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


Adia and Michael Thompson of L!ssen
Picture Copyright Adia Doores

My friend Sean told me he was coming. I talked with Angie about Nephew's Dad; she said he was there on Saturday as well. I told her about my paper, and the photo. Tracy got the web address from me and Angie gave me her email address. Stomp arrived with Charlie.

They were late setting up, the other band members helped carry equipment and set it up.

Sean arrived. I talked with Jay; he showed me old photos of Rare Essence members in white tuxedos. I asked if I could scan them in, he said no. Sean and I went and watched from in front of the bar due to the loudness. Nephew showed the pictures to Tracy. Sean asked if Tracy and Darrell were brother and sister (they aren't related).

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Instrumental
2) Adia-led Jill Scott's Not Like Crazy
3) Mike-led Ordinary people - Michael Thompson of Lissen sat in during it
Salih "E" Williams was there as well.
4) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Golden Lady
5) Mike-led Lap Dance
When the set ended, Donnell joked, "Can I get a new drummer? Oh, there's Scooter (of EU)" Pooh was also there. Day Day and Gene Pratt of Suttle Thoughts. Sugar Bear and Donny Ray of EU were there, as was Buggy from BYB and Grady, Rare Essence's manager. The girl with blonde highlights and Tanya and their friends were there again. Also, Ray, Tim (LJ), Darrell, and RE Angie were there. Also, Michelle Blackwell of What? Band was there.

I talked with Tanya, asked her if Doc had emailed the pictures to her, he said he told her where she could see them. I said I wouldn't have put it on my site if she hadn't complained, she said it was okay. I talked with Jay, he said they need more direction, I said they need to work on punctuality. He said they aren't all working in the same direction. I talked about how their crowd had grown between the Summer and November to 500. He said he went to Safari and told Eric how he was amazed how big the crowds were, and Eric said even more will be here and they were. I told him how they have different crowds for different sets. He said he didn't want to get me into any more trouble.

Sean left during the second set, when I pointed out it was midnight. Tara St. John arrived; I asked her how she was doing. She said she worked plenty of overtime at the post office because she bought/is buying a house. I asked her if she was going to perform, she said she didn't know.

Second Set
1) Adia-led Jill Scott's Whatever
2) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You
3) Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You
4) Mike-led Happy Birthday
5) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Body Moves
6) Donnell-led Notorious BIG's Warning - Donnell performed as a duet with Ebony
7) Donnell-led Ludacris' Intro / Ludacris' Number One Spot
8) Donnell & Mike-led Terror Squad's Lean Back - Tara guest rapped
9) Donnell-led Miss Tara Will You Dance for Me
10) Donnell-led Prince's Take Me With You
11) Donnell-led Hold the Note
12) Donnell-led Sly and the Family Stone's Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (tease)
13) Donnell-led DIP
14) Donnell-led Jennifer Lopez's Get Right
15) Donnell-led 911
16) Donnell-led Medley - Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love / Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon? / Vinnie D's $55 Motel - this time he performed the entire song, at this point his accompaniment was just Packy playing congas and Sugar Bear playing drums
17) Donnell-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
18) Donnell-led Rick James' Mary Jane (tease)
19) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Overnight Scenario

Michelle and Nita arrived during the set. I told Michelle about Jay's photos, I told her he was gone, but she said later he wasn't, he was just outside.

I asked Tara as she was leaving if she was going to come out more, she said yes.

I asked Donnell who 6'9 was, he said David Gregg.

I told BJ about the photos.

Outside, Michelle said Donnell needs a bodyguard, she said, "A girl went right up to him, he, I mean she almost kissed him." Donnell talked about Nephew's "gay experience" - he was propositioned 10 years ago at work. Dwayne talked about Sly supposedly touring.