Googie's & Sheena's birthdays at Takoma Station
Takoma Station, 6914 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20012

Darrell F., Paulette, Marvin (celebrating his birthday), Kimberly, Darrell, Vonshawn, June, and Tamara were there.

Halima had changed her hairdo, she has big hair. I kidded her that she was jealous of Sweet Cherie's hair at the Best Western show.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Mike Smith played drums tonight.
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Mr. Magic - Jacques played congas and Packy played the cowbell, it cranked
Tim (LJ) was there.
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - Donnell said, "We're taking it back, we haven't done this in a while, she's got another six inches (because of her hairdo)
Tony was there.
Donnell said, "We're going to let Kal'el do something. We go Richard Gross (of the Moments) in the building that's his father, his daddy y'all."
3) Sean-led John Legend's Ordinary People - Sean sang on the dance floor, Smoke arrived and took on congas
4) Sean-led Dave Hollister's One Woman Man - Sean stayed on the dance floor, it cranked, Jacques played the cowbell, Dwayne played some guitar riffs from It Is What It Is, members of Farafina Kan walked in carrying drums, one was the size of a trash can (which is what I thought it was until he got closer), Donnell said, "We got a surprise for you coming up in a few seconds."
Shadonna and Ray were there.
5) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Golden Lady - Donnell said, "Donny Ray, that's my man.", Donnell said, "Where you at, Diallo?", Mike sang on the dance floor
Dana and Kim were there.
Donnell discussed Familiar Faces' upcoming live DVD recording at the Icon on March 10th. He talked about the roots of GoGo music being from Africa. He said Farafina Kan was going to be at the live recording.
6) Farafina Kan - four male drummers (three with drums on neck straps and the large drum I mentioned above, played on its side, none of their instruments had mics set up) - percussion solo, then Dwayne and Doc joined in on, Donnell said "This is where we came from y'all." -->
7) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Farafina Kan continued to play, the drummers played a foundation rhythm, Halima sang, "Ooh la...", Halima sang some other lines, Donnell shouted, "Yeah!" repeatedly, Donnell said, "Where you at Smoke?", Smoke played a vicious conga solo, Farafina Kan showed him some appreciation, they finished playing and I went up to one of their members to get their name (spelled correctly) and a woman with them wrote Farafina Kan "The Sound of Africa"
8) Donnell & Mike-led Lap Dance
I introduced myself to Monique and Dee, two regulars.
9) Sean-led Gerald Levert's Funny - Sean sang on the dance floor
10) Halima-led Mary Blige's Be Without You / (Jamie Foxx's) Mother's Finest's Love Changes

Kim and Lolo walked in as I walked out during the break. I hurried over to my car to confirm that Maryland beat Miami, which they did.

Sean confirmed that his Dad, a professor, was an original member of the Moments.

Kato drove past, Mike said, "What's up Grady?"

Dwayne said, "Kato's looking so old, he's got to stop telling people that story about how I gave him his first guitar."

When I walked in, Danielle was with Kim and Lolo. Lolo introduced me to her friend Sheena, celebrating her 21st birthday.

6'9, Angie, and a woman I met named Nikki were there.

Second Set
Kim wanted Donnell to do a birthday shout out to Sheena; he got her name wrong at first. Donnell said, "I got Sheena, Kim you didn't have to ride the metro bus over here."
1) Halima-led Happy Birthday - Halima sang it for Googie's birthday, Donnell said, "I don't know about Big G, Gregory Burton", Donnell said, "She sang that well... and the mic was so loud, I wonder why?"
2) Alternating Mike-led Marvin Gaye's Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) - the ceiling fans came on / Percussion solo
3) Sean-led Jamie Foxx's Unpredictable
4) Alternating Halima-led Floetry's Supastar / Percussion solo - Smoke played the congas and Jacques the timbales / Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh" - Packy played a tambourine / Donnell-led "___ Is in the House" / Donnell & Halima-led Lil Kim's Lighters Up
5) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes
6) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda - GoGo Mickey sat in on timbales, a female fan danced with Donnell -->
7) Percussion solo - GoGo Mickey played congas, the crowd shouted, "GoGo Mick-ay" and Donnell said, "Say what?", Jacques played the cowbell, Donnell said, "Oh oh", Donnell said, "Mick-ay"
8) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Donnell said, "Lolo, Kim, Danielle, Sheena, it's your birthday!"
Benjiy was there
9) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa - first time in a while, the house lights came on
10) Sean-led Trey Songz' Gotta Go - Smoke played congas and GoGo Mickey played the cowbell, it cranked, Donnell played with Halima's hair, Godfather played a sample from Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up) / Sean-led ? "Feel it deep in my heart"
Roe and Dave were there.