Friday at Market Lounge
Market Lounge, 1309 5th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Packy had told me last Friday that his band, Unity Band, would be opening for NCB & Junkyard this Friday at the Market Lounge.

I got to the Market Lounge a little after 10 PM. There were a bunch of people with chairs over on the sidewalk by where I parked, across the street from the Market Lounge. As I headed across, the street, somone called out to me. Antwon said he had recognized me from helping Packy set up equipment for Familiar Faces. He told me he's the lead singer for Unity Band.

I went up and asked if I could bring my camera in, I told him I was friends with Packy and wanted to take pictures. The guy okayed it, and I went back to my car and got my camera. However, there was apparently a miscommunication because when I left at the end, Darryl (the owner?) walked me out and told me, "Security told me you were taking pictures. We don't allow that. Remember that next time you come." I can respect that, but I did ask permission ahead of time and told him so. So this will be the only time I take pictures at the Market Lounge.

Unity Band was setting up. Unity Band is: Ron (rapper), Wayne (rapper), Antwon (lead singer), Packy (backup vocals, cowbell), Carlton "Big C" (keyboard), Vaughn "Drunk" (drummer, whom I also am friends with, he helps Packy with FF's equipment a lot), and Los (percussion).
They started about 10:15 or so.

Wayne, Los (behind), Ron, Antwon, Packy, Big C

Wayne, Los (behind), Ron, Antwon, Drunk's brother (in back), Packy, Big C

Packy, Ron, Los, Big C, Drunk's brother

Wayne, Los (behind), Ron, Drunk (back), Antwon, Packy

Wayne, Los (behind), Ron, Antwon, Drunk, Packy, Big C

Click here to see a clip of Unity Band's performance - with Packy's permission

There was only a small crowd. Unity Band cranked and the vocalists were good, and unlike a lot of young bands, Los played more congas than timbs/toms. Although the crowd was small, it didn't phase Unity Band and everyone enjoyed themselves - me included. Ludacris' Pimpin' All Over the World was the only song I recognized. Killa Cal said hello to Packy, and then to me. He was celebrating his birthday tonight. Unity Band finished at about 11:40.

Buffie (YoungOne, now Sweet Buff on TMOTT) brought in balloons and NCB equipment. She came over to me and asked me, "Is Familiar Faces not playing tonight?" I said, "Of course, they're playing." She seemed doubtful. Jay Gotti came over to me and said, "Now you get to see how we do it!"

NCB
Their line up was: Killa Cal (lead talker), Jay Gotti (rapper), Butch (male vocalist), Rah Rah (female vocalist), T.O. (guitar), Rico (bass, sitting in from WHAT? Band), Rodney & Scoop (keyboards), Chuck (drummer), KD Styles (percussion), GoGoPJ (blocks/cowbell). Their performance was being filmed.

Rico, Killa Cal, Rah Rah, Jay Gotti, Butch, GoGoPJ

Rico, Killa Cal, Rah Rah, Jay Gotti, Butch, GoGoPJ

Rico, Killa Cal, Rah Rah, Jay Gotti, Butch, GoGoPJ

Antwon from Unity Band with his back to the camera (orange striped shirt), Rah Rah, Jay Gotti, Butch, T.O., Rodney, GoGoPJ

Packy & Antwon from Unity Band in the audience, Rico, KD Styles, Rah Rah, Jay Gotti, Butch

Chuck, Rodney, TO, Scoop

The crowd grew larger, there were 50+ people there. They cranked and had a sophistocated sound. I recognized in their set, Busta Rhyme's I Love My Chick featuring Kelis and Young Joc's It's Going Down. Killa Cal did a number of shout outs to me (FunkMasterJ) (including thanking me for showing love to all the bands) and Unity Band. They roped off the VIP area and Killa Cal had a cake on a table.

Maiah was there. I said hello to BY of Junkyard. Killa Cal said, "JY, friends of mine, until the end of time". Buggs sat in and Killa Call said, "Buggs blessed the mic." Killa Cal asked people to put their fists up when he said, "Pimp game." At the end of the performance, Killa Cal said, "I studied under Bruce Lee, he was on the second floor, I was on the first floor." Killa Cal said good bye to me on his way out. He said, "They say I'm a legend, but I'm not sure yet."

Junkyard Band was the headliner.


(Sorry I don't know Junkyard's members by sight, other than BY)

They cranked with a raw sound until nearly the end. I recognized from their set: Stevie Wonder's Superstition, the Gilligans Island theme, Dem Franchise Boyz' I Think They Like Me, War's The World Is A Ghetto, Lil Kim's Lighters Up, Nelly's Flap Your Wings, and Busta Rhyme's I Love My Chick featuring Kelis. They took a short break and most of the crowd left.

When they resumed performing, they played slow songs and it was laid back. The first song was Trey Songz' Gotta Go. They next said, "For our old old old schol, 25 and over..." I left during that song - I'm not into slow songs. As I was walking to the exit, a guy talked with me. He recognized me from Zanzibar, he told me there was a rack of new girls there.