Friday at Safari Steakhouse
Today I finished transcribing my interview of Duane "Pooh" Payne, former drummer for 911/Familiar Faces. The transcript of the interview can be seen here.

Safari Steakhouse, 9430 Annapolis Road Lanham MD 20706


This is their preferred set up. I refer to it as the Bike Week set up, since that's where they started using it. I wasn't there, but Donnell told me about it, and I've seen video footage of their performances there. Notice Smoke is on the frontline and DP is a little further back.
Doc, Lorenzo, Mike, Dwayne (barely visible behind Mike), Halima, Donnell, DP, Jacques, Packy, Smike


My usual perspective at Safari performances:
Mike Muse, Halima, Doc, Smoke, Donnell, Dwayne, DP, Lorenzo, Mike Smith, Jacques


Mike Muse, Halima, Doc, Smoke, Donnell, Dwayne, DP, Lorenzo, Mike Smith, Jacques, Packy

All pictures taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich

When I pulled up, this was the emptiest I've ever seen the parking lot. Inside, it was even emptier.

Googie brought a bass. Packy talked about how Googie claimed he couldn't play anymore, but had played at an outside show (at Banneker Field).

Doc didn't know about DIP being performed at the Northeast Groovers reunion.

Donnell asked if Mike Smith, Stomp, and Smoke knew the beat to "I don't see or hear no evil".

Packy talked about how Junior would be working the sound (he called him J R) tomorrow since Chuck (Brown) was playing.

Mike Smith played in the first set even though Stomp was there.

When Donnell asked Paul if he could move an equipment case lid from on top of the one monitor gage, he was really nice to Paul. Paul said something about it being bad when Donnell is nice. Then Donnell said something about Paul's butt moving like a rump roast.

There was a lot of speaker noise, as if the speakers were blown, during the sound check.

Donnell announced that 11:15 PM would be the new start time for Friday performances at Safari Steakhouse. The only other person in the audience at first was a woman Donnell referred to as Kia. She was there to celebrate her sister's birthday - she had a bunch of balloons tied to a chair at the big table by the bar. However, by the time the first set started, there was a typical sized first set audience.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Line up: Mike Muse, Halima, Donnell, DP, Doc, Dwayne, Godfather, Lorenzo, Jacques, Smoke, and Mike Smith (He performed in the first set only. He performed even though Stomp was there as well.)
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Mr. Magic
Donnell joked, "I fired Stomp, just in case you want to know why Mike Smith is playing."
Mike said, "One more Friday".
2) Mike-led The Stylistics' People Make the World (Go Round)
Mike gave a speech about "Being lucky to have someone and those three words that can do more magic than David Copperfield."
3) Mike-led O'Bryan's Lady I Love You - Mike used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, nice singing by him
Donnell said, "Is Tina here yet?" She said yes. She sat in the chair with all the balloons.
Donnell joked, "Don’t let that chair fly away". It reminded me of this hilarious true story.
Mike said, "This goes back to when Michael Jackson had..." (I couldn't hear what he said.)
The crank started with
4) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Golden Lady - Mike used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures
5) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself - Mike used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures
6) Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy - really nice crank
Donnell told DJ Flava (aka GoGo Rudy) to start playing. He wasn't sure what to call his laptop that he used to DJ.
DJ Flava said, "Buttons of plastic."

Archie Paige, the other Tracy, Candall, Shawn (we waved to each other), and Peg Leg were there.

I asked DP about being cousins with Donnell. Mike said, "You didn't know that?" DP said they were and that he's known Donnell since they were five years old. I told Mike about how some guys in the band didn't know that Nephew was Donnell's nephew until I told them.

Archie and Mike Muse were talking about his bad back, which is why he didn't come to Wednesday's show. Mike said that his back has had problems since he was rear ended by a thirteen year old girl in 1994. I jokingly asked if it was because he broke up with her. Archie asked how many drinks I had had. I told him and Mike about why I don't drink. Mike joked, "You should smoke boat."

Googie played his bass during the break.

Stacey, Kato, and Danielle (Wellfhed) were there.

Second Set
There were alternating flashing lights during the set
1) Donnell acapella Rare Essence's I'm Getting Ready - as a call to the other band members to come to the stage
Donnell said, "I told you..."
Donnell said, "Let the good times roll..."
Donnell announced this for Kato (he's said that I Want You is one of his favorite songs). He said that he's the owner of the most controversial website on the 'net. It has everything that's going on and everything they think is going on. It has lies and spies. It has who likes us and who hates us.
2) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You - nice Smoke solo
Donnell said, "Ebony, Ebony"
3) Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
5) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima moved around, used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, and bounced, she added the line "Baby, Baby"
6) Donnell-led "Ey-ya ey-ya / Mike or Doc-led? I couldn't tell which one led this or whether this is part of the same song - nice crank
7) Donnell-led Trina Was Great - nice percussion
8) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - Halima conducted the women during their part
I noticed smoke machines going, not from the stage, but from the ceiling closer to the front entrance
9) Donnell-led Hold the Note - nice percussion, Donnell moved around and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell and Halima danced
10) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a Minute" echoes - Donnell stood at the edge of the stage, he moved around and bounced
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda - I noticed DJ Flava (aka GoGo Rudy) danced in the booth, Donnell bounced, Mike, Halima, and Donnell danced
Donnell said, "It's time to turn on the air conditioning". He talked about slowing down because of the heat (referring to moving on to Free Yourself) - it was really hot
Donnell did a shout out to Dey "who he hadn't seen since the Fur".
She apparently said Hi, because he said, "Hi, that's all you got for me?"
12) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - one of her best sung performances of this, She went on the dance floor and sang toward Peg Leg, then she went back onstage - the edge of the stage, she bounced, used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures and moved
Donnell said, "Rita, I didn't know you were here, unhand my woman!"
Both Candall and Danielle teased me about my dancing. Candall asked if I felt comfortable dancing. Danielle said I wasn't dancing correctly and said she would teach me (whether I liked it or not). I told her about the guys who taught me how to dance.


Darrell, 6'9, Adia, Vic, Tata, and the other female Shawn, Chocoltchp, and SweetAngelmd27 were there.

Nikki, Monique and Ytee were there.

6'9 sat next to Danielle, who sat to my left. 6'9 kept looking on the floor for parts of her bracelet.

Third Set
Donnell called the band to the stage. They were a little slow getting up there, so when they did, Donnell joked, "I told you they didn't quit."
1) Doc-led Young Jeezy's And Then What - sound check
2) Donnell joked with a woman and said, "All you have to do is say yes" - they performed the music to Floetry's Say Yes
Donnell called Halima to the stage. Mike said, "Someone said she's out in the parking lot, brewing tea. Witches' brew. She's making a potion to do..."
After Halima came in, Donnell asked, "Adia, are you working tonight?"
She said yes.
3) Adia-led Erykah Badu's Danger - She moved around and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures
Adia left the stage
4) Donnell chanted "Each and every Wednesday night at Takoma Station, etc."
5) Donnell chanted names of people, after each name, DP chanted, "Yeah"
6) Doc-led Young Jeezy's And Then What
7) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Halima moved around and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa - Donnell stood at the edge of the stage, he used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Halima danced and did heavy breathing
8) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Donnell was bouncing, there was nice percussion, Halima's singing was very energetic, she used a lot of nonverbal gestures and was bouncing, Omar stood on the side of the stage, I moved to the right of him - I immediately felt nice cold air - I was right under the vent
9) Alternating Donnell-led 911 - performed with the full lyrics, Donnell stood at the edge of the stage, Donnell & Halima danced / Dem Franchise Boyz' I Think They Like Me - "I think she likes me, I think you like me" / Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp (tease) / Kanye West's Gold Digger - nice percussion
10) Smoke solo with Packy dancing next to him
11) Donnell-led "I don't see or hear no evil"
12) Donnell-led "We got the"?
13) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?" - the crowd shouted "Hell no" in chorus
14) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25, don't be a fool with your money" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - some lyrics not normally in it "Is it like that, is it only..."
15) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Tiffany, It's Your Birthday," Donnell used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures
17) Donnell-led Lap Dance (video remix) - Donnell added the line "Baby, Baby", he used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Halima played a cabasa, Mike said, "Wow", then Donnell said, "We fumbled that one", so they resumed playing. When they finished, Donnell said, "I had to cut you short, Peg Leg, you were making me jealous"
Danielle danced harder with me this set - she kept playing with my hair. Both Packy and Halima smiled at me. Danielle said of the band, "They're just jealous."
Candall asked me if I knew her name, I told her and why I didn't know it before. She said it is pronounced candle.
Kia got on the mic and said happy birthday to her sister Tina. Donnell talked about how much they resembled each other.
Donnell talked about taking a collection, but not for Vincent this time.
Packy said I went to the wild side.
Donnell said that I got more than a handful and she (Danielle) knocked my wig off - as if I would ever wear a wig. He said I wouldn't write this.
Nephew said, “We should write our own blog.”
Donnell said to a woman, "You finally want me; you came to your census bureau..."

I talked with Doc and Dwayne about why the PFunk show was cancelled - their booking agent quit. Besides, the tickets were $75. Doc said that was fine, but Dwayne said that was too much. Doc said he'd pay that for them and for Prince. I said only with Larry Graham. I said Prince is too poppy for me.