Thursday at Venus Hall
Venus Hall, 15 K St NE Washington, DC 20002

This was my first time at the Venus Hall. As Donnell said, it is over by the ticket adjudication. It shares a building with Dominoe's Pizza. I recognized one of the bartenders as Imani, formerly from the Market Lounge.

A four person Jazz Band (guitar, bass, keyboards and drums) performed. They just ended their first set as I walked in. I only recognized Telando and Vincent among the audience members.

There were less than fifteen people there. During the second set, they performed a number of familiar jazz covers, the first of which I recognized as Herbie Hancock's Chameleon.

Mike Smith was there.

I talked with Packy for a while. Doc, Dwayne and I discussed why they switched to this venue with its very small audience.

YC and Tim (LJ) were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Jacques played during the first set
During the sound check, Donnell sang Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane.
He said "Mark, please don't play the Girl from Ipanema, that's from the band before".
Still, Halima did sing Stan Getz & Jo?o Gilberto's The Girl from Ipanema during the sound check.
Halima also sang Bob Marley's Is This Love during the soundcheck.
1) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know
2) Mike-led I Dreamed You
Mike said, "Thank you love" to Halima
3) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - the intro was different with a very laidback beat
The crank started with
4) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You - Halima, Donnell and DP danced the same dance
5) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
6) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
7) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - this is the first time they played it on instruments rather than just the sample
Halima used more nonverbal arm & hand gestures than usual, and did a black power fist at the start of the set.
There were fifteen to twenty people there for the first set. There was a couple there that I later learned are named June and Shadonna.

I sat at a table with Dwayne, Doc, and Halima. I asked Dwayne if he could play Maggot Brain. He said yes and there was even a Maggot Brain setting on his pedals. I talked about Hichael Hampton supposedly purposely sabotaging shows due to the large entourages. Go Go Mickey came by and shook hands with all of us. I said to Halima, that's the best conga player in the game. She asked why he's the best. I said what he plays and how he plays it.

Val "Tina Turner", Renee, Michelle, RE Angie, Candy, Michon, Mookie, and Los were there.

Second Set
Charlie played during the second set
The crank started right away
1) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
2) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
Donnell said, "Michelle went back to the Metro."
Donnell and Halima danced together
3) Donnell-led Hold the Note - Halima danced
4) Donnell-led Sly & the Family Stone's Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
5) Donnell-led "If you have to believe in something, why not believe in me"
6) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot - Los rapped, Donnell added the line, "Bounce, bounce"
Mike pointed behind me and smiled. I turned around and saw Halima dancing in the audience.
7) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - Donnell invited Michelle on stage, she did a dance that mocked his onstage arm gestures / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine "going to get away, yes, yes (the line Charlie claimed Donnell had left out last Friday)
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Work the Walls
10) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl
The crowd had increased for this set - there were at least thirty people there.

Spanky, a promoter, talked with me.

Before I left, Imani talked with me. She recognized me from Takoma Station. I said Market Lounge too. She said back to then? She said she works here and at Killi's Kafe. It was raining when we left.