Takoma Station, 6914 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20012
Jacques, Mike, Doc, Stomp, Halima, Donnell, Godfather
Picture taken by and Copyright Jordan Rich
Donnell celebrated his 41st birthday. Mike said our co-worker Shirley Thompson is celebrating her promotion. I didn't realize that Mike also works at Verizon along with Donnell and DP. Donnell said, "Is she in management now? We don't like managers."
Packy had been in an accident - cut off on his motorcycle. His left arm was in a sling. I told him it could be worse; my friend Paul had one of his testicles internalized in a similar motorcycle accident. Probably because of Packy's injury, they didn't have their light show set up for this evening.
Angie complained that despite being a regular, Jauhar wouldn't let her go out and in to pick up Robin. Tracy ended up picking up Robin later.
Stacey talked with me about using my photos for a newsletter.
Donnell did shout outs to guests in the audience - Big G, Andre, Go-Go Mickey, and DeeDee.
Mike Smith was there, he asked a girl when Charlie played with FF; she didn't know who Charlie was, so I told him Saturdays and Thursdays. Because of his birthday, the three tables on the left side of the stage were reserved for Donnell's guests. There were very few stools behind the railing separating the dance floor from the bar. I ended up standing the whole night.
I asked Tamara about the first song she sang last week, she said it was Jill Scott's: that she calls it the Woo Me song, but its real title is E Flat something. Jay Floyd came in said he was going to steal a seat among the reserved seats, I pointed out to him that since it was for guests of Donnell, it was cool for him to sit there anyway.
I asked Tim (LJ) if he was going to the Little Benny reunion, he said no, Wednesday is his night out; otherwise he's a family man. Tom Goldfogle was there.
Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Instrumental
2) Alternting Mike-led Bernard Ighner's Everything Must Change / Halima-led Rodgers & Hart's My Funny Valentine
3) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People
4) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know
5) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's As
Jay said Halima has really grown more comfortable with the band; she was tentative when she first joined. Sixx and Sugar Bear were there. Halima talked with me a little and then to her stylist.
Donnell emphasized that "what goes on in Miami stays in Miami." Mike repeated "I am in room 666 (at Myrtle Beach) come if you dare". Donnell said, "no one laughed either time you said that." 6'9 was there, he said hi. Donnell joked about people's nicknames - Sugar Bear, Gregory Elliott, Rah Rah, Christopher, Sixx, James, Stomp, Larry Atwater, Smoke, Sammy Dews. Benjiy - editor of GoGoSwings magazine was there. Grady was there.
Second Set
1) Donnell chanted "Sweet Chelle, My Belle"
RE Angie was there.
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva / bass line from Stevie Wonder's Superstition
3) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
5) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
6) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease)
Little Benny sat in
7) Little Benny-led Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
8) Donnell-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease) - the crowd sang along
9) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
10) Donnell-led Rick James' Mary Jane (tease)
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Roll Call - "Oh my God!"
12) Sugar Bear-led medley
13) Go-Go Mickey percussion solo
14) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - Donnell chanted "Wait a Minute" / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (Tupac's Hail Mary is part of this medley)
15) Halima-led Amerie's 1 Thing - the new way they rehearsed on Tuesday
16) Donnell-led Lap Dance - a very long version, Donnell chanted, "Swing your body"
17) Donnell-led Prince's Take Me With You
Supa Dan came in
18) Donnell-led Hold the Note
19) Donnell-led Sly & the Family Stone's Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
20) Donnell-led "Got to believe in something, Why not believe in me"
21) Donnell-led DIP
22) Donnell-led Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me - she was there, "Od ba ba ba"
Rah was there. Benny and Dwayne talked with Tom Goldfogle about Benny's single.
