Thursday at the Fur
Fur Night Club, 33 Patterson St NE, Washington, DC 20002

I celebrated my birthday, as did Ytee (his birthday is the 6th)

I was not sure when the start time was, but I knew from experience that the Fur normally opens around 10 PM. I arrived at around 10:15. The area where I have previously parked was filled. Where I did park, there were a number of people sitting in their cars. I went up the Fur and I was the first in line. I asked a security guy and he said they would be opening in about fifteen minutes.

A couple came up behind me. A guy wearing a black shirt with the Superman symbol on it talked with them. He asked them if they knew who Familiar Faces was. He said, "They used to be 911 and they changed their personnel so they changed their name to Familiar Faces. If they change their personnel again, they go back to being 911." He talked with them about Club V - Venus Hall and I joined in the discussion. While I waited, DP and Jacques arrived.

I was the first fan in. They were playing in a different area than either of the two other Fur performance areas I've seen. It was in the blue room, but behind the bar - to the right of the couches that are now in the area that Publicity and After Hours performed at in July.

I sat in a leather seat.

Familiar Faces
First Set
There were only a handful of fans there when they started at 10:30
There were multi-colored lights in various patterns - it was uncomfortable at times because the lights would shine directly in my eyes during this set
1) Miles Davis' Tutu - some distortion was audible
2) Anthony Hamilton's Comin' from Where I'm From - instrumental
3) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People - very noticeably, the drums had a very hollow sound, Mike said, "Welcome this evening", Mike used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell stood on the right side, he bobbed his head
Mike said, "Everything to the lady except my paycheck, isn't that right Halima?" Halima smiled.
4) Mike-led Ruff Endz' Someone to Love You - Mike used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell said, "Alright", he chanted, "Yeah!"
Tamara was there.
Donnell said, "Take your picture with the world famous Mr. G." Mike said, "Against the wall." Donnell said, "Against the wall."
5) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - Halima said, "Tamara", Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, she moved around, She chanted "Yeah, yeah" with a different accent to it
Tim (LJ) was there.
6) Instrumental prelude / Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - it didn't start from the beginning of the song as usual, Halima improved "oooh, oooh", Halima played around and smiled, she said, "You know I try", Halima bounced, she used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Mike used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Halima at first stood at the edge of the monitors, then out on the dance floor barefoot, Donnell grabbed her mic cord so he could give her more slack, she went back to the stage
Donnell said, "Halima"
Donnell said, "Three sets, that was the first set."
There was distortion in one of the amps.

The DJ music was louder than the band - I left the dance area because of it. Googie took over the sound from Junior.

I went over the bar and talked with Tim. I asked him who was single from Verizon. He said those girls were inside, he's outside. He said one of them went to Miami.

Stomp slept in a chair, sitting next to Omar. I told Tamara to wake up Stomp with a lap dance, she smiled.

Tata & Julia were there.

Second Set
After Donnell called, "Let's roll," Halima danced as she walked up to the PA. Donnell said, "I know that's right!"
Mike sang "Ooh"
Donnell said, "Glad to say the air conditioning works fine." Mike said, "That's why they call it the Fur, 'cause you need to wear Fur."
Halima said something I couldn't hear.
Donnell said, "We're going to make this spot hot. We started at 10:30 Tata, you should have gotten here early baby."
6'9 was there.
1) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You - Mike used a lot nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell said, "My baby Yolanda, My man Jordan celebrating his birthday. Don't make me jealous Tata (she danced with 6'9), Halima moved her mic stand behind Mike
Mike said, "Goes out to Sweet Tata y'all"
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - Halima moved her mic stand back, Halima did an intro with improving "Ooh, ooh", Donnell said, "From the top, Let's go Halima", Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell touched her, Halima moved around, Donnell said, "Hey Halima", Halima pulled up her shirt to show her stomach per the lyrics, Donnell said, "You look alright to me baby", Donnell used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures and bobbed his head, Mike, Halima and Donnell did playful dancing during the percussion solo, Donnell said something I couldn't hear, Donnell said, "Give me the first verse"
Tijuana and her friend Shameika were there.
3) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Used to Love U - Halima clapped and danced, Donnell said, "Sweet Shameika", Halima made gestures as if she were smoking, and smiled, the frontline danced during the hits, just Halima danced later, nice crank
RE Angie was there.
4) 6 Minutes percussion solo - Donnell said, "Don't nobody say nothing", Donnell and Halima danced, Donnell said, "6'9 you know it's my man birthday, anyone else's birthday?"
5) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima started with "Baby, baby", Halima and Donnell used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Halima moved around and bounced, Donnell said, "Sing it, Halima", there were pronounced horn hits, Donnell said, "Trying to get this warmed up for my man" (the host, whose name I didn't catch)
6) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - Donnell said, "Look at Cindy y'all", Donnell chanted women's names, Mike and Donnell used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, the frontline danced, Donnell clapped
7) Donnell-led Hold the Note - Donnell chanted "Hold the note (three times), Hold the note y'all (five times), yeah, and women's names", Donnell called out "Dwayne Lee, Hey Smoke", the frontline danced
8) Doc-led Young Jeezy's Go Crazy? (He couldn't remember which Young Jeezy it was, but based on the lyrics he rapped, this is it)
9) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself - Donnell said, "This is the second set, we started at 10:30," Mike used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Halima moved Mike's mic stand back to give him more room and she used it for her mic behind him, Mike held the hand of Cindy, Halima chanted, "Heaven" repeatedly, Mike said, "It's all about love, baby"
I asked Shameika her name. She said, "I see you all the time."
Donnell said to some girl (I am not sure who), "Let's see that again for the camera phone. Something new for the website."
Mike said, "That's Rearview2.com"
There were thirty+ fans for this set

I sat in the chair when Stomp had sat in the first break.

Third Set - 1 AM
The band was slow getting back
Donnell said, "I love you"
Donnell said, "We'll be here Sunday in the big room with Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers or Chuck Brown and Bits & Pieces or Chuck Brown and Sluggo."
1) Halima-led Alicia Keys' Unbreakable - two guys danced to each other on the dance floor, Halima moved around and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Halima held her mic to a male fan, Donnell said, "Right there Halima", Donnell said, "Right there, Smoke" and Smoke went into a conga solo, Halima danced, Donnell said, "My man Redds, Scarface"
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh" - the crowd sang along
3) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" - Halima and Mike posed at the appropriate times, Halima smiled
4) Alternating Mike & Donnell-led Rare Essence's Lock It - Donnell said, "Godfather" and Godfather did the riffs, Mike and Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell clapped and bobbed his head, Halima and Dwayne smiled at each other, Halima danced, Tamara, next to me on the dance floor, shouted, "Wind me up, Smoke" / Mike-led Sam Cooke's Chain Gang - the frontline danced, it really cranked
5) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - Donnell bounced and clapped, Halima danced at the top of the steps to the right of the stage where she remained for the rest of the set, the frontline (including Halima) did the bowing dance, Donnell said, "We got my man Go-Go Mickey up in here" / Donnell-led Notorious BIG's Warning - they had harmony with the backup vocals / Mike sang something I didn't catch, Donnell said, "Hey Halima" / Donnell-led Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / Donnell "Wait a minute" - Halima still danced, it went dark, the dance floor was packed for this set, Packy gave Halima her mic
Tata said hello and hugged me.
6) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Halima danced, her singing was energetic, she held onto the railing at times as she sang, there was a nice crank, Halima danced with her back to the crowd - looking at her reflection in the door, Halima did heavy breathing, Donnell said, "Right there, right there"
Ytee was there, celebrating his birthday. He wore a shirt and tie, and had a metro pass on a lavaliere.
Slime Goodie was there.
7) Donnell-led Trina was Great - with the full lyrics, Donnell used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures and bounced
8) Donnell-led Donna Summer's Love to Love You, Baby (tease) to Tata
9) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Lorenzo played different sound effects from normal, Donnell said, "Let's Go Halima", Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures and moved around, Go-Go Mickey sat in, Halima leaned on the railing
10) Go-Go Mickey conga solo - Donnell shouted, "Mick-ay, Mick-ay, Mick-ay", then "What y'all say, Say what?" the crowd shouted "Go-Go Mickey"
11) Mike-led Lap Dance - DP went up the steps to talk to Halima, she again danced, Donnell shouted, "Hey DP", Go-Go Mickey took his blue baseball cap off, Mike said, "Ytee's got a birthday. How old are you, fifteen?” Donnell said, "One more time Stomp, Packy messed up y'all" (He was joking, Packy stood against the wall, not playing anything), Donnell shouted, "Hey DP!", Donnell said, "Ytee, Jordan, Tina, Angie, and what's your name? Dwayne are celebrating their birthdays." Mike said, "Ytee looks like he came from a PTA meeting." Donnell said, "Not Mo, she would be swinging from the chandeliers by her hair"
Donnell said, "We'll be back here Sunday with Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers or Chuck Brown and Bits & Pieces or Chuck Brown and Sluggo."
I told Ytee his "older brother" Little Benny performed with them the night before. Ytee said, "Everyone says we're brothers"
Donnell said, "Do your thing, Ytee"
Donnell said, "Candy, you changed your hair, that what you do?" He touched her.
Donnell said, "Be careful ladies"
There were fifty+ people in the audience.

I walked out behind Lorenzo. I caught up with Tamara and Tim. I talked about celebrating tomorrow.