New Years' Eve at the Alexandria Hilton
A Positive Black Men's Coalition event.

Hilton Alexandria Mark Center Hotel, 5000 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA, 22311

Since none of the other big PBMC events I've been to have allowed cameras, I didn't even try to bring mine. It was pretty easy to find a parking space. When I walked in the lobby, Packy was talking with Tamara. Tamara won her ticket off the radio. DeeDee, who was working both PBMC New Year's Eve events, was there. I talked with Cookie, I asked her why she was the only one wearing a New Year's hair band. She said the other ladies were afraid to mess up their hair. Angie and Shonda were there. I thought the weapons check was weird in that it was not in an enclosed area (you didn't need to go through it to go to the main area).

After Hours was setting up in the outer area. I ate a few desserts before they removed the dessert tables altogether.

After Hours Band
The line up was: Chi Ali, Sean (Kal'el), Pretty Nikki, another male vocalist, another female vocalist (not TJ), two keyboard players (including Rockk), a guitar or bass player (I couldn't see it close enough to tell), two percussionists, and a drummer.
Most of the band members wore black formal outfits that went with the black and white balloons around.
1) Pretty Nikki-led ?, Chi Ali stood back by the percussion, the percussion was initially really low in the mix, but the vocals were good in the mix
"Original" Nikki and Ebony were there.
2) Sean-led "I've been waiting for the day, all night long"
Tracy S., Chanel, and Darrell were there.
3) Pretty Nikki-led Alicia Keys' Unbreakable - Pretty Nikki added, "Clap your hands everybody", there was nice harmony
4) Sean-led Jamie Foxx's Unpredictable - Sean went on the floor, the crank started, Chi Ali went in front and got on vocals
5) Pretty Nikki-led "Bop bop bop ba da" - the percussion was better in the mix now
James was there.
6) Chi Ali-led Kanye West's 'Em Say
Shaun and 6'9 were there.
7) Percussion solo - Chi Ali did announcements
8) Pretty Nikki-led Floetry's Supastar
9) Chi Ali-led "Here we go, come on, After Hours to the brink of dawn, diamonds in the sky" - the other frontline members made the diamond shape with their hands that I remember from a previous performance of theirs (they held their hands palms up - with the index fingers up and the tips touching and the thumbs down and the tips touching making a diamond shape)
They were still playing, but Familiar Faces was scheduled to start, so I went in the ballroom. Unfortunately, there was DJ music being played in the ballroom, so I couldn't continue to follow After Hours from the ballroom.

Shawn, L-Boogie, Pinky, and Cindy were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
The line up was (left to right): James, Mike, Halima, Donnell, DP, behind: Godfather (behind the left speaker), Chris Wright (keyboards, subbing for Lorenzo), Doc, Dwayne, Stomp, Packy, SmokeMBR< They were formally dressed, most of the guys in black.
I had guessed correctly that the woman with dyed red and black hair I saw coming down the escalator during After Hours’ first set was Halima (it was her second new hairdo in three days), she wore a formal red and black dress.
Donnell said, "I guess we need to use our cell phones (as mistletoe)... On behalf of the Positive Black Men's Coalition to bring the New Year in right..."
1) Donnell & Halima-led (Sade's) Cherish the Day - Donnell did a shout out to Darrell, still celebrating his birthday, Donnell said, "My baby Michel Wright is in the building"
Tata was there.
2) Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy - intro / Bobby Valentino's Slow Down - there was a nice crank, Donnell played with Halima's hair, Mike sang at the edge of the stage, they stopped playing, but Michel said, "Keep that groove going, I'm used to working with music... still five more minutes to 2006", Michel played the cowbell, then passed it on to Packy, she went and danced with Donnell from behind, Donnell said, "Cell phone going to be mistletoe.", Michel counted down from seven to one and confetti was sprayed on the dance floor (not sure where from, but I got a lot on me)
The ballroom was packed.
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh" - DP and James held their mics to the crowd for their response, the sound was really good
4) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" - Halima posed, Donnell played with her hair, Mike posed, the crowd shouted, "Oh my God!"
Tamiko was there.
Halima said, "Happy New Year y'all".
5) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Funky Stuff guitar riffs, Halima's dancing/moving was wilder than usual, Donnell stood on the left speaker and DP stood on the right speaker as they played the horn hits, they faced each other
6) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U - Donnell and DP now faced front as they played, then they went back onstage, Mike sang at the edge of the stage, Mike said, "Anyone from the Southside? Northwest, Northeast, Glen Arden, Seat Pleasant, Capital Heights?"
7) James-led R. Kelly's Slow Wind - this was the first slow song and the dance floor cleared some, Donnell did his usual suggestion for the fellas to go buy the ladies a drink, "We'll take care of them for the next five minutes", James sang at the edge of the stage, in the middle not the left, Donnell repeatedly called out, "Bassline" and "Hey Smoke", Telando was onstage by Smoke, Someone (Mike, James or Donnell) said, "Sexual Chocolate!"

Simone, JoJo and Arielle were there.

Keisha pulled me on the dance floor, we danced. Shonda said, "I'm keeping my eye on you."

Second Set
1) They started to perform the music to Alicia Keys' Unbreakable - Halima was not back yet, Donnell said, "Look here y'all, we're going to get this party started y'all, the first party of 2006" / Mike, Tamara & Halima-led Alicia Keys' Unbreakable - Mike sang it, Mike said, "Y'all can sing it", Donnell said, "Come on and sing it Tamara, you know it?", Tamara went onstage and sang it, Mike said, "Get it girl", Halima arrived and initially sang with Tamara, then led
2) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Tell Me - Mike was being a ham and held both his arms up, Donnell chanted, "Eya, eya" and the crowd responded, "Ho"
Nikki and Monique were there.
Donnell said, "I think they're ready now."
3) Donnell & Halima-led Lil Kim's Lighters Up
4) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - a guy danced onstage between Halima and Donnell, Halima said to him, "You got one more chance baby."
5) Alternating Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease) - Donnell did the keyboard effects vocally, Donnell stood on the right speaker / Rare Essence's Spotlight (tease)
6) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
7) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease) - Donnell changed it to "$99 Hotel"
8) Donnell & Mike-led Rick James' Mary Jane (tease) - Donnell said, "Sing it old school"
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Overnight Scenario (tease)
10) Mike & Donnell-led Rare Essence's Lock It
11) Donnell & Halima-led It Is What It Is - Halima posed, Mike was being a ham
12) Donnell-led "Unh, unh unh" - Donnell said, "Deeper, deeper" repeatedly
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (literal tease)
Donnell said, "Look here y'all, 2006 is going to be a good year for everyone, swear to God! Look here y’all; we're going to make to make room for Chuck Brown he's going to be here real soon."
14) Stevie Wonder's Tell Your Heart I Love You - instrumental, very brief, tease

A woman was nice enough to pull all the confetti out of my hair.

Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers
The DJ had the crowd chant "Wind me up, Chuck!"
His band looked to be mostly the same as when I saw him perform on October 9th.
The line up was: Chuck Brown (vocals and guitar), the rest of the frontline (all the same as October 9th) was: Bryan Mills (sax and keyboard. He had a Korg with women's shoes on it), a young trumpet player, and a young trombonist. Chuck was on the far right. In addition, Sweet Cherie (double keyboard), a bass player, JuJu on drums, and a conga player (I didn't see him well enough to tell if it was the same guy as in October), and a cowbell player/percussionist. Guest vocalists: Little Benny and Kay Kay.
Chuck Said, "Sorry we're late. I'm old, sometimes I'm late."
1) Instrumental - the crowd shouted, "Wind me Up, Chuck!"
2) Chuck-led Page Cavanaugh & Jack Smalley's Merry Christmas, Baby - I really liked the horn play, Chuck said, "What's up, 6'9?", Chuck chanted, "Left side, right side, backside", Chuck said, "6'9, the tallest man in the graveyard"
Pretty Nikki was in the audience, so After Hours must have finished playing.
3) Chuck-led T-Bone Walker's Stormy Monday - Brian played keyboard
4) Chuck-led medley (music to Sho Ya Right / Slick Rick's La Di Da Di / ?) - Chuck kept doing his line then holding the mic to the crowd, the crowd responded, Chuck's voice varied, Chuck held his mic to a female fan who said, "I love you Chuck!", Chuck said, "When you walk in the door", the crowd responded, "Feel like moving that body!"
5) Chuck-led Duke Ellington's It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That GoGo Swing) - Chuck held his mic to the crowd
6) Chuck-led Lionel Hampton's Midnight Sun
6) Chuck-led Moody's Mood for Love - the horns would move to the right, then left to the mic to play: it was synchronized
7) Chuck-led Louis Jordan's Woody Woodpecker - Chuck said, "I feel as good as I feel"
8) Little Benny-led "Throw your hands up" - Kay Kay was on back up vocals, Little Benny said, "Let me get by", the trumpet and trombone had nice harmony / Little Benny-led NORE's I'm a G
9) Kay Kay rapped
10) Little Benny-led Rare Essence's Body Moves
11) Instrumental - Little Benny said, "We got to go, we've got to, got to go"
Little Benny said, "Happy New Year!"
DeeDee's Cousin Michelle was there.
Chuck said, "I hope you had as enjoyable a time as we did. Have a happy and safe New Year."
He was still talking when I left. I left because I thought the coat check would be a madhouse. I heard a buzzing, I thought maybe it was just me, but it was the hotel because I didn't hear it when I walked outside.

I saw Omar and Stomp (wearing his Homer Simpson slippers) on my way out.