second set
1) Quese-led Stevie Wonder's Knocks Me off My Feet - it had a light crank
2) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - it cranked
3) Donnell & Quese-led "We're getting ___ money (A-Rod, DC)" / Stinky Dink rapped / Percussion solo
4) Damila-led Beyonce's Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) - Donnell said, "Single 'till I die", Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Bojack tom solo
5) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Hey ay"
6) Quese-led The Dream's I Luv Your Girl - it cranked / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya"
Keishi was there.
7) Donnell & Quese-led "Jump Your Body" - it cranked
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What? - it cranked / Alternating Rare Essence's All Da Time - there was lots of audience response / Maino's Hi Hater (tease) / "Familiar Faces gonna last"
9) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - it cranked / "If you got to believe in something, why not believe in me?"
10) Donnell & Quese-led Do You Think About Me? - it had a light cranked / Donnell-led Rick James' Mary Jane (Nikki's Thang) / "DC Girls" / Quese-led Luther Vandross' Never Too Much (tease) / Donnell-led "Do you listen to my heartbeat?" / Donnell, Damila, and Quese-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease) / Stinky Dink rapped (including Rickety Raw and Freaks Come Out at Night)

Sugar Bear of EU was there.

Chuck Brown
The line up was: Chuck Brown (vocals & guitar), Anthony "Little Benny" Harley (vocals & trumpet), KayKay (rapper), Sweet Cherie Mitchell Agurs (keyboard & vocals), Bryan Mills (Sax & keyboard), Brad Clements (trumpet), Greg Boyer (trombone), Karlston "Ice" Ross? (bass), Kenny "Kwik" Gross (drummer), Mighty Moe (congas)

Bryan, Ice, Brad, Greg, Kwik, Mighty Moe


Brad, Greg, Little Benny, KayKay, Mighty Moe, Chuck, Sweet Cherie
All pictures (except flyer) taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
1) Chuck-led "Wind me up, Chuck" / Chuck rapped / Earl Hagen's Harlem Nocturne / "When you walk in the door" - the crowd responded, "Hello, hello" / "What do you feel like doing?" - the crowd responded, "Feel like moving that body" / "Hey ay, hey ay" / "Pop it in"
2) Chuck-led Hoochie Coochie Man - it had a light crank, Greg soloed
3) KayKay rapped - it had a light crank
4) Chuck-led Louis Jordan's Run Joe - it had a light crank
5) Chuck-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?" - it had a light crank / R. Kelley's Fiesta
6) Little Benny-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?" / "Hey ay, Ho oh"
7) Little Benny-led Lil Wayne's Stuntin' Like My Daddy - they did the Ride Out dance / Cat in the Hat - the crowd recited the lyrics / Rare Essence's Do You Know What Time It Is? (tease) / KayKay rapped / Little Benny-led "Hey ay, Hey ay" / Rare Essence's Lock It
8) KayKay-led Freak a Deak All Night - it cranked / Little Benny-led Rare Essence's One on One / Little Benny said, "Happy New Year!" / Auld Lang Syne (instrumental) / Little Benny-led ? "Wysocki RIP" / "Where do you want to go?" - the crowd responded, "About to go to the GoGo"
9) KayKay rapped - it cranked / TI's Swagger Like Us
10) Chuck rapped / Moe conga solo / KayKay-led Chuck Baby
11) Chuck-led Duke Ellington's It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That GoGo Swing) - Sweet Cherie soloed
12) Chuck-led Lionel Hampton's Midnight Sun / Moody's Mood for Love - Brad, Bryan, and Greg soloed / Louis Jordan's Woody Woodpecker
13) Crowd-led "Wind me up, Chuck" - it had a light crank / Chuck-led Sly & the Family Stone's Family Affair (tease) / Bustin' Loose
They were done at 3:35 AM.

Scooby's Farewell Performance with Familiar Faces
Tradewinds Night Club, 5859 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20748


When I arrived, the line was around the block. This was the most packed show I've ever been to at Tradewinds.

Sweet Chelle, Nita, "Tina Turner", Qwanisse, Julia, Ro'chelle (toosweet, celebrating her birthday), Danielle (Pink), Sherray (Always Showtime!!), Beloved, Angie, RE Angie, Angie W., Isha, Ayesha, Mia S., Nicki, Robin, her niece LA, Shawn, Nia, Chantel, Dawn, Slick Rick, El, Ty (Delano795), Tracie (Model Chic), Nena, Sashay Shaunte, Nikia, Eboni, Mona, Keta, Tyrell, Tracey G., Torrie, 6'9, Sanisse, Mary, Mike Jones, Candi W., Jazzy Layse, Keisha, Mimi, and Brenda were there.

Familiar Faces
First set

Bojack, Packy, Quese, Smoke, DP, Mike


LA

Scooby, Sean, Wendell, Godfather, Damila, Jammin' Jeff, Donnell, Bojack, Packy, Smoke, Quese
Donnell joked that he wouldn't vote for Scooby for Best GoGo Singer next year and Scooby smiled.
1) Quese-led Stevie Wonder's Knocks Me Off My Feet / Percussion solo - it cranked
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
3) Quese & Scooby-led "Can we do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
4) Scooby-led Trey Songz' Can't Help But Wait / Percussion solo / "Work your body body"
5) Damila-led Rihanna's Take a Bow
6) Damila-led Jazmine Sullivan's Bust Your Windows / Scooby-led "Male version"
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda - it cranked
8) Donnell & Quese-led We Don't Need These Phones - it cranked / Percussion solo / Donnell-led Notorious BIG's Warning
9) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - it cranked
10) Donnell, Scooby & Quese-led Do You Think About Me? - it had a light crank / Donnell-led Rare Essence's How Can I Know? (tease) / Donnell-led Donna Summer's Love to Love You Baby (tease) / Scooby-led "DC Girls, they drive me crazy" / Scooby rapped / Donnell-led "You don't want to see me" / Donnell-led Can We F*ck (Touch) Tonight?


Front: Nena, Danielle, Back: Sherray, Ro'chelle

Second set


Donnell thanked Scooby, he said that he was originally just going to stay until February (when he went to backup 112), but ended up staying a whole year.
1) Scooby-led Phil Collins' In the Air Tonight - it started off with a light crank and then rose to a full crank / Percussion solo
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Hey ay"
3) Scooby-led The Dream's I Luv Your Girl - it had a light crank / "___ Is bad"
4) Scooby-led "Uh oh uh uh oh" - Scooby chanted, "How low low can you go go?"
5) Damila-led Beyonce's Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) - it cranked / Percussion solo
6) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What? - it cranked
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time - it cranked / "Southeast, South, Southeast" chant / Maino's Hi Hater / "This is for my man Chucky" / "Familiar Faces gonna last"
8) Donnell & Scooby-led "Jump your body" - it cranked
9) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance For Me - it cranked

Blue Eye and Shorty Dud of Rare Essence were there.

All pictures (except for flyer) taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich

Friday at Sideline - Darrell's Birthday Celebration
The Sideline, 880 Capital Center Blvd. Largo, MD 20774

This was my first time at this venue.

Darrell (celebrating his birthday) was there with his siblings. Robin, LA, Isha, Los, Wendy, Renee C., and Kelli were there.

Familiar Faces
Bojack was not there; his equipment was not even set up. I believe this is because of what the venue is looking for is a toned down sound.
1) Mother's Day? - Donnell soloed and introduced the other band members and had them solo, it had a light crank
Sanisse and Kim (don't know) were there.
2) Damila-led Ledisi's Alright - it had a light crank, Packy played the cowbell
3) Scooby-led Toto's Georgy Porgy - it cranked / Percussion solo
4) Quese-led Stevie Wonder's Knocks Me off my Feet - it had a light crank / Percussion solo - it cranked
5) Quese-led Dave Hollister's One Woman Man - it had a light crank
6) Damila-led "What to do, what are you going to do? I can't take it on my own" - it had a light crank
Donnell Jr. and Nikia were there.

Nicki introduced herself to me.

During the break, Donnell sung Slick Rick's La Di Da Di.

Second set
1) Scooby-led Phil Collins' In the Air Tonight - it started off laid back and then rose to a full crank / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya"
2) Damila-led Jill Scott's Whenever You're Around - it cranked / Percussion solo
3) Scooby-led Sunshine - it cranked, the frontline danced in synch / "Ya party with me"
Candi W. was there.
4) Damila-led Rihanna's Take a Bow - it cranked, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Percussion solo
5) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
6) Quese, Scooby, and Damila-led "Can we do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh My God!"
7) Donnell-led Doug E. Fresh's All the Way to Heaven - it cranked / "Is it real?"
8) Quese-led Chris Brown's With You - it cranked, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Percussion solo
Shannon was there.
9) Quese-led Secret

Ariel, Regi, JoJo, Simone, Tasha T., and Tamara T. were there.

Third set
1) Scooby-led T-Pain's Can't Believe It - it cranked / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Oh my my my"
2) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - it cranked
3) Donnell-led "Party party, everybody" - it cranked / Alternating Damila-led Jazmine Sullivan's Bust Your Windows / Scooby-led "Male version" / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Yeah!" repeatedly
4) Alternating Scooby-led The Dream's I Luv Your Girl - it cranked / Percussion solo / "She's bad" -->
Jackie was there.
5) Damila-led Beyonce's Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) - it cranked, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Percussion solo -->
6) Scooby-led "Uh oh uh uh oh" - it cranked / "How low low can you go go"
7) Donnell, Scooby, & Quese-led Do You Think About Me? - it had a light crank, Donnell chanted, "Percussion" / Percussion solo - it cranked, the house lights came on / I zoned out a little / Donnell-led "Do you listen to my heartbeat" / Scooby-led "DC Girls they drive me crazy" / Donnell-led Rare Essence's How Can I Know? (tease) / Donnell-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease) / Quese-led Luther Vandross' Never Too Much (tease) - I danced with Nicki / Donnell-led "You don't want to see me"

Saturday at Tradewinds
Tradewinds Night Club, 5859 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20748

I couldn't bring a pen in, so all of this is off the top of my head.

It was Nicole the Bartender, White Girl (Ebony), and Cyrus from Dynasty Band's Birthday.

Nita, Maketta, Nakia, James Lawson, Mike Jones, Tracey G., Torrie, MeCelle, Keta, Crystal, Tricia, Cherie, Pocahontas, Rhonda, Shawn, Isha, Robin, and Rochelle were there.

I met a woman named Detra; she was there with her Cousin (a FF regular).

Familiar Faces
Lorenzo was not present.
First set
1) Donnell-led "I'm a drink faster"
2) Scooby-led T-Pain's Can't Believe It
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Quese-led "Can we do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
5) Donnell-led "Is it real?"
6) Scooby-led Trey Songz' Can't Help But Wait / Percussion solo
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
8) Donnell & Quese-led We Don't Need These Phones / Notorious BIG's Warning
9) Scooby-led "Uh oh, uh uh oh"
10) Damila-led "What are you going to do?"
They were going to break, but Scooby and Wendell started playing and they resumed.
11) Quese-led India Arie's Are You Ready for Love?
12) Scooby-led Prince's Purple Rain
This ended being a really long first set, I enjoyed it.

Dawn was there.

Second set
1) Damila-led Donny Hathaway's This Christmas
2) Damila-led Rihanna's Take a Bow / Percussion solo
3) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
4) Scooby-led The Dream's I Luv Your Girl
5) Damila-led Beyonce's Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
6) Alternating Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low"
7) Donnell-led Miss Keta Will You Dance For Me?
32 of Rare Essence was there.
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What? -->
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time / Maino's Hi Hater / "Familiar Faces gonna last" / ?
10) Donnell, Scooby & Quese-led Do You Think About Me? / Donnell-led Rick James' Mary Jane (Nikki's Thang) (tease) / Scooby-led "DC Girls, they drive me crazy" / Donnell-led Donna Summer's Love to Love You Baby (tease) / Donnell & Damila-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease) / Donnell-led Rare Essence's How Can I Know? (tease)

Chappy was there, handing out flyers.

Delano's Birthday Celebration at Cardinal's Nest
Cardinal's Nest, 3748 10th St NE, Washington DC 20017


Sharmba Mitchell greeted me as I walked up; he wanted to know if I was going on his boat ride.

Yannie - In Progress
The line up was: Yannie (vocals), Flo (backup vocals), Levi Stephens (guitar & vocals), bass player, Warren (keyboard), Jamal Moore (drummer)
X) Yannie-led ? - it had a light crank, Scooby played congas
X+1) Yannie-led "Come close to me" - it had a light crank
Flo (my friend) was there.
X+2) Alternating Yannie-led Rufus' Ain't Nobody - it cranked, Scooby played congas / "___ Is up in here" / Scooby conga solo
Delano was there, Yannie did a birthday shout out to him.
They were done at 11:58 PM. I enjoyed it
Toya, Tasha J., Mike Jones, Scottie Jay, and Los were there.

A woman named Robin introduced herself to me.

Familiar Faces
Lorenzo was not present.
First set
Donnell did a birthday shout out to Delano.
1) Scooby-led In the Air Tonight - it started as a light crank and rose to a full crank / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya" / "I've been waiting" -->
Tomcat and Dat Azn Shawty were there.
2) Damila-led Jill Scott's Whenever You're Around - it cranked, Donnell did shout outs including one to me
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh" - it cranked
4) Quese-led "Can we do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God"
5) Alternating Donnell & Quese-led We Don't Need These Phones - it cranked / Percussion solo - Donnell said, "They want us to turn it down" -->
6) Donnell-led Rare Essence's "Park & Ride" - it cranked
7) Damila-led Rihanna's Take a Bow - it had a light crank, Scooby chanted, "Hold it!" / Percussion solo
8) Donnell, Scooby & Quese-led Jump Your Body - it cranked, Packy played the cowbell, Flo danced onstage
9) Donnell, Scooby & Quese-led Do You Think About Me? - it had a light crank / Donnell-led Donna Summer's Love to Love You, Baby (tease) / Rick James' Mary Jane (Nikki's Thang) (tease) / Scooby-led "DC Girls they drive me crazy" / Donnell-led Let Me Go One Time / Quese-led Luther Vandross' Never Too Much / Donnell chanted, "Percussion!" - Jammin' Jeff soloed / Donnell & Damila-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World - ladies in the audience sang it

Kia, NeeNee, Durand, and Londa 5'1 were there.

Second set
1) Quese-led Stevie Wonder's Knocks Me off my Feet - it had a light crank / Percussion solo - it cranked
Donnell asked Yannie to sing.
2) Yannie-led Erykah Badu's Danger - it cranked / Rare Essence's Body Snatchers (instrumental tease)
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Hey ay" - it cranked / Donnell-led Familiar Faces Is for the Grown & Sexy
4) Alternating Damila-led Jazmine Sullivan's Bust Your Windows - it cranked / Scooby-led "Male version"
Ayesha & her sister were there.
5) Scooby-led "Uh Oh Uh Uh Oh" - it cranked / "How low can you go?"
6) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
7) Donnell-led "Party party, everybody" - it cranked / Scooby-led The Dream's I Luv Your Girl / Percussion solo - it cranked, the house lights came on / "___ Is ad!" / Bojack tom solo
8) Damila-led Beyonce's Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) - it cranked
9) Donnell-led "Contagious, outrageous" - it cranked, the houselights flickered / Rare Essence's All Da Time
They were cut off at 2:28 AM. I enjoyed it.

As I walked out, three girls I hadn't even talked with asked me the name of my site. A promoter said to me, "I've been trying to get you to come to one of my events for eight months."

Wednesday at the PBMC's Night of Elegance
Positive Black Men Coalition's Night of Elegance, Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave NW Washington, DC 20001

Musiq Soulchild - in progress at 10:50 PM
The line up was: Taalib "Musiq Soulchild" Johnson, 3 female backup vocalists, one male backup vocalists.
They performed over a track.
X) Musiq-led So Beautiful
X+1) Musiq-led Just Friends - it had a light crank
Darrell and Ray were there.
X+2) Musiq-led Buddy - it had a light crank
Nikki was there.
X+3) Musiq-led ?
I liked it.

Tamara T. and RE Angie were there.

Michel Wright introduced Familiar Faces. She said, "I love D-Floyd so much; I asked him if he'd be mine, but he said he has a girl."

Familiar Faces - 11:47 PM
1) Alternating Scooby-led Phil Collins' In the Air Tonight - it started off at a light crank then rose to a full crank, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya"
James Lawson was onstage.
2) Damila-led Jill Scott's Whenever You're Around - it cranked, Bojack played the cowbell, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute"
3) Quese-led Stevie Wonder's Knocks Me off my Feet - it had a light crank
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh" - it cranked
5) Quese-led "Can we do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
6) Donnell-led Familiar Faces Is for the Grown & Sexy
7) Alternating Damila-led Jazmine Sullivan's Bust Your Windows - it cranked / Scooby-led "Male version"
8) Scooby-led Sunshine - it had a light crank and then rose to a full crank, they held their mics to the crowd, the crowd said, "Oh oh oh", Scooby chanted, "Eya eya" / "Ya party with me"
9) Damila-led Rihanna's Take a Bow - it cranked, Scooby played guitar
Tracy (Shameika's friend) was there.
10) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Hey ay" -->
11) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
12) Donnell-led "Party party, everybody" - it cranked / Scooby-led The Dream's I Luv Your Girl / "___ Is bad!", Scooby chanted, "Bojack" / Bojack tom solo
13) Damila-led Beyonce's Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) - it cranked / Bojack tom solo
14) Donnell & Quese-led "Jump your body" - it cranked, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!"
15) Donnell & Scooby-led Rare Essence's Lock It- it cranked, the frontline strutted across the stage, Mike danced
There was a girl I know, but I can't remember her name.
16) Donnell, Scooby & Quese-led Do You Think About Me? - it had a light crank / Donnell-led Rick James' Mary Jane (Nikki's Thang) (tease) / Donna Summer's Love to Love You, Baby (tease)
Donnell asked for a moment of silence for Anthony "Wysocki" Pryor, who was murdered a couple of days before.
He then asked for a round of applause for Wysocki.
They were done at 1 AM. I enjoyed it.
Ebo, Monique G., Isha, and Byrd were there.

Even though Chuck Brown was performing, I left before his performance.

Saturday at Tradewinds
Tradewinds Night Club, 5859 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20748

I could not take a pen in and I zoned out a lot tonight, so particularly in the second set, I may have missed some things.

Nakia, Julia & her sister (celebrating her birthday) & her cousin, Nita (celebrating her birthday), Tina, Paulette, Lisa of the World, Keysha, SaVern, Risa (spelling?), Shawn, Shantel, Tracy (Shameika's friend), Tracey G. and her Cousin C, Felecia (celebrating her birthday) & her sister Keishi (spelling?), and Robin were there.

Familiar Faces
Mike was not present.
First set
The last song Dollar Bill played before Donnell said, "We got it," was Jazmine Sullivan's Bust Your Windows.
Donnell said, "We have a male version of that song".
1) Donnell-led "I'll put my foot in your ass, if you bust my glass" (tease) - Donnell said, "That's all I know, Scooby knows the rest."
Donnell said, "I'm feeling good, Jordan you can write this down."
2) Scooby-led T-Pain's Can't Believe It - it had a light crank
3) Damila-led Jazmine Sullivan's Bust Your Windows - it had a light crank
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
5) Quese & Damila-led "Can we do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God" / Donnell-led "Tell me it's real, Oh my God!" / Doug E. Fresh's All the Way to Heaven (tease)
6) Donnell & Quese-led We Don't Need These Phones - it cranked, a girl behind me sang along loudly
I may have missed a song 'cause I zoned out.
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What? - it cranked -->
8) Alternating Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time - it cranked, Bojack played toms, my name was mentioned / "Southeast, South, Southeast" chant - Bojack played in rhythm with the chant / Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up) (lyrics only) / Percussion solo / Maino's Hi Hater (tease)
9) Donnell, Scooby & Quese-led Do You Think About Me? - it had a light crank, I missed it if they added more teases like usual

Buggy of Backyard Band, Slick Rick, El, Renee, Shadonna (celebrating her birthday), Pinkie, Tasty, Crystal (Tricia's friend), Donnell Jr., and Tasha (RTC) were there.

I danced with Julia during the break.

Usher's Bad Girl was the last song Dollar Bill played before the second set.

Second set
1) Donnell-led Usher's Bad Girl - they audience sang it (more than Donnell), it had a light crank
2) Scooby-led Phil Collins' In the Air Tonight - it started off at light crank and then when to a full crank -->
3) Scooby-led "___ Is in the building"
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Hey ay"
5) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
6) Damila-led Rihanna's Take a Bow - it had a light crank
7) Scooby-led The Dream's I Luv Your Girl - it had a light crank / "__ Is bad"
8) Scooby-led "Uh oh uh uh oh" - it cranked, Scooby said, "Stick out your butt and shake what you got", Donnell chanted, "Up up and down down", Scooby chanted, "How low low can you go go"
9) Donnell-led Lisa (Miss Keta) Will You Dance for Me - it cranked
10) Donnell & Scooby-led "Jump your body" - it cranked
11) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - it cranked / Bojack tom solo / Rare Essence's Hook Me Uppa
12) Donnell-led Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome (tease) - it cranked / Smoke conga solo / "I gave my whole life"

Sunday at Takoma Station
Takoma Station, 6914 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20012


Although this was a weeknight, the end time seemed to be early enough for me to go without staying up late and I wanted to be there as Yannie is my favorite singer in GoGo.

Theos was the cover taker.

Alicia, onstage, introduced Levi Stephens.


Levi Stephens - 8:26 PM

Ken, Levi, Tyler, Jamal


Warren, Ken, Levi
The line up was: Levi Stephens (vocals & guitar), Ken (guitar), Tyler (bass), Warren (keyboard), Jamal Moore (drummer).
1) Levi-led Kanye West's Gold Digger - it had a light crank
Kimese of Vybe & Heaven Sent was there.
2) Levi-led Shining Star (an original) - it had a light crank
Dwayne Lee of Faces U Know and Heaven Sent was there. We had a long conversation. He said the drummer looks like Aaron Spears' brother. I said he was introduced as Jamal Moore and he said, "Yeah, that's him."
Levi asked, "How many L!ssen fans are here? How many Yannie fans?"
3) Levi-led Vibe'n - it had a light crank
4) Levi-led Sorry for the Pain - it had a light crank, Levi switched to an acoustic guitar
5) Levi-led Bill Withers' Use Me "keep on using me" - it had a light crank, Warren soloed
It ended at 8:51.

BJ of Da Mixx Band & Heaven Sent, Sharmba Mitchell, Nico (recording the set and taking pictures of Yannie's set), Yolanda (Brandywine), Kal-el of Faces U Know and Heaven Sent, and Rochelle (toosweet) were there.

Alicia again went onstage and introduced Yannie.

Yannie
The line up was: Y'anna "Yannie" Crawley (vocals), Lakindra (backup vocals), Flo (backup vocals), Levi Stephens (guitar), Ross (bass & keyboard), Warren (keyboard), Jamal Moore (drummer), Delano "Peany" Bowden (congas, last song of the second set only).

Levi, Lakindra, Flo, Yannie, Ross, Jamal


Warren, Levi, Lakindra, Flo, Yannie, Ross
First set
1) Yannie-led "here we go" - it had a light crank, Yannie started singing away from the stage and then walked to in front of the stage, where her mic stand was, Yannie kept saying "mic check"
2) Yannie-led "Let's go, you know you can" - it had a light crank
Yannie said that these songs are 6-7 years old. She said, "I write from the heart."
3) Yannie-led Out of My System - it had a light crank
Yannie said, "I try to put my songs in the order of a story."
4) Yannie-led Rich Girl - it had a light crank, the audience sang it, I filmed it
Yannie said of the next song, "I didn't want to make all my songs male bashing."
5) Yannie-led I'm Sorry - it had a light crank
It ended at 9:59.

Yannie said, "I don't consider you as fans, you're my family. This is the best band... Love"

Second set
1) Yannie-led "We can work it out" - it had a light crank
2) Yannie-led On My Mind - it had a light crank, Yannie said, "I've been longing for this day.", there was a lot of applause, I'm not sure if what she sang after the applause was part of this song or a new song
3) Yannie-led I'm In Love - it had a light crank
4) Yannie-led There's a Place Where You Can Go - it had a light crank
Yannie asked Peany to come up
5) Alternating Yannie-led Rufus' Ain't Nobody - it cranked, Peany played congas, the dance floor filled and Yannie went onstage / "Hey ay, Hey ay" / Kanye West's Gold Digger (tease)

Flo, Yannie, Ross, Jamal, Peany


All pictures (except flyer) taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich

I really enjoyed it, I left just after the set ended, I did get home in time that I did not go to bed late.

You can see the pictures Nico took here.

Saturday at LePearl
LePearl, 7929 Central Ave, Capitol Heights, MD 20743


Here are clips one and two on youtube from this show.

Walker Mill and Valechia were there.

WHAT? Band waited to start until after the Hopkins-Pavlik fight was over.

Chuckin' Drew came over and said hello.

What? Band
The line up was: Chris "Rah" Black (lead talker), Michelle Blackwell (vocals), Killa Cal (rapper), Chuckin' Drew (guitar), Dave (keyboard), Will (keyboard), Smokin' Joe (drummer), Duce7 (blocks), Rocket Rob (percussion).

Dave & Will (don't know them by sight), Chuckin' Drew, Smokin' Joe, Duce7


Smokin' Joe, Duce7, Chuckin' Drew, Michelle, Killa Cal, Rocket Rob


Michelle, Smokin' Joe, Duce7, Killa Cal, Rocket Rob


Duce7, Rocket Rob



Chuckin' Drew, Rah in front
All pictures (except flyer) taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
First set - 12:39 AM
1) T-Pain's Can't Believe It (instrumental) - it had a light crank, at first only the backline was onstage, then Michelle said, "Happy birthday Libras", she said Drew was "their in house Libra".
2) Alternating Michelle-led Jazmine Sullivan's Bust Your Windows - it cranked, Michelle chanted, "Let the beat ride!" / Percussion solo - Michelle did a shout out to me
Michelle said that WHAT? would be celebrating Obama's victory here on November 4th. She told Virginia voters: "Remember Virginia is an important state."
3) Michelle-led Jennifer Hudson's Spotlight - it had a light crank
4) Killa Cal-led Ice Cube's It Was a Good Day (tease)
Michelle talked about sending good wishes to a fan Trouble, who was shot last week.
5) Michelle-led Scarface's Someday? "I just want to be your... I know God is watching from above" - it cranked
6) Michelle-led "party all night..." - it cranked / "_ Is WHAT? Band affiliated"
7) Killa Cal-led T-Pain's My Girl Got a Girlfriend - it cranked
8) Killa Cal-led They Know - it cranked
9) Percussion solo - it cranked
10) Michelle-led "or was it all a dream, we party like a rockstar, 'cause I don't know how" - it cranked, Michelle chanted, "Ladies put your hands up" / Percussion solo / "Don't get mad, don't blame me, I don't know if you want to..." / "Happy birthday Rob, it's my birthday, buy me a drink" - Rocket Rob played toms / Outtro

Second set
1) Rah & Killa Cal rapped - it cranked / Percussion solo - Rah chanted, "Eya eya"
2) Michelle-led "Shake shake, rock bottom, shake your moneymaker" - it cranked -->
3) Rah-led "I'm an Alcoholic" - it cranked
4) Alternating Killa Cal-led TI's Swagger Like Us - it cranked / Rah-led "Haters y'all faking, we cranking" / Killa Cal-led "I'm popping" / Rah-led "Libras got a birthday" / Killa Cal-led "She got a..." - Rocket Rob played toms / Michelle-led Lil Wayne's Mrs. Officer / Crowd shouted "Hey hey ay"
5) Michelle-led "I... tonight" - it ranked / Killa Cal-led "She got a" - Rocket Rob played toms
6) Michelle-led "La la la... I need you" - it cranked, Rocket Rob played the toms
7) Killa Cal-led I am an Animal - it cranked. Rah chanted, "Let the beat go Rob" / Percussion solo - Rah he didn't talk to the internet dudes, but he had to keep it real, went off about Whiteboy's comments about what happened at the Fur Sunday, he said Rare Essence heard or first set and said they would leave if we played a second set, Rah went further and said that the senior citizens were unhappy about being in the business for 20 years and making less than the members of the WHAT? Band

Third set
1) Killa Cal-led "Motherf*cker, that's real, all the haters like you hiding in the back" - it cranked, Killa Cal rapped about the show at the Fur / Rah-led "We got too many hits, we crankin' like sh*t, line 'em up & we'll knock 'em down", Rah said, "We got a brand new Beyonce"
2) Michelle-led Beyonce's Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) - it cranked / "Oh oh oh" / Rah-led ? - Rah said, "Percussion let it go" / Percussion solo
3) Michelle-led The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rockstar - it cranked, Rocket Rob played toms
4) Michelle-led Ti featuring Rihanna's Live Your Life - it cranked, Rocket Rob played toms
5) Killa Cal-led "Dip dip" - it cranked, Rah & Michelle chanted, "How low can you go?" / Rah chanted, "Eya eya"
6) Rah-led "Ladies... seen before..." - it was laid back, interrupted by a fight, Rah said, "Ladies slow down for me, take it slow" / Rah-led "Stick out your butt and shake what you got" - it cranked / Killa Cal-led ? /
7) Rah-led "Haters" - Rocket Rob played toms / Rah-led "Haters keep knocking but they can't get in" - Rah said, "We need you all to stay on your best behavior"
8) Rah-led Northeast Groovers' Drop the Bomb - it cranked / Killa Cal Flo Rida's Money Right - Rocket Rob played the toms, the crowd was hyped up
9) Michelle-led Beyonce's Irreplaceable - it had a light crank at first then cranked, Rocket Rob played the toms / Rah-led "Rumpshaker" / Rah-led "Rocket Rob, drop the bomb" - the house lights came on
10) Michelle-led "Who are you? What are you going to do? I need action" - it had a light crank
They were done at 3:07 AM. I really enjoyed it.

A beautiful girl named Brandi asked me why I was taking notes.

Rah said, "I want to grind. I want to get down. I don't play 20 minutes and take your money, I wanna do 90 minutes. I don't have a wife or kids, this GoGo sh*t comes first."

Friday at Blu Lounge (E's Birthday Celebration)
Blu Lounge, 6821 Reed St, Bethesda, MD 20814


There were three GoGos in Bethesda tonight! This one, L!ssen at Juste Lounge and Chuck Brown at Strathmore Hall.

Obsession Band - 11:11 PM
The line up was: D (lead talker), Devin (rapper), Mike Gross (vocalist), Cornbread (vocalist), Renee "Songstress" (vocalist), Frank James (bass), Oba "O" (keyboard), Donnie Brasco (keyboard), Moe (trumpet), Dwayne "Dice" (trumpet), Everett "E" Brown (trombone), Danny "Animal" (drummer), Lorenzo Bates (congas), Telly "Redman" (percussion).

Mike, E, Renee, Redman, Lorenzo, Donnie Brasco, Devin, ?, O, D


Cornbread, Frank, E, Mike, Moe, Redman, Lorenzo, ?, Devin


Frank, E, Moe, Dice, Donnie Brasco, Animal


Donnie Brasco, Animal, O, Lorenzo, Redman
Yvette was there.
1) D & Renee-led Jay-Z featuring Mary J. Blige's Can't Knock the Hustle - it had a light crank
2) Renee-led Jazmine Sullivan's Need U Bad - it had a light crank
3) Alternating Devin & Female-led Estelle's American Boy - it cranked, the lead talker chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Percussion solo - "DC I can do it", the stage went dark
4) Mike & Renee-led Ryan Leslie's Addiction - it cranked / D-led ?
5) Mike-led "Roll with it, lay down with it" - it cranked / D-led Maino's Hi Hater
02 and Worm were there.
6) Alternating Renee-led Robin Thicke featuring Mary J. Blige's Magic - they played toms / Redman tom solo -->
7) D & Mike-led Get Started - the lead talker chanted, "We're on fiya", the lead talker said, "We consider our music, Grown & Cranking"
8) Devin-led Yung Joc's Stunnin' Is a Habit
They were done at 12:03 AM. This was my first time seeing them and I enjoyed it, they cranked.

Dollar Bill of Y2K, Torrie, and Tracey G. were there.

Familiar Faces
Mike was not present.

Scooby, Wendell, Sean, Jammin' Jeff, Damila, Packy, Smoke, DP
Donnell asked for a moment of silence for Mike Hughes (Rare Essence's soundman, who died in a car accident earlier in the week).
First set - 12:33 AM
1) Percussion solo - it cranked
2) Scooby-led T-Pain's Can't Believe It - it cranked
Lisa of the World was there.
3) Damila-led Jill Scott's When You're Around - it had a light crank
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh" - it cranked
5) Quese-led "Can we do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" - it cranked / Donnell-led Doug E. Fresh's All the Way to Heaven (tease) / Inspector Gadget guitar riffs
6) Scooby-led GoGo Is my Business - it cranked, Scooby chanted, "Hold it!" / Percussion solo
7) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Hey ay"
8) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - it cranked
9) Donnell-led "Party party, everybody" - it cranked / Scooby-led "Uh oh uh uh oh" - it cranked, Scooby chanted, "Stick out your but and shake what you got", Scooby chanted, "How low low can you go go" / Scooby-led "I like the way you do that, girl"
10) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda - it cranked, Bojack arrived just in time
11) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - it cranked, Donnell stood at the edge of the dance floor, Scuba Steve of Y2K sat in and rapped

Sean, Jammin' Jeff, Donnell, Scuba Steve, Packy, Smoke, Bojack, DP, Quese, Lorenzo


Smoke, Bojack, DP, Quese, Lorenzo, Godfather, Patrick, Scuba Steve
All pictures (except flyer) taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
12) Donnell, Damila, Scooby, and Quese-led Do You Think About Me? - it had a light cranked / Donnell-led Donna Summer's Love to Love You Baby / Scooby-led "DC girls they drive me crazy" / Donnell-led Rick James' Mary Jane (lyrics changed to Nikki's Thang) (tease) / Donnell-led "Do you listen to my heartbeat?" / Donnell-led Lisa Stanfield's All Around the World (tease) / Quese-led Luther Vandross' Never Too Much (tease) / Donnell-led "In & Out and Up & Down" / Donnell-led Can We Touch Tonight? (tease)

Shadonna, NeeNee, and Kia were there.

Second set
1) Donnell did a joking re-write of Jazmine Sullivan's Bust Your Windows "I threw her down the steps... You better not touch my f*cking car..." - that song (the original, not Donnell's version) reminded me highly of Billy Cosby's song, Luv Is).
2) Alternating Scooby-led Phil Collins' In the Air Tonight - it started as laid back and then when to light crank / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya"
3) Damila-led Rihanna's Take a Bow - it cranked
4) Alternating Scooby-led Sunshine - it cranked, Quese held his mic to the crowd / Percussion solo - Scooby chanted, "Eya eya" / "Ya party with me" / Scooby chanted, "Brandywine got a birthday" / Scooby-led Hail to the Redskins - the house lights came on
5) Donnell & Quese-led "Jump your body" - it cranked / Bojack tom solo
6) Quese-led Stevie Wonder's Knocks Me off my Feet - it had a light crank
They were done at 2:36 AM. I enjoyed it.
Kia shouted something to me, but I couldn't make it out, so I had her write it down for me after the set, "Dorand B-day, October 17th"

Someone said of me outside, "The n*gga was taking notes!"

Sunday at the Fur
Fur Night Club, 33 Patterson St NE, Washington, DC 20002


They threw away my pen before I got in, so most of this is off the top of my head.

As I expected from past shows at the Fur, the door time was well after what the flyer said - that's the norm for "big shows" I've been to at the Fur. I arrived at 10:45 or so (the door time on the flyer was 9 PM). I was in the line around the corner.

They didn't open the doors until sometime after 11; I got in just before midnight. There was a Jamaican party before this show and they didn't let us in until they got them out. There was a cut line as well.
While I was waiting in line, I saw: Killa Cal, Chuckin' Drew, Do Dirty, Michelle Blackwell, Rah, Little Benny, Walker Mill, Tasty, Tracie (Model Chic), and Trina, as well as the guy who was right in front of me in line to see the Roots last Friday.

It was packed.

Black Heart was celebrating his birthday there (Angie Ange and Rah gave him birthday shout outs). He introduced to me to BJ, a local rapper. BJ said, "Take notes and don't forget about me". 02 was also with them. I asked 02 why he wasn't up onstage with WHAT? He said he was just a fan tonight. However, he also told me he is putting together a solo project. Slick Rick, Devlin, and Love were there. I wished Drew a happy birthday before he went onstage.

DJ Dirty Rico and Angie Ange were the host DJs

What? Band - They started at 12:15
The line up was: Chris "Rah" Black (lead talker), Michelle Blackwell (vocals), Killa Cal (rapper), Chuckin' Drew (guitar), Rico (bass), Dave (keyboard), Will (keyboard), Smokin' Joe (drummer), Duce7 (blocks), Rocket Rob (percussion).
1) Alternating Michelle-led Rihanna's Take a Bow - it had a light crank / Bob Marley's No Woman No Cry (tease)
2) Michelle-led "You don't know... treat me right" - it cranked
3) Killa Cal-led ? - it cranked
4) Rah-led "Walk with me" - the frontline & guitar players walked around the stage, it cranked
5) Killa Cal-led TI's Swagger Like Us - it cranked
6) Rah-led "I'm an Alcoholic" - it cranked / Crystal Skate
7) Michelle-led Aaliyah's I Need You Tonight - it cranked
8) Rah-led "Get low" - it cranked
9) Killa Cal-led "that @ss" - it cranked
Rah said, "We only have two more minutes left, so we'll just give you a preview of what's to come in the second set."
10) Rah & Killa Cal-led I am an Animal (tease) / Michelle-led "My wildest dreams come true" (tease) / Rah-led Northeast Groovers' Fight (tease) / Michelle-led TI featuring Rihanna's Live Your Life "mya ya hee, mya ya hoo" (tease) / Rah-led Northeast Groovers' Drop the Bomb (tease)
DJ Dirty Rico said, "You have two more minutes left". He told Rah repeatedly to "Rewind" (do it again).
11) Rah & Killa Cal-led I am an Animal (tease) / Michelle-led "My wildest dreams come true" (tease) / Rah-led Northeast Groovers' Fight (tease) / Rah-led Northeast Groovers' Drop the Bomb (tease) / Michelle-led TI featuring Rihanna's Live Your Life "mya ya hee, mya ya hoo" (tease)
They went to break at 12:52. During the break, Michelle came out and asked on the mic, "Tank, I don't ask for much, but my band members don't have water, and it's hot."
Later, they came out and Rah said that the promoter said they couldn't do a second set. He then said, "To the WHAT? fans, you may never see my face again, 'cause you don't know me, oh oh..."

An equipment guy came out to take apart the toms, then brought them back a minute later as the band negotiated with the promoter.

As the audience waited, DJ Dirty Rico spurred the fans to chant, "Ay ay ay" repeatedly.

A girl asked me if I was having a have a good time. Another girl asked me where I lived to come out here.

Dre "All Day in the Paint" came out and briefly rapped onstage, but DJ Rico was playing music still at the time.

Finally, the same equipment guy took apart the toms again and it was clear they were done.

When I saw Drew on the floor before he left, I told him I hoped he had a happy birthday anyway despite what happened.

Rare Essence - 2:15 AM
The line up was: Andre "Whiteboy" Johnson (vocals & guitar), James "Funk" Thomas (lead talker), Anthony "Little Benny" Harley (vocals & trumpet), Charles "Shorty Corleone" Garris (vocals), Dave "32" Ellis (vocals), Kimberly "Ms. Kim" Graham (vocals), Mike Baker (bass), Scooter (keyboards), another keyboard player, Darryl "Blue Eye" Arrington (drummer), Milton "GoGo Mickey" Freeman (congas), Quentin "Shorty Dud" Ivey (percussion).
1) Dre "All Day in the Paint" led the audience in a chant of "R-A-R-Double E-S-S-E-N-C-E"
2) James Funk-led Happy Birthday
3) Shorty Corleone-led "All night long" - it cranked
4) James Funk-led Lock It - it cranked
5) James Funk-led Nelly's Flap Your Wings - it cranked, / "To the left, to the right, to the front, to the back"
6) Whiteboy-led All Da Time - it cranked / Shorty Corleone-led "Southeast, South, Southeast" chant
7) Whiteboy-led "Bad, bad, the wickedest band alive" - it cranked
8) 32 & Shorty Corleone-led "got money (not the Lil Wayne song)"
9) 32-led Flo Rida's Low
10) 32-led ?
11) 32 & Shorty Corleone-led "Hit 'em from the back"
12) 32 & Shorty Corleone-led "Drop 'n' roll"
13) Shorty Corleone-led Lil Wayne's Got Money "this away, that away"
14) Ms. Kim-led Mis-Teeq's Style "hoodrat to go"
15) 32-led "It's a motherf*cking freak show"
16) Shorty Corleone-led "who be ___"
They finished their set at: 3:05 AM.
Ms. Kim sang acapella
32 said repeatedly, "F*ck the Cowboys!" and "DC don't stand for Dallas Cowboys!"
Both of the performances were nice, but way too brief.

Saturday at Mirrors
Mirrors, 33 New York Avenue NE Washington, DC 20002


A girl I know said hello, but I wasn't sure who it was since it was dark and I only saw her for a second.

Robin and Rochelle were there.

EU - 12:15 AM
The line up was: Gregory "Sugar Bear" Elliott (vocals & bass), Mya (vocals), Kevin "KC" (vocals), Tony (guitar), Ivan Goff (keyboard), Mike Smith (drummer), Derrick Curry (percussion).

Sugar Bear, Tony, Mike, Mya, Kevin, Derrick


Rochelle, Ivan, Sugar Bear, Tony, Mya


Sugar Bear, Tony, CC
The dance floor was mostly empty when EU started so Sugar Bear said, "Come party with me, I promise I won't put you to bed."
1) Sugar Bear rapped - it cranked / Sly & the Family Stone's Family Affair / "Pump it up Redskin fans, just like this" - Sugar Bear chanted, "Gimme that beat" / Percussion solo -->
2) Mya-led Keyshia Cole's Shoulda Let You Go - it cranked / Sugar Bear chanted, "Party with your body" / "Drop down low and hit the floor with it and flap your wings" - Sugar Bear chanted, "Gimme that beat" / Percussion solo -->
3) Kevin-led Lil Wayne's Lollipop - it cranked / Mya-led "Call me" / Sugar Bear-led Nelly's Flap Your Wings (tease) / Alternating "Shake it shawty, shake it" - Derrick played toms / "She likes to do it do it" -->
4) Mya-led "I like to do it do it" - it cranked, Derrick played toms / Sugar Bear chanted, "Drop that beat" / "When are we going to get to the good part" / "Can we do it for the fellas?" / "If you're sexy and you know it, raise your hands" / "ya ya ya" / "Hold up, Wait a minute" / Funkadelic's Undisco Kidd (tease) "Girls are bad" / Derrick went back to playing congas - the frontline dance / "Pop the Coochie" / "Beat your feet every day" - Ivan set up his keyboard, Derrick played the toms / "Hey sexy lady, can I get to know you?" / Akon's I Wanna Love You (tease) "I wanna love you, you already know" / OutKast's The Way You Move (tease) / "Work the middle" -->
Val "Tina Turner" was there.
5) Sugar Bear-led "Somebody at this party, she wants to get down with ya" - it cranked / "Tired yet? Ready to quit?" / "Tell me what you feel like doing y'all" / "Hold up, wait a minute" -->
6) Sugar Bear-led "Go low, how low can you go?" - it cranked / "Move your body like a snake" / "You got ___, hello" / "Get your freak on" / "Is that my chick? I don't know" / "Southeast (etc.) is here" / "Are the Redskins the real deal? Better than the Cowboys? Better than the Eagles? Who's going to the Super Bowl?" -->
7) Sugar Bear-led "Tick tock" - it cranked / Kanye West's Gold Digger - Kevin rapped, Derrick played toms / "You wanna ride with me?" - Kevin rapped / "Shake it down" -->
8) Sugar Bear-led Isley Brother's It's Your Thing (altered lyrics) - "Shake your thang" (repeated), "It's old school, do what you want to" - it cranked, Mya rapped / "Don't tell me how to party" / "One, two, three..." - Derrick played toms / "Let me see you work it" / "Zu zu zu" (repeated) / "All you ladies whip it" / "It's hard to control myself" -->
9) Sugar Bear-led The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rockstar - it cranked, Derrick played toms / Sugar Bear said, "Redskin fans raise your hands, I hate the Cowboys" / Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s Crush on You "heard me on the radio, Um bop bop" / a female rapper named CC sat in / drum outtro
They were done at 1:14 AM. I enjoyed it, Mya had great facial expressions especially with her eyes.

Felecia's sister, Keishi (spelling?) was there.

Kia was there.

Familiar Faces - 1:47 AM
Mike, Quese, and Lorenzo were not present.

Tia & Tina Turner on the left on the dance floor, Sean, Scooby, Godfather, Damila, Wendell, Jammin' Jeff, Donnell


Donnell, Jammin' Jeff, DP, Bojack, Packy, Smoke
Donnell said, "Special dedication to the Libras"
1) Scooby-led Phil Collins' In the Air Tonight - it started laid back and then went to crank, Wendell soloed, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Percussion solo - Bojack played the cowbell / Donnell-led "Hold the note y'all"
2) Damila-led Jill Scott's When You're Around - it cranked / Percussion solo -->
3) Alternating Scooby-led Sunshine - it cranked, Scooby said, "you remember the first time ___" / "Hold it!" / Percussion solo - Scooby chanted, "oh oh oh", the frontline danced, Scooby chanted, "Eya eya" / "Ya party with me" / Donnell chanted, "Dance with me y'all"
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh" - his mic had a lot of reverb
5) Donnell & Damila-led "Can we do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" - it cranked
6) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Hey ay"
7) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) "Libras" - it cranked
8) Damila-led Rihanna's Take a Bow - it cranked
9) Alternating Scooby-led The Dream's I Luv Your Girl - it had a light crank, Scooby chanted "Ah ah ah" along with the horn hits / "___ Is bad" / Bojack played the toms / Scooby said, "Libra's got a birthday"
10) Donnell & Scooby-led "Jump your body" - it cranked, Scooby rapped, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Bojack tom solo -->
11) Scooby-led "Uh oh uh uh oh" - it cranked, Scooby chanted, "Throw your hands in the air, throw your hands up", Scooby chanted, "Stick out your butt, shake what you got", Bojack played the toms (cowbell earlier in the song), Scooby chanted, "How low can you go?"
12) Donnell & Scooby-led Rare Essence's Lock It - it cranked, Donnell invited a fan onstage and danced with her, Donnell chanted, "Kentland!", Tina Turner and a guy were onstage -->


All pictures (except flyer) taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What? - it cranked / Alternating Rare Essence's All Da Time - Donnell waved his mic stand / "Southeast, South, Southeast" chant - Packy played the cowbell / Donnell chanted, "Dance with me y'all" / Maino's Hi Hater - the house lights came on
14) Donnell & Scooby-led Do You Think About Me? - it had a light crank / Donnell-led ? / Donnell-led Donna Summer's Love to Love You, Baby (tease) / Scooby-led "DC Girls they drive me crazy" / "Uh oh" / Donnell-led Let Me Go One Time / ? / "Do you listen to my heartbeat?" - Donnell said, "Tia, 52 years old and acts like an 8th grader"
KayKay was there.
15) Donnell acapella Hail to the Redskins - Donnell said, "That girl (the fan who danced onstage) danced like Lock It was made for her. Tina Turner got no drawers on" / Goldfinger theme (tease) / Bill Withers' Lovely Day (tease) / Luther Vandross' Never Too Much (tease)

Friday at the Black Cat
Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009


I've heard some live recordings of Los Amigos Invisibles, so when I saw they were playing here, I immediately bought a ticket.

I didn't even realize there was going to be an opening act until I went upstairs and Bio Ritmo was performing.

The crowd was diverse, with a lot of couples, who danced together especially during Bio Ritmo's set.

Bio Ritmo - in progress at around 10:30 PM
The line up was: Rei Alvarez (vocals & percussion), bass player, Marlysse Simmons (keyboard), Saxophone player, Tobias Whitaker (trombone), Mambo Bob Miller (trumpet), Giustino "Inspector Clave" Riccio (drummer), Gabo "Presidente" Tomasini (percussion), cowbell player/percussionist.

They performed about 6 songs during the time I was there, the third one cranked. They were done at 11 PM. They are a salsa band; their music didn't really stand out to me.

I bought a copy of The Venezuelan Zinga Son, Vol. 1 and their live DVD (I didn't know it existed and I couldn't find it on the net afterwards either). I prefer them live to studio. I enjoyed the DVD, but wish it were longer.

Los Amigos Invisibles - 11:39 PM
The line up was: Julio "Chulius" Briceño (vocals), José "DJ Afro" Pardo (guitar), José "Catire" Torres (bass), Armando "Odnam" Figueredo (keyboard), Mauricio "Maurimix" Arcas (percussion & vocals), Juan "Mamel" Roura (drummer/percussion).

DJ Afro, Odnam, Chulius, Mamel, Catire, Maurimix
1) Instrumental - Odnam walked on stage first, then DJ Afro and Catire, then Maurimix and Mamel, there was big response from the crowd it cranked, Chulius walked onstage / Chulius-led Mi Linda - they got the audience to clap
2) Chulius-led Amor - it cranked -->
3) Chulius & Maurimix-led Caliente - it had a light crank -->
4) Chulius-led ? - it had a light crank -->
5) Chulius-led ? -->
6) Chulius-led Ease Your Mind - Catire soloed, Chulius said, "Make some noise!", Maurimix soloed, Odnam soloed, it rose to a full crank
7) Chulius-led ? - Mamel left the drum kit for the toms -->

All pictures (except flyer) taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
8) Maurimix-led ? - it was laid back, Mamel went back to the drum kit -->
9) Chulius-led ? "eya yo yo" - it was guitar-driven, the crowd responded, the band members jumped up and down, it rose to a full crank
10) Chulius-led ? - it was laid back -->
11) Chulius-led ? "se sa" (very familiar) - it was keyboard-driven, it had a light crank -->
12) Chulius-led ? - it had a light crank -->
13) Chulius-led ? - the band and the crowd jumped up and down -->
14) Chulius-led ? - it was guitar-driven, it was laid back -->
15) Chulius-led ? - it had a light crank, DJ Afro soloed, Chulius showed a Venezuelan flag and rapped it around his neck
16) Chulius-led Cuchi Cuchi - Chulius got the crowd to clap, it had a light crank, Maurimix soloed, Odnam soloed
17) Chulius-led Ponerte E Cuatro - it cranked, the band jumped up and down, they held their mics to the crowd, there was a lot of response by the crowd
18) Chulius-led ? - it had a light crank, Chulius thanked the audience for coming out, DJ Afro soloed, they left the stage / outtro
Encores:
19) Chulius-led Yo Soy Asi - a female fan went onstage and kissed Chulius
20) Chulius-led ? - it cranked
21) Chulius-led El Disco Anal - it had a light crank, Chulius said, "Everyone jump" / Maurimix tom solo
It ended at 1:40 AM. Because I don't know Spanish and because it was dark and I don't take notes as well when I can't see what I'm writing. I really enjoyed - it was really fun, light hearted music. While they performed, a screen to the right of the stage showed a video - it was bizarre (it was not their live DVD).

Monday at WOW Winger (Part 5 of My Birthday Celebration)
WOW Café & Wingery, 800 E. Shoppers Way, Largo, MD 20774


This not only was my first time at this venue, but I had never been to this mall before (last time I was at this location was to see the Washington Wizards).

Miss TK was the cover taker, she said, "Happy birthday Jordan." Mohammed, with Da Mixx Band, introduced himself to me.

Nakia, Wanda (2nd2None), Ty (Delano795), Dogpound, and Tasha (T-Bird) were there. Cyrus (spelling) of Dynasty Band introduced himself to me, he recognized me from last night.

BJ was there, he told me he plays for Da Mixx Band now.

TonySax was there.

This was my first time seeing the new line up of Suttle.

Suttle
The line up was: Chi Ali (lead talker), Steve Roy (vocals), Lakindra (vocals), Tim (bass), Darryl Estep (keyboard), Glenn Cobb (keyboard), Don (trombone), Blue (trumpet), Lil James (drummer), Keith "Young Buck" (percussion), PJ (blocks)
First set - 10 PM

Don, Blue, Young Buck, Darryl, Steve, Tim, Lakindra, Chi Ali


Don, Young Buck, Blue, Darryl, Steve, Tim, Lakindra, James, Chi Ali, Glenn


PJ on the left


1) Chi Ali rapped - it had a light crank / Steve rapped
Chi Ali said the next song was "For the ladies."
Chi Ali left the stage
2) Steve-led Justin Timberlake's Until the End of Time - it was laid back
3) Lakindra-led Keyshia Cole's Heaven Sent "Now you can wait your whole life wondering, When it's gonna come or where it's been" - it had a light crank
4) Lakindra-led Jazmine Sullivan's Need U Bad - it had a light crank
5) Steve-led Lil Wayne's Mrs. Officer - it had a light crank
6) Lakindra-led Rihanna's Take a Bow - it had a light crank, Chi Ali returned to the stage
7) Lakindra-led "mean to me" - it had a light crank / Chi Ali-led "I said it's ready to go" - it rose to a full crank -->
Tamara (Gemini) was there.
8) Chi Ali-led ? - it cranked, Chi Ali gave me a birthday shout out
9) Alternating Steve-led The Dream's I Luv Your Girl - it cranked / Percussion solo - Chi Ali chanted, "Eya eya"
DJ Deuce Juan was there.
10) Steve-led TI's On Top of the World - it cranked, Chi Ali gave me a birthday shout out / Percussion solo

 

I wasn't able to get a table until the break, so I spent the second set sitting at a table eating.

Second set
1) Gemini-led Jill Scott's Hate on Me - it cranked / Percussion solo - Chi Ali rapped / Steve-led Maino's Hi Hater

All pictures (except flyer) taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
2) Steve-led ? (I know it's a song Scooby sings with Familiar Faces) - it cranked / Percussion solo - Chi Ali chanted, "Eya eya"
3) Steve-led TI's Whatever You Like - it cranked
4) Chi Ali-led "Somebody call the police" - it cranked
India was there.
5) Steve-led Snoop's Life of Da Party - it cranked
6) Chi Ali-led "Got a" - it cranked / Lakindra & Steve-led ? -->
7) Chi Al-led "Throw your hands in the air, like a freak"
8) Chi Ali-led "5, 25, 25" / Steve-led "Work it, work your body"
9) Steve-led TI's Whatever You Like - it cranked
They were done at 12:10. I enjoyed it.

After their performance, I had a long conversation with Nico.

Sunday at the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival
Third Annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, Sylvan Amphitheatre, National Mall, 15th St NW & Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC 20001

I saw the very end of the performance of AfroBlue, a jazz vocal acapella group at a little after 1 AM.

Taj Mahal - 1:33 PM
The line up was: Henry "Taj Mahal" Fredericks (guitar, keyboard, banjo), Bill Rich (bass), Kester Smith (drummer).

Bill, Taj Mahal, Kester
1) Instrumental - it had a light crank
2) Done Changed My Way of Living - it had a light crank
Taj Mahal said, "When you play the blues, you're not supposed to feel bad, you get the blues off of you."
3) Checking up on My Baby - it had a light crank
4) Annie Mae - it had a light crank
5) "I can get crazy, If you love me baby, be your lover man" - Taj Mahal played the keyboard, it had a light crank

Taj Mahal talked about Duke Ellington and his output.
6) Baby You're My Destiny - Taj Mahal was back on guitar, it was laid back
7) Zanzibar - it had a light crank
Taj Mahal talked about "Sea Breeze" his brother second down.
8) Good Morning Miss Brown - it had a light crank
9) Fishing Blues "catch more than you" - it had a light crank
10) Queen Bee - it had a light crank
Taj Mahal took out a banjo and said, "Bourgeois don't be leaving now. What's he going to be doing with that?"

All pictures above taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
11) Dueling Banjos (tease) as a joke / 'Merican / "Riverdance" - it had a light crank, the audience clapped along
12) Slow Drag - it had a light crank
The set was done at 2:36. I enjoyed it.

I had planned to see Christian McBride, Conrad Herwig, and McCoy Tyner as well, but it was so hot I went home. Had I known how bad it was going to be, I would have gone to see Rare Essence instead.

Sunday at The Legend (Part 4 of My Birthday Celebration)
The Legend, 3225 Naylor Rd, Temple Hills, MD 20748

I saw a male deer on Massachusetts Avenue near American University on my way there.

DJ Lucky said that they were selling Obama t-shirts in the back and that if you wore it to the club, you would get in free for October.

A girl came over and danced with me before Dynasty Band's performance.

Dynasty Band
Mz. Laydee was sick.
The line up was: lead talker, 3 male vocalists, bass player, keyboard player, trombone player, Saxophone player, drummer, and 2 percussionists.
Dynasty played from around 11:15 to 12:30 (2 sets).
All that was familiar from their two sets were Lil Wayne's Mrs. Officer "woo woo woo" and The Dream's I Luv Your Girl.
I enjoyed their performance, it cranked.

Art of Junk
The line up was: Buggs (lead talker), 2 other male vocalists, Demi Doc (keyboard), 2 other keyboard players, Conga/toms player, blocks/cowbell/buckets player, buckets/tambourine player, drummer (drum kit & buckets).
They played from around 1:10 to 2:40 (2 sets).
First set
What was familiar from this set was: TI's Whatever You Like, "Let's freak... So high", Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads up), The Jackson 5's? "Enjoy Yourself", "Drop and get your freak on" - another male vocalist sat in, and Rare Essence's Lock It.

Second set
What was familiar from this set was: Lil Wayne's Mrs. Officer, Tiddy Balls, Nelly's Flap Your Wings - the house lights came on, and they performed Ray J's Sexy Can I.

When I walked to my car, a girl said to me, "Hey White man, did you have fun?"

Barry, who works security at Mirrors, was the only one I knew there.

Saturday at Tradewinds (My Main Birthday Celebration & Jammin' Jeff's)
Tradewinds Night Club, 5859 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20748

I did not try to bring a pen in and did not use my usual way of remembering (memorizing one set at a time), so this is really off the top of my head more so than usual.

Yvette, Rhonda, Janetta, Tracey G., Torrie, Stacey, Shaunte, Cindy, Nicole (trouble), Nicole (BF), Archie, Isha, Shawn, Ariel, Mia S., Keta, Muffin, Stacey, Sharmba Mitchell, Tamera, Angie W., RE Angie, Brenda, Rochelle, L-Boogie, Sam (Black Heart), Ty (Delano795), Donnell Jr., and Chappy were there.

Familiar Faces
Mike and Lorenzo were not present.
First set

Nephew, Shawn, Scooby, Sean, Wendell, Godfather, Damila, Jammin' Jeff, Donnell, Packy, Bojack, Quese


1) Damila-led Beyonce's Green Light? "give the green light" - it had a light crank, most of the band was strategically placed to one side of the stage

Wendell, Damila, Drunk, Bojack, DP, Donnell, Quese, Patrick
2) A recording was repeatedly played: a male voice saying, "Playing the drum is like making love" - girls (from the audience) played drums and percussion and marched down the left aisle to the front of the stage - at the front of the stage, I noticed Brenda and Archie among people playing percussion, being conducted by Jammin' Jeff, on the dance floor it was mostly women and they didn't dance at this point as they were so intent on watching what was going on onstage

Scooby, Wendell, Damila, Bojack, Packy, Smoke, DP, Jammin' Jeff, Archie


3) Damila-led Anita Baker's Been So Long
4) Scooby-led ?
5) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Hey ay"
6) Scooby-led "Familiar Faces is for the Grown & Sexy"
7) Donnell-led "Jump your body" - it cranked
8) Donnell & Quese-led We Don't Need These Phones - it cranked

Second Set
1) Scooby-led Phil Collins' In the Air Tonight
2) Damila-led Rihanna's Take a Bow
3) Scooby-led Sunshine
4) Scooby-led The Dream's I Luv Your Girl
5) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
6) Scooby-led "Uh oh uh uh oh" - it cranked
Shorty Dud, 32, and Blue Eye of Rare Essence were there.

Nephew, Isha, Sean, Shawn, Jammin' Jeff, Bojack, Shorty Dud, Rochelle, Donnell Jr., Wendell, Smoke, Donnell, DP


Angie W., Nephew, Sean, Jammin' Jeff, Blue Eye, Bojack, Donnell Jr., Wendell, 32
All pictures taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
7) 32-led Rare Essence's Body Snatchers (tease) - Blue Eye sat in on drums
8) 32 & Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine - it cranked

Friday at Ram's Head Live (Part 2 of my brthday celebration)
Ram's Head Live, 20 Market Pl, Baltimore MD 21202


I got in line at 7 PM. I made a mistake: you could pick one of two lines and the one I picked got in later. I got in at 8:12 PM and Estelle had just started:

Estelle had a background behind the stage lit up: Estelle and then Shine below it.

Estelle - in progress at 8:12 PM
The line up was: Estelle Swaray (vocals), female vocalist, 2 male vocalists, bass player, keyboard player, drummer, DJ.

Estelle
1?) Wait a Minute (Just a Touch) - it had a light crank
2) No Substitute - it had a light crank
Estelle talked about a couple of ex-boyfriends leading up to:
3) More Than Friends - it had a light crank
Estelle joked about how the guys in the audience would think of her singing another such song...
4) Come Over - a male fan was invited up onstage to dance with Estelle, girls yelled, she said, "The last guy who came up started to break dance."
5) 1980 - Estelle had the crowd wave their arms, Travis McCoy sat in and rapped, then Estelle said, "Thank you, Travis"
Estelle said the next song was her tribute to Tina Turner, the Supremes, etc.
6) Pretty Please (Love Me) - it cranked
7) American Boy - Estelle said, "You may know it", fans sang it, her backup vocalists danced
She was done at 8:46 PM. I liked her performance and how she personalized it.

It went dark, and then a new background appeared with GymClassHeroes over a 6 paneled quilt.

Gym Class Heroes - 9:10 PM
The line up was: Travis McCoy (lead vocals), male backup vocalist, Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo (guitar), bass player, (black guy) keyboard player, (white guy) keyboard player/guitar player, Matt McGinley (drummer)
At the start the backup vocalist waved a flag that had GymClassHeroes written on it.
1) Clothes Off! - it had a light crank, Travis rapped, I smelled Marijuana / drum solo
2) Peace Sign / Index Down - Travis asked, "How many of you registered to vote?", Travis rapped
3) The Queen & I - it had a light crank, the roadie (white dude) who had tested all of the guitars sat in for just this song
4) Shoot Down the Stars - Travis said, "All the sexy people, make some noise, take a step back, put your chin up"
5) Sam Cooke's Cupid (tease) / Supertramp's Breakfast in America (tease) / Cupid's Chokehold - the white keyboard player played the guitar
6) Blinded by the Sun - it had a light crank
7) Papercuts - it was interrupted by a fight, Travis said, "Are you done? We came to have fun tonight. I've been known to get involved when required."
8) ? "romance" - some of it was sung acapella
Travis said, "A few weeks ago there was an accident where a couple of our friends got hurt (DJ AM & Travis Barker)".
9) ? - Travis encouraged the audience to jump up and down, the guitar players stood at the edge of the stage
Travis asked, "How many of you guys are addicted to music?"
10) ?
I have a problem when I text when I'm drunk."
10) Drnk Txt Rmeo - a female singer (blonde white woman) sat in briefly
11) On My Own Time (Write On!) - Travis rapped, Disashi soloed and walked over to the drum kit
Travis said, "On the internet, you may have heard about some trouble I had in St. Louis. I got charged with litter. I'm Innocent!" (He was charged on July 1 with hitting a man with a microphone who called him by the n-word).
12) Guilty as Charged - Estelle and Black Thought came onstage, Estelle sat in, it cranked, then both Estelle and Black Thought left the stage

Disashi, Travis, Estelle, Black Thought, GymClassHeroe's backup vocalist
Travis called out to his Mom in the audience.
13) ?
14) Cookie Jar
They were done at 10:16. I really did not like their music and couldn't wait for it to be over - it was too much of what is called "alternative music" and I didn't like the lyrics either.

It went dark, and then the black curtain covering the backdrop was dropped. Their background was an image of John McCain's face crossed out and with the word Nope on his forehead with script writing in the background of the entire backdrop.

The Roots - 10:51 PM
The line up was: Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter (rapper), Kirk "Captain Kirk" Douglas (guitar & vocals), Owen Biddle (bass), James "Kamal" Gray (keyboards), Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson (drummer), Frank "Knuckles" Walker (percussion), Damon "Tuba Gooding Jr." Bryson (Sousaphone).

Questlove and Black Thought


Captain Kirk


1) Instrumental - The band members except for Black Thought walked onto the stage singe file with Damon playing his Sousaphone as they walked on, the rest of the band started to play their instruments at a light crank and then Black Thought walked onstage 2) Black Thought-led Get Busy - it cranked, another male rapper sat in
3) Kamal-led Star - it had a light crank
4) Black Thought-led Step into the Realm - it had a light crank
5) Black Thought-led "Hustle, where I come from" - it was laid back, Knuckles, Captain Kirk, Damon, and Owen rushed from the right to where Black Thought stood on the left
6) Alternating Black Thought-led Mellow My Man - it had a light crank, Black Thought said, "Clap your hands, stamp your feet" / Percussion solo - Captain Kirk, Damon, and Owen all stood on Questlove's risers and played on the drum kit with him (all with sticks), it cranked, Black Thought said, "Say turn it up, say fire it up" / Damon Sousaphone solo - he stood on the left front of the stage, Black Thought said, "Y'all feeling my peoples or what?", Black Thought said, "Baltimore and all surrounding areas, say thank you."

Captain Kirk, Tuba Gooding Jr., Questlove, Owen, Black Thought, Knuckles
All pictures (except flyer) taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
Black Thought introduced the band
7) Black Thought-led "every time" - it had a light crank / Questlove-led Criminal - Black Thought said, "Turn it up"
8) Black Thought-led "people can say what they want" - it had a light crank / Alternating Captain Kirk-led You Got Me - it rose to a full crank, Captain Kirk scatted / Captain Kirk-led Guns N Rose's Sweet Child O' Mine (tease) - the crowd sang along / Black Thought-led George Thorogood & the Destroyers' Bad to the Bone (tease) / Black Thought-led Muddy Waters' Mannish Boy (tease) " Now when I was a young boy, at the age of five" / Kirk went up to the front and did solo notes / Owen bass solo - Owen and Damon were at the front
9) Black Thought-led The Next Movement - it had a light crank / Captain Kirk-led "You don't know... I don't... push..." - Captain Kirk, Damon, Black Thought, and Owen stood at the front of the stage, Black Thought said, "Clap" / Black Thought-led Curtis Mayfield's Move on Up - it cranked, Captain Kirk, Damon, and Owen stood at the front left then right, Captain Kirk duckwalked
Special presentation for the 4 Libras onstage - they (including Travis McCoy and the female guest vocalist during his set) brought out birthday cakes
10) Black Thought-led "ladies and gentlemen I'm... that's my..." - Black Thought rapped so fast it was hard to make out what he was saying, it cranked, Knuckles stood at the front and interacted with Black Thought, Kamal played guitar-like keyboard hits, Questlove soloed, Captain Kirk, Knuckles, Damon, and Owen danced
They finished a little after Midnight. They threw signed drum sticks, towels, and drum heads to the audience, Questlove threw something to the loft by the left side of the stage but the person dropped it and he waved at them like how could you drop that?, he threw a signed drum head into the loft in the center by throwing it like a Frisbee.
It was awesome, lots of the crank that I enjoy.

Part 1 of My Birthday Celebration: Thursday at Icon
The Icon, 2106 Crain Hwy, Waldorf, MD 20601


Elements Band - 8:49
The line up was: Blinc (lead talker), Link (vocalist), Carilla (female vocalist), guitar player, bass player, keyboard player, drummer, 2 percussionists.
1) Alternating Link-led "someone else's girlfriend" (it was familiar) - it cranked / Percussion solo
2) Link-led Maroon 5's This Love - it cranked
3) Carilla-led Erykah Badu's On & On - it started off with a light crank and then rose to a full crank, Blinc said, "All the ladies" / Percussion solo - Carilla said, "What y'all say?"
4) Blinc-led "doing it... yeah" - it cranked -->
5) Blinc & Link-led "I like it a lot" - it cranked -->
6) Blinc & Link-led "Holler at you" (it was familiar) - it cranked, the frontline danced
Rachelle was there also celebrating her birthday and those of other friends she brought.
7) Carilla-led "that we're hot" - it cranked / outtro
Blinc said, "Sexual chocolate!"
Their set was done at 9:34. This was my first time seeing them and I had expected to see Publicity Band based on the flyer, but I liked their set.

Do Dirty worked the PA.

Tamera was there.

A woman named Keisha introduced herself to me, she recognized me from going to a number of Familiar Faces shows.

Snells was there.

Familiar Faces
First set
Donnell said, "We'll have a special dedication to the Dallas Cowboys (who lost to the Redskins on Sunday)... and Tony Homo".
1) Damila-led Ledisi's Alright - it cranked, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Percussion solo
Donnell did a shout out to me.
2) Damila-led Jill Scott's When You're Around - it cranked, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Percussion solo - Keisha danced with me -->
3) Quese & Scooby-led Jodeci's Come & Talk to Me - it cranked, Donnell did a birthday shout out to me
4) Scooby-led The Dream's I Luv Your Girl - Scooby did "ah ah ah" in synch with the horn hits / "___ Is bad!" / Percussion solo - the stage went dark
Shaunte (Stacey's Cousin) was there, celebrating her birthday.
5) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - it cranked
6) Donnell-led "Party party, everybody" - it cranked / Instrumental / Donnell & Quese-led "Jump your body" - Donnell got on the right speaker and Scooby on the left, then Donnell went on the dance floor / Bojack tom solo - Packy played the cowbell
Donnell joned on the Cowboys. Snell said, "You better cut that out" and Donnell said, "Or what?" Then ran away.

Tasha T. was there.

I talked with Lorenzo for awhile during the break, he had just been touring with Ledisi.

Second set
1) Scooby-led Phil Collins' In the Air Tonight - it started off laid back and then went to crank, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Percussion solo - it was really long, I loved it
Stacy & ChooChoo were there.
2) Donnell & Quese-led We Don't Need These Phones - it cranked / Percussion solo -->
Yannie and Theos were there.
3) Scooby-led Sunshine - it cranked, Scooby chanted, "Hold it!" / Percussion solo - Scooby chanted, "Oh oh oh" / "Ya Party With Me" / Donnell chanted, "Dance with me, Y'all"
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
5) Quese & Damila-led "Can we do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" - it cranked
6) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Hey ay"
7) Scooby-led "Uh oh uh uh oh" - Scooby said, "Stick out your butt and shake what you got", Scooby said. "How low low can you go go"? - Donnell, DP, and Mike were in front of the dance floor
8) Damila-led Rihanna's Take a Bow - it cranked, Donnell, DP and Mike danced
9) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Alternating Rare Essence's Work the Walls - it cranked, Scooby stood on the left speaker / Bojack tom solo
10) Donnell & Scooby-led Do You Think About Me? - it had a light crank / Percussion solo / "Slow Funk & Grind" - I zoned out a little so I may have missed a song / Scooby-led "DC Girls, they drive me crazy" / Bojack tom solo - Donnell said, "We have a special RIP for the Cowboys before we go" / Instrumental / Donnell acapella Marvin Sapp's Never Would Have Made It
Bojack imitated James Funk.
Michelle Blackwell of the WHAT? Band was there.

Sunday at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
Ina & Jack Kay Theatre, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742

This was my first time at this venue.

Joe Castleman, a fellow member of the Miles Davis listserv I'm on, was also at this performance, his comments are in italics below.

My seat was in the first row of the (round) balcony, about halfway between the left entrance and the middle.

I was about four rows behind you!

I had missed seeing Wayne when he performed at the 2005 Duke Ellington Jazz Festival as I got so sunburned watching the earlier acts that I had to leave before he performed, so I didn't hesitate to buy my ticket as soon as I read about this performance last Month.

I did, too. We had a 2-month-old at that point and there was no way I could have stayed out there all day. I assumed that he'd be playing last, i.e. that evening, being the headliner. But we did get to see Chuck Brown finish (and FWIW, last year I took my son with me to WPFW's garage sale, where he saw Chuck Brown a second time).

However, I was frustrated when I found out that the performance would start during the Redskins game at the Cowboys (we (the Redskins) won 26-24). In fact, I left home early to eat at a College Park bar so that I could see any of the game at all. I ended up at the Cornerstone Grill when RJ Bentley's couldn't get TV reception for the game.

I wonder if that was why people were showing up halfway through the concert, inching their way down the seats. Nice.

The host, Ruth Waalkes?, came out and spoke briefly before the performance, including thanking Barbara and Charles Reiher as a gift of theirs partially funded this performance.

The audience area was pitch black throughout the performance.

They announced that the performances would not follow the order in the program, which was Imani Winds solo, Wayne Shorter Quartet, Wayne Shorter Quartet with the Imani Winds.

The Wayne Shorter Quartet
The line up was: Wayne Shorter (Saxophone), Brian Blade (drums), John Patitucci (bass), Danilo Perez (piano) (This has been Wayne's band for years now).
The arrangement was: the grand piano was on the left at an angle, Wayne stood in front of it about midway in its length and stored his mouthpieces covers not in use in the piano, John stood to the right of the piano, and Brian was at the right which his drum kit at an angle.
Brian's drum kit was the smallest drum kit I've ever seen. It had mics suspended above it from mic stands.
After just a few seconds, they started to play and played continually except for short pauses (for applause) from 6:13 to 7:06 PM, all at a light crank.
Brian was visually compelling, he played with mallets (both ends) and sticks and he moved his arms in various awkward looking positions, including often playing with his arms crossing each other.
Next the Imani Winds came out. Unfortunately, during the rest of the performance, some guy sitting in my row would not keep quiet.
Imani Winds
The line up was (left to right): Valerie Coleman (flutes), Toyin Spellman-Diaz (oboe), Mariam Adam (clarinet), Monica Ellis (bassoon), Jeff Scott (French horn).
The Imani Winds all played sitting down. They performed one piece alone, but with the Wayne Short Quartet onstage (Wayne sat down). Toyin moved her legs around as she played.
Then the Wayne Shorter Quartet played one piece with the Imani Winds. Before it started, Wayne pointed out some things on the sheet music to Valerie (she sat to his left). Wayne performed this piece sitting down.
After the end of this piece, they all stood up in the front of the stage and took a bow, arm-in-arm at 7:21 PM. Then they briefly left the stage and then returned for an encore.
They performed one piece; then again they all stood up in the front of the stage and took a bow, arm-in-arm at 7:40 PM.
I enjoyed the whole performance, but I don't know what pieces they played.

Same here, on both counts. The only time anyone spoke was when Wayne joked(?) about something but I couldn't hear it.

I have to say that I have found Wayne's music with this quartet to be difficult to follow. (Again, to make clear, this is my observation, my $0.02, and I'm certain I'm in the minority where this group is concerned.) Maybe it was the $40 admission, maybe it was being able to watch the guy in person, maybe both, but this time I got more out of it. However, I thought that when the quartet played together with Imani Winds, somehow this loosened things up and I enjoyed this even more. "Loosened up" might not make sense, seeing how Imani was (largely) reading from scores, but I think this forced the quartet to change its approach.

The program listed Imani Winds' possible selections as being from the following list: Wayne Shorter's Terra Incognita, Pegasus, Prometheus Unbound, the Three Marias; Lalo Schifrin's La Nouvele Orleans, Maurice Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin, Astor Piazzolla's Libertango & Fuga Y Misterio (both arranged by Jeff Scott), Paquito D'Rivera's Kites Over Havana (arranged by Valerie Coleman), Valerie Coleman's Suite: Portraits of Josephine, and Jeff Scott's Homage to Duke.

There was a reception after and the members of the Imani Winds came out to interact with the audience. A three piece band of white guys (undoubtedly music students at Maryland) played on a landing on the stairs: keyboard, acoustic bass, and drummer.
Toyin, the first one out, was especially friendly.

I also saw Chris Vidala, no big surprise since he teaches at the University.

Guy next to me at the bar:
"Is there any charge for the spirits?"
The bartender replied "yes" and so the guy left.
I remarked, "what's he think this is, a wedding?" but then again, I've been charged for drinks at a wedding.

P.S. A minor clarification, those were mouthpiece covers that Wayne set in the piano. Patitucci also kept his bow in there. Whenever I see someone lean up against the piano like Wayne was doing (and Like I've seen Pharoah Sanders do) I'm afraid the lid is going to slam shut.