Wednesday at the Crystal City Hyatt
Hyatt Regency Crystal City, 2799 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202
The Postive Black Men Coalition's 13th Annual Night of Elegance

It snowed on the way over.

I missed almost all of After Hours' performance. They performed two sets in the "lobby" (open corridor) of the basement: the first was during Raheem DeVaughn's performance in the ballroom, the second started during Mint Condition's performance in the ballroom and ended sometime around the start of Familiar Face's second set in the ballroom (I know because Pretty Nikki was in the audience for FF's second set).

Tony, the security guard, and Shaun were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
The line up was: Halima, Donnell, Doc, Dwayne, Godfather, Lorenzo, Stomp, and Jacques (congas).
Lorenzo's keyboard was on the left side of the stage, Godfather's on the right side of the stage. There were two drum kits in back, Stomp played on the left one during this set. I did not like its sound; it was reminiscent of a record scratching to me. The percussion was to the right of the drums, but to the left of Godfather's keyboard.
Halima wore a black dress; the band members wore black slacks and formal shirts.
Those with VIP tickets had plush chairs to sit in; the general admission was blocked off with standing room only. I didn't notice during their first set, but there were screens in the back showing what the camera feed caught.
The stage was at the left end of the ballroom. For the Allen Iverson event last year, the stage was in the back in the middle.
1) Halima-led Rodgers & Hart's My Funny Valentine - Halima was initially offstage when they started, the reaction from the crowd throughout the set was different in character from any other GoGo I've been to, it largely consisted of applause at the end of songs
Halima said she was from Miami, "But now I live in DC!"
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - Stomp joined in, Halima added "I like it" to the lyrics, Donnell said, "Let's go mama", Halima moved around and did a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures to the lyrics, Halima sang, "Yeah, aye, aye"
Halima said, "How many of us have had that special night where you feel oh my..."
3) Halima-led Jill Scott's Whatever - Halima moved around and bounced
Halima sat down on the right side of the stage, she said, "Look here, we're going to have a little moment, sit down, do you have a special someone in your life and he does something bad, don't talk to me... I said one thing, my music director said another, let me change my speech, so I don't get fired (Obviously Donnell told Halima there wasn't enough time for them to perform Fantasia's Free Yourself). Do you know someone in the (military) service? Ask God to protect them, wonder about the leaders."
4) Halima acapella Rachelle Ferrell's Peace on Earth (second performance) - Donnell, Godfather and Lorenzo played at the end, probably as a transition, there was applause
A girl standing next to me told another woman, "They're making her sound good, there is an echo."
Halima said, "It's time for us to go now, thank you for sharing your love with me. We hope to see you again real soon."
5) Halima-led The Brand New Heavies' Never Stop - Halima stood up, moved around and bounced, Donnell yelled, "Yeah!", Halima did band intros
Halima said, "Once again, thank you for sharing your time and love with us."
They were done at 9:28 PM.
The audience wasn't huge yet, as people were still arriving.

I walked out in the hallway. Go-Go Mickey, Donnell Jr. and Derek Floyd were there.

Michel Wright was the MC.

Raheem DeVaughn
The line up was: Raheem DeVaughn (vocals), a guitar player, a bass/keyboard player, a keyboard player, a drummer (again using the left drum kit), a conga player, two backup vocalists (who stood on the far right, by the bassist), and a painter.
The painter painted on an easel in front of the left drum kit.
They started at 9:38. I was impressed that they started less than ten minutes after Familiar Faces finished playing.
1) "If you're from DC, say yeah, this is home for me" - women screamed at the beginning
2) "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Raheem DeVaughn." - Raheem came back to us in the general admission on the left side, he said, "Put your hands up", he then went over by the PA board, he returned to the stage, Raheem said, "Make some noise DC, I've been on the road, so I haven't home in a while", people stood up and put their hands in the air
Raheem said, "How many of you have my mix tape, I'm releasing volume four tonight."
To be honest, they didn't really move me. I got bored and walked around to see who was there.
He did perform Guess Who Loves You More and Ask Yourself (which was interesting to compare to FF's cover), and everyone but the drummer donned large afro wigs.
James and Los were there.
Raheem again came out to the general admission.
When he sang, "Every king needs a queen", he was wearing a king's robe.
Members of Familiar Faces came in to watch.
Cookie came by and said, "You look like an esquire."
Jay Floyd and Ron Moten were there.
Raheem performed a cover of Earth, Wind & Fire's Can't Hide Love (interestingly, every band performed covers).
The lights came on at 10:37 PM.
Raheem said, "Y'all tired yet, want to play some more?"- there was a nice crank. Raheem chanted, "Southeast, South, Southeast... Southwest...", Raheem said, "Say hey, we want to party." That was the highlight for me. While he really didn't move me, the crowd did reeact and there were people dancing in the VIP section.

Mint Condition
They took longer to set up. They had a transparent plastic barrier in front of the drum kits.
Blak was there.
I talked with Chi Ali and asked him when After Hours was playing. He said they had already played a set and would be playing another one. I am sure I would have enjoyed After Hours' performance more than I did Raheem DeVaughn's or Mint Condition's.
Their line up was: a vocalist, a guitar player, a bass player, two keyboard players, and two drummers (only one played most of the set).
The congas were removed for their set.
1) "Get to it"
2) "Sister"
To be honest, they bored me too. I expected that since I own Life's Aquarium (Which thankfully, I bought at cost), despite people telling me how tight they were as a band. The vocal songs didn't do much for me, but a lot of women sang along with them.
Nikiya, Yolanda, Pinky, and JoJo were there.
They said, "Anybody know we got a CD out?" Women screamed.
They performed Rick James' Mary Jane - it was good.
They said, "Y'all ready for some drums? They had nothing in common, so someone locked them in the closet for twenty years until they learned to play drums."
A crankin' drum duo followed, then a sax and guitar joined in. This was the highlight of their set to me.
L-Boogie was there.
They mentioned their new CD (Livin' the Luxury Brown) was recorded in DC.
They said, "Want some more? Are you sure"
They performed Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes).
A guy asked me if I was enjoying the show.
They concluded with an instrumental outtro.

After Hours
Second Set
I went out to the open area.
The vocalists were standing on a higher level than the rest of the band.
Tyrell, Gene Pratt, June and Blue of Y2K were there.
They performed "All aboard the night train" and the music to Rare Essence's Body Snatchers.
I didn't stay outside the ballroom for long as I wasn't sure when exactly Familiar Faces would go on and it was too crowded outside.

They removed all the chairs and removed the distinction between VIP and general admission for Familiar Faces' second set.

Ray, Val "Tina Turner", Yaquim, Tijuana, Nita, Shadonna and Simone were there.

Familiar Faces
Second Set
The line up was: Mike, Halima, Donnell, DP, James, Doc, Dwayne, Godfather, Lorenzo, Stomp (this time playing the drum kit on the right), Smoke, and Jacques.
The percussion (congas, timbales, etc.) was now on the far left, and both of the keyboards were on the far right - Lorenzo in front of Godfather.
I noticed the DJ area was to the right of the stage.
The dance floor was full.
There were red spotlights on the stage from where the PA board was located in the middle of the room
1) Halima-led Sade's Pearls - there was distortion, it was instrumental at first with only Lorenzo, Godfather, and Stomp onstage, Derek Floyd said this was Sade's Jezebel before I corrected him, a female dancer sat on the left side of the stage, Halima went onstage on the right side, the dancer started dancing as soon as Halima got to the lyrics, Halima moved to the middle of the stage, Halima and the dancer left the stage
Shameika was there.
A woman asked who is this? I told her Familiar Faces.
2) Stomp played a drum sample as the band members marched in from the back right with poles holding "flying" doves, it was hard to hear their chant, "This is where we're from, why do we hide from", all of the men wore Seek Abundance dashikis with hoods, Lorenzo and Donnell's were sleeveless, the others' sleeves varied in length, Jacques and Smoke had black short sleeved shirts underneath, Donnell had a white bandana, Yvette said to me, "This is right out of the Lion King.", Halima walked onstage
3) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You - Dwayne was on the left, Doc in the middle, James was on the left on the front line, Donnell said, "Give us a little time to get warmed up", Donnell said, "Come on with it, Michael Muse", Donnell shouted, "Alright", Donnell said, "Uh huh" repeatedly, Donnell shouted, "Yeah!" repeatedly, Mike used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, DP shouted, "Yeah!", James, Donnell and Halima bounced, Donnell did shout outs, Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell said, "We got my baby Sweet Tina Turner in here", Donnell did announcements, "Each and every...", Mike moved to the right
4) Halima-led Alicia Keys' Unbreakable - Donnell said, "What you say?", Halima said, "Hey ladies" repeatedly and women responded, DP shouted, "Yeah, come on", Donnell shouted, "Yeah!", Donnell said, "Alright" repeatedly, Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Halima said, "Help me, ladies" and held her mic to the crowd, Donnell said, "Sing it ladies", Donnell held his mic to the crowd
5) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh" - DP held his mic to the crowd
6) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" - Halima posed and Mike sang "Oh my God!", James held his mic to the crowd, then Mike posed and Halima sang, "Oh my God!", Halima held her mic to the crowd, Donnell said, "Each and every..."
7) Halima-led Faith Evans Mesmerized - Halima moved around, James clapped, Donnell and DP bounced, Donnell chanted, "Eya, eya!" repeatedly, RE Angie and Omar were on the left side of the stage, behind the percussion, Donnell said, "What's up Mike?", DP shouted, "Come on" repeatedly, Donnell said, "Come on with it", Halima and Mike used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell shouted, "Alright, yeah!"
8) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house" - Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Mike said, "Get on down Ray", Donnell did shout outs
9) Toto's Georgy Porgy - instrumental intro / Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down - Mike said, "Get on down Shadonna", the rest of the frontline bounced, Donnell said, "Whenever you're ready Michael Muse", Donnell said, "Alright", Donnell shouted, "Yeah!", Mike used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, DP shouted, "Yeah!", Donnell went to the right to talk to the DJ?, Donnell said, "Big Ray over there in the black", Donnell said, "Uh huh", Donnell said, "Right there Mike, right there Smoke"
Multi-colored spotlights behind either side of the stage came on
10) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - Donnell said, "One more time, Michael Muse", Donnell inserted names, Donnell said, "By yourself ladies", Donnell and Halima held their mics to the crowd, Donnell said, "You don't care?", Donnell said, "One more time ladies", Donnell said, "Play the music, the frontline danced, DP shouted, "Come on" and "Yeah!" repeatedly
11) Donnell-led Hold the Note- the frontline except Halima held their fists up, Mike held up both briefly, Donnell said, "That's what we're talking about", Donnell used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute" and he and Halima held their arms up, James clapped, Donnell said, "Dwayne Lee, Hey Smoke", the band members looked up and the frontline except Halima, and Doc and Dwayne did synchronized dance steps, women screamed, Halima danced by up on the left edge of the stage briefly
12) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - the crowd was really into it, Halima mimed, James sang backup, Mike chanted, "Eya eya!", Donnell went to the left front edge of the stage, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute", DP shouted, "Yeah, come on", Donnell shouted, "Yeah!", Stomp played the dialtone and the frontline, Doc and Dwayne danced the bowing dance / Notorious BIG's Warning - Donnell and Mike used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, DP shouted, "Yeah, come on", Los and Packy were on the back left corner of the stage, Donnell was really demonstrative and crouched, Derek Floyd came onstage, Derek used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell said, "Yes sir", Donnell said, "This is my little son (he's actually the middle son, Donte is younger) yeah", Derek clapped, Donnell went to the edge of the stage and pulled Donnell Jr. onstage, Donnell said, "This is my older (or other?) son" / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes - the Floyds and DP used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Halima did different nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell Jr. clapped
13) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?" - the crowd shouted, "Hell no!", Halima went over in front of the drum kit
14) Donnell & Halima-led Lighters Up - the Floyds held up lit cell phones, Donnell called out names, Halima rapped, DP shouted, "Yeah!", Donnell went over to Packy and toweled off, Donnell said, "Gimme the woo", James, Mike and Halima sang, "Woo", Donnell said, "Hey Smoke", Donnell bounced, Donnell said, "Gimme the woo", James and Mike sang, "Woo" while Halima rapped the second verse, Donnell said, "What you say?", Donnell Jr. had a funny grin on his face
Jackie was there.
15) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Halima's singing was energetic, Donnell Jr. clapped and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell said, "You ready Halima, come on with it", Donnell said, "Come on Tina Turner", DP shouted, "Yeah!", Donnell shouted, "Yeah!"
Raheem DeVaughn came onstage.
Donnell said, "That's my man."
16) Raheem-led "Just put your hands in the air and wave them like you don't care, say go DJ (like 50 Cent's In Da Club)" - Raheem rapped, Donnell said, "That's my DJ", Raheem said, "Oh yeah!"
Raheem left the stage
17) Alternating Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love - Donnell did the keyboard effects vocally, Donnell Jr. and Derek used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures / Rare Essence's Spotlight - Halima went back in front of the drum kit, Donnell went to the edge of the stage, Donnell said, "Old school"
18) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
Donnell said, "Hey Michael Muse"
19) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease) - Donnell said, "Sing it ladies", Donnell said, "One more time Michael Muse"
Donnell said, "Old school" repeatedly
20) Mike-led Rare Essence's One on One (Footz version) - the band and fans put their hands in the air, the house lights came on, the crowd shouted, "Go ahead"
21) Mike & Donnell-led Rare Essence's Lock It - Donnell said, "We must have some old school in here", Donnell said, "We got my man Ray in here, got to be forty-five years old", the frontline danced, Donnell said, "Hey Michael Muse", Donnell said, "one more time Mike", Halima stood at the left front edge of the stage, Donnell announced tomorrow's show with chuck Brown at Zanzibar, Donnell said, "You know what?"
22) Alternating Donnell-led It Is What It Is - Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Los, RE Angie, and Nephew danced onstage behind the frontline, Halima moved between James and Mike, Jauhar was at the left back corner of the stage / Derek Floyd rapped
23) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (tease)
The dance floor cleared out.
24) Stomp played the sample from Trina Was Great
Donnell did announcements
25) Donnell acapella It Is What It Is
26) Donnell-led Trina Was Great
27) Stomp played the sample from Trina Was Great
They finished at 3 AM.
Monique was there. I carried her in my arms. She kept counting money. Smoke took some and gave to me, but then gave it back before she could get mad.
Jacques said I was grooving, he said he thought my head was going to come off from the head bobbing.

And DeeDee was there.

JoJo said, "Good night" as we passed each other walking to our cars.

Three guys ahead of me were talking. One talked about a light skinned girl who had peed outside. He said, "She's a trifling whore, but I'd f*ck her anyway." A second guy said, "I'd f*ck her if she was hurling while I f*cked her. I'd f*ck her if she was puking on me as I f*cked her."