Friday at Safari
Safari Steakhouse, 9430 Annapolis Road Lanham MD 20706

My Dad pointed out to me that the weekend section of the Washington Post listed FF's Wednesday and Friday gigs. I walked up and Nephew stood outside with the security guys. I could tell that again there were less people than usual since I got a good parking space, despite arriving after 10 PM due to construction on I-495. The security guard, Patrick, asked if I was in charge of the band's website. Nephew said, "No, I am." He wanted Nephew to take a down a picture, because there was a girl in the picture also, even though he was just standing there doing his job. He said it wasn't the girl in the picture he was worried about.

Thomas was there, along with a friend/co-worker named Bob. He had driven the equipment truck on Wednesday and tonight as a fill in. He used to drive and unload, sometimes even more. I told him that I have on video when he talked on the phone to Donnell when Donnell recorded in the booth. He said Church should always come first, that's why he can't become their permanent driver again, in addition to the fact that he makes more money at night than during the day. Bob really liked what he heard of FF. He asked who did their sound, I told him Googie, and that Googie works with Rare Essence and worked on the sound on Rare Essence's last album. Thomas talked about driving down to Miami and staying at a motel next to a Bennigan's in the northern part of the city, near the small airfield across the street from Florida Memorial (I went to a concert there in 1999). When we finished talking, many of the band members had already set up.

I talked with Halima. She ate fries from Wendy's. I told her how Donnell said she was on fire at Myrtle Beach; I asked her what she did. She said she was wild, really energetic. I asked her, "Like My Funny Valentine (her signature song)?" She said three times that. She talked about how I said I had trouble believing negative stuff happening with her - she said she's learning from Donnell. I said her smiling when performing looks genuine, she said it is. She said the almighty wouldn't make her go through things without a reason.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Peanut, Michon and Candy, and Jauhar's business partner David were there
1) Instrumental
2) Mike-led Bobby Caldwell's What You Won't Do for Love
3) Mike-led ?
4) Halima-led Jill Scott's Whatever
5) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - with a great climax
Packy said, "She's David Ruffin in a bottle"
6) James-led Jill Scott's Not Like Crazy
7) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself
8) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People
Doc said Stomp is twelve years old

Ytee was there

Mike said on the mic, "Packy has the microwave (red) light on. It's like a tanning booth; by the time we're done I'll look like Wesley Snipes."

Tracy was there.

Donnell did the announcements for tomorrow's gigs first at Venus Hall for the Tyson After-Fight Party with L!ssen, and After Hours Band, then their usual Tradewinds show. He said, I think it's Scooby's L!ssen with Scooby, Scrappy, and Skittles. Halima laughed. Mike said Ytee has his Terrorist outfit on (he had a towel on his head, under his blue beer hat) Halima said he's someone who's going to be searched. Mike wore Shooters clothing, he said it's across the street from where he lives. Donnell asked Stomp (who also represents Shooters) if he pulled Mike in, Stomp said, "No, Shooters is just hot now". It was a smaller crowd than usual like last week.

Second Set
6'9, Blak, and Scuba Steve Covington of Y2K were there
1) Instrumental with percussion solo
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva -> Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Superstition
3) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
Mike teased Ytee
4) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
5) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
6) Alternating 6 Minutes percussion solo - Donnell said, "Don't nobody say nothing, don't nobody play anything" / Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) RE Angie and Angie were there
7) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot
8) Scuba Steve rapped
Donnell said, "Simple City?"
Donnell danced with RE Angie
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
Tasty was there.
10) "Right through?"
Donnell said, "Ten for ton, nine for nine, eight for break." People teased him about it.

RE Angie said hello and sat by me

Third Set
Donnell talked about multiple shows in one night, like when you would go from Cardoza to Howard Theatre.
Los was there
Donnell called Tasty "Frankie Knuckles"
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
2) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / Tupac's Hail Mary / "Wait a minute" chants repeated - females danced on stage
3) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - women sang along
4) Donnell-led Hold the Note
5) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit, ready to split?" - the crowd shouted, "Hell no!"
6) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hey Tamika
7) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
8) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
9) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease) / Rare Essence's Spotlight (tease) / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
10) Alternating Halima-led Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane (tease) / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Work the Walls
11) Donnell-led Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me - "Od ba ba ba"
12) Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Simple city"
13) Mike-led Lap Dance
They resumed performing
Donnell said, "They're so disrespectful, I am looking for a drummer, can anyone play drums?"
He talked about the Miami trip and that, "South Beach is topless, don't go down there like Stomp, anyone here work for Stomp? Haulover Beach is nude".
14) Donnell acapella rap