Thursday at Bryne Manor
Bryne Manor (3877 Knights of Columbus), 1501 Southern Ave, Oxon Hill, MD 20745

The flyer said $10 before 9 PM, so I was there before 9. I was the first guest. I even arrived before Suga Wuga. He talked with a security guy about how he was taking a risk with this show - he didn't get to hand out flyers after last night's show due to the early ending. I told him about the sewage problem. He called me Familiar Faces #1 fan. He said that FF is booked solid through October. He said taking risks is okay, it's only money. He said that the security guard shot at Lavar Arrington's party was one of the Four Horsemen. I went in with him and sat in a plush chair. I met a guy named 'Metrie, we talked a couple of times. The next guest arrived at 10:20 PM.

Telando came out and talked with me. He said he works for the government. He's getting old and should let someone young do this for a change. I said that he gets paid to go to GoGo performances. He said yes, that's cool. He said he sits in the back or wears earplugs so his hearing is unimpaired. I told him about a music professor I had who has tinnitus. He said, "I know what that is." He said he's almost done, his big three for the summer are Unifest, the BBQ battle, and I forget the third. When Thomas walked in, he said, "We can't get rid of you, huh?" Suga Wuga got Popeye's chicken for the security guys. A bass player walked in - he had a bass on his back; he wore a white Old Navy t-shirt. When the GoGo pics guy set up the backgrounds, I noticed one of the backgrounds was specific to this venue; it was of a black Escalade SUV and had "The Manor" and "Byrne Manor" printed on it.

I eventually went into the performance room - the lights were dimmed so that it would be cooler. Godfather said hello. He asked if Little Benny had played yet, I told him no one had. Then he walked over to Thomas and Googie. Thomas said to/of Godfather, "Look, it's one of the coneheads!" Los, Charlie and Little Benny were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Charlie was the second percussionist for the night
Donnell said, "You know it's the first of the month when Charlie got new stuff, buttas, new cowbell, Chinese shirt (Solbiato brand).
Donnell, Halima, and Mike performed when they tested their mics (they don't always). Halima laughed. There was lots of messing around.
The crank started immediately with:
1) Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
Day Day, the conga player from the beginning at Safari last Friday, said hello to me
3) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
4) Donnell-led "Trinidad crew" rap - "Da na ah"
5) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
6) Donnell-led Hold the Note
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda

Ray and 6'9 were there. I asked Doc how many sets they were performing, he didn't know. One of the drum set up guys talked with me and Telando about TCB's movie. We discussed how negative the cover image of the movie is for GoGo.

His brother, the other drum set up man, is the bass player for Dynasty Band. They thought I was the one in change of Byrne Manor, since I was there so early sitting in the plush chair outside the performance room. When I told them what I am really doing, they were interested in having me write about the Dynasty Band. He gave me the manager's phone number, his name is Twin. I teased Packy about wearing sunglasses; he said he's trying to be incognito. There was a really statuesque woman named JoJo there.

Second Set
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
The crank started with
2) Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Little Benny joined in - Donnell-led Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a Minute" echoes
3) Mike-led Donna Summer's Love to Love You, Baby (tease)
4) Little Benny-led Notorious BIG's Warning
5) Little Benny-led Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
6) Little Benny-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (Donnell still did the effects), Mike added singing in a high voice
7) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
8) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
9) Donnell-led Rick James' Mary Jane (tease)
10) Donnell & Little Benny-led Rare Essence's Roll Call - Halima joined in the dance
11) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25, 30, 40, Girl want to shake that ass, but you've got to give up the cash" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
13) Donnell-led "___ Got No Drawers"
14) Donnell-led 911
Los danced onstage
15) Rare Essence's Marinda - instrumental
16) Little Benny rapped
17) Donnell-led Family
18) Donnell acapella Dave Hollister's One Woman Man "Seeing you reminds me of"
19) Donnell acapella Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane
6'9 did more stuff with my hands during this set. He just doesn't think I dance and party enough.

JoJo danced up front at the end. Donnell's talked to her on the mic, "We was neighbors. Get off of him, you know I get jealous." He thanked the drum set up guys, saying, "Thank you, Harry's drum majors." Donnell teased Charlie more about his shirt and his shoes, "it's three blades of grass, not a tree, those are Timbos, not Timberlands. Charlie's shirt is from Godfather's store. He has an independence car (whatever that means)." Charlie said, "I'm not forty, over the hill." Donnell said to Tijuana, "Tijuana said when I popped the Jaguar, you were out of there." Stomp said of Nephew (who wore an orange United Clothiers Association t-shirt), "He looks like a last year pumpkin."

I asked DP about his vacation, he enjoyed it. He went to Myrtle Beach with his kids. I said, "Again?" There were between thirty to fifty people in the audience.