Live DVD recording
The Icon, 2106 Crain Hwy, Waldorf, MD 20601

I arrived at 7:45 - the additional travel time due to rush hour traffic was more than I thought. I watched a lot of set up work, then some rehearsing.


Setting up: Doc, Dwayne, Donnell, and DP

Doc had both his basses and had a discussion with Dwayne and Googie over which one (or both) he should use. Doc said that Dwayne changed his story over playing one of the models.

Doc, Googie, Dwayne, and Vincent


Video monitors


Setting up the lights: Packy, Donnell, Googie, and DP


The cameras: Jacques and Googie


Dwayne, DP, and Omar


Lorenzo and Godfather

Don Johnson of the film crew introduced himself to me. I also recognized the guy who had shown us at the Tradewinds the DVD of the video release party at the Fur. The cameras were DR DV5000s.

Halima had changer her hairdo.

Dave, Jay Floyd, Tony and his brother Ron were there.

Jamaica Steve, whom I hadn't even heard of before, was doing the opening monologue. He rehearsed it.


Lorenzo, Dwayne, Godfather, Jamaica Steve, Smoke, and Jacques
After I took his picture, he asked me to come back to the back dance room and take his picture with the DJ. There were fans back there; I guess they didn't want to let in all the fans while they rehearsed. Sharon, Danielle (Wellfhed), Imani (working), and Lashonda were there. The band rehearsed their step moves.


Lorenzo, Donnell, Godfather, Stomp, Mike, Smoke, DP, Doc, and Sean

James and Nikiya were there.

After they started letting people into the main performance room: Nita, her co-worker Roddy, Lisa of the World, Shawn, Jay113, Deezo, That44Dog, 02, Rochelle (Too Sweet), Misshaunte, Michon, Candy, lady$tyle$06, Tiffany F., Ria, Trina (of TMOTT), "original" Nikki, Ebony, Mona, Archie Paige, Peanut, and June were there. I introduced myself to regulars Keisha and Jan. KO was there.


Ria, Rickea, and Tiffany F.

Familiar Faces
First Set
The stage consisted of three levels: the frontline was on the floor, guitars (Doc and Dwayne) on the second level, and the keyboards and percussion on the highest level.
For the first set, the male members of the band wore the Seek Abundance dashikis they wore to the Night of Elegance and jeans. James was nice enough to bring his so that Sean could wear it. Doc and Dwayne wore the hoods.
The DJ (can't remember if it was Flexx or Rico) called for ladies up front.
Tracy S., Angie W., Chanel, and Mara were there.
1) Jamaica Steve did the opening monologue - onstage at the time were Jamaica Steve, Doc, Dwayne, Lorenzo, Godfather, and Stomp.

Lorenzo, Dwayne, Godfather, Jamaica Steve, Stomp, and Doc (Note: The Seek Abundance logos reflected the light)
2) Halima-led Sade's Pearls - Halima went onstage
3) Farafina Kan played marched with the rest of Familiar Faces from the front of the club to the stage
4) The frontline and Doc and Dwayne did step moves to samples played by Stomp
5) Alternating Mike-led Marvin Gaye's Marvin Gaye's Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) / Percussion solo
Tamara was there.
6) Sean-led Gerald Levert's Funny - Sean rapped
7) Donnell-led "___ Is in the House"
8) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh" - the crowd responded
9) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
10) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized / Percussion solo - the crowd shouted, "Wind me up, Smoke!", Mike held his mic to fans
RE Angie, Pinky, Mama Chelle, and March (celebrating her birthday) were there.
11) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Tell Your Heart I Love You
Janetta was there.
12) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - Donnell said, "By yourself ladies" and the ladies sang it / Prince's Sexy M.F. (tease) -->
13) Donnell-led Hold the Note / "___ Is here" / Smoke conga solo
Britney & Shelly were there.
14) They did dance moves
15) Sean-led R. Kelly's Slow Wind - the red curtains came down and Donnell asked for two female fans to volunteer, Lisa of the World was in the left curtain, Chrissy (I introduced myself to her in the second set) was in the right curtain, Sean sang to Chrissy for a little bit
16) Donnell did announcements
Julia and Tata were there. I asked Tata about her band Reminisce. She said they play once a week and they play all genres; they are not a GoGo band.

Tijuana and Shameika were there. Kevin Lee was there, I said, "I found out you were Dwayne's older brother, I thought you were his younger brother." He laughed. L-Boogie, Peg Leg, Los (in a suit), Shadonna, Delano, 6'9 (who told me Maryland was beaten badly by BC), Ray, and Mia were there.

KO told me that people who hate GoGo really hate themselves. They don't want to acknowledge their own connection to Africa.

Second Set
It started late due to technical difficulties. The left camera also fell off its tripod and the camera man put it back on. The male band members changed their outfits, most wore blazers and fedoras.
1) Sean-led Jamie Foxx's Unpredictable - there were problems with Sean's mic - at times you could see him singing, but not hear anything
2) Halima-led Floetry's Supastar - Halima went to look for a supastar and brought Nikiya up onstage, he sat in the left chair
TT was there.
3) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes / Scarface's I Seen a Man Die (tease)
4) Donnell-led "___ on the Floor" / NORE's I'm a G - lots of crowd response, many fans put their hands up, Sean rapped
This was when I talked with Chrissy.
5) Donnell-led "Unh, unh unh" - Sean sang
6) Donnell-led Trina Was Great
7) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - the room lights brightened
8) Donnell & Halima-led It Is What It Is - Donnell invited fans to dance on stage (really the stage floor), prior to this the only fan dancing onstage was a guy I noticed dancing to the left of Lorenzo on the top level, the house lights blinked then came on / Sean-led Luther Vandross' So Amazing (tease)
TJ was there.
9) Sean-led Trey Songz' Gotta Go - they fired the confetti cannon
Donnell said, "They're mad 'cause we did a little overtime."

The PA of this performance:

CD1
1) DJ intro :15
2) Steve monologue 1:09
3) Halima-led Sade's Pearls 5:02
4) Farfarina Kan 1:30
5) Drum samples / Alternating Mike-led Marvin Gaye's Marvin Gaye's Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) / Percussion solo 7:31
6) Sean-led Gerald Levert's Funny 6:50
7) Donnell-led "___ Is in the House" / "Hey ay, Ho oh" / "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" 2:10
8) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized / Percussion solo 7:56
9) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Tell Your Heart I Love You 3:37
10) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You / Prince's Sexy M.F. (tease) --> Donnell-led Hold the Note / "___ Is here" / Smoke conga solo 9:51
11) Sean-led R. Kelly's Slow Wind 6:40
52:31

CD2
1) Sean-led Jamie Foxx's Unpredictable 6:59
2) Halima-led Floetry's Supastar / Percussion solo 6:40
3) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes / Scarface's I Seen a Man Die (tease) 7:26
4) Donnell-led "___ on the Floor" / NORE's I'm a G 4:33
5) Donnell-led "Unh, unh unh" 2:53
6) Donnell-led Trina Was Great 4:10
7) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That 3:33
8) Donnell & Halima-led It Is What It Is 5:28
9) Sean-led Luther Vandross' So Amazing (tease) 3:30
10) Sean-led Trey Songz' Gotta Go 4:59
50:11