J's Sports Cafe, 12617 Laurel Bowie Rd (Route 197), Laurel, MD 20708
It's starting to get really crowded at J's: I had to wait in line to get in.
There were sales reps (beautiful women) there hawking an energy drink called Sum Poosie.
The promter Tomeaki on the left, Sum Poosie sales girls in the background
Reynetta (spelling?) stopped me and said, "Don't walk past me without saying hello." She said she sees me at Phish Tea every week. I introduced myself to her. She's friends with Skaci.
Darrell, Pinkey, Tia, Kim, Rachelle, Tony, Skaci, and Ray were there.
Familiar Faces
Sound Check
Donnell-led Rare Essence's I'm Getting Ready (tease)
"Original" Nikki, Shawn, Sam (Black Heart). Shameika, Netty, Britney, June, Chevy of Fatal Attraction, Dianya, NeeNee, and Kia were there.
A girl called me over said, "Don't you recognize me?" I said your face is familiar, she said, "A familiar face."
Steve was working the PA tonight.
Jammin' Jeff Warren sat in on drums.
First Set
1) Instrumental / Percussion solo - it cranked, Donnell said, "I'm in love with the pocket", Donnell did a birthday shout out to RE Angie
Val "Tina Turner" was there.
2) Sean-led Brian McKnight's Find Myself in You - Jammin' Jeff tossed a drumstick in the air, it cranked, the congas sounded really crisp / Percussion solo - with modulation, Jammin' Jeff again threw a drumstick in the air
RE Angie was there
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Halima-led Floetry's Supastar (instrumental) / Percussion solo - it cranked, the frontline danced / Donnell-led Rare Essence's "Going to Hollywood" - Doc was on backup vocals
5) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - verses for Libras, RE Angie, and others
6) Donnell-led "Party, party, everybody" / Percussion solo - it cranked / Donnell chanted, "Langston Lane love" / Sean-led Ne-Yo's So Sick - Sean held his mic to a fan
7) Halima-led Christina Milian's Say I featuring Young Jeezy / Aaliyah's I Need You Tonight (tease) / Donnell chanted, "Killazoo" / Donnell-led "Brandywine, friends of mine" chant / Donnell chanted, "Hands Free, they're f*cking with me"
8) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate the song though) / Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Happy Birthday, Ray!"
Angie W., 6'9, and Peg Leg were there.
9) Sean-led Chingy's Pulling Me Back featuring Tyrese
Jay Gotti, Tracy S. (new hairdo), Janetta, Shadonna, Damond, Boo, Kay, and Nikiya were there.
A guy came up to me and said, "What do you know that I don't? You're always smiling as if you know something I don't, what do you know?"
Second Set
Darrell took pictures, and was onstage doing so for most of the set.
Me, Tracy, Pinkey, (don't know the other guy), Angie, and RE Angie
1) Halima-led Cheri Dennis' I Love You - Sean held his mic to fans, Stephanie (formerly? of EU) took the mic and went onstage, she continued the song, Donnell said, "Not yet, Stephanie" / 6 Minutes Percussion solo
Archie was there.
2) Sean-led India Arie's There's Hope - Godfather played the flugelhorn
3) Donnell-led Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome - RE Angie sat in on the congas / Rare Essence's Body Snatchers riffs / DP-led "RE-Angie" chant - it cranked
Packy, Jacques, RE Ange, Smoke
4) Alternating Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low"
Tata was there.
5) Donnell-led "Reggae" / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful / Donnell-led "But is it like that, is it really like that?"
6) Sean-led Busta Rhymes' I Love My Chick featuring Kelis / Percussion solo
7) Donnell & Sean-led Nicole the Bartender - Donnell said, "Libras in the house"
8) Stephanie-led 50 Cent's In Da Club / Stephanie rapped / Percussion solo
Double D of Submission Band was there.
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda - it cranked, Halima sang, "Uh oh" repeatedly, Packy played the Cowbell
10) Alternating Percussion solo - it cranked / Donnell-led "On the small of her back, she got a tattoo" / 6 Minutes Percussion solo - Halima held her mic to Jacques playing the cowbell / Donnell-led "This is how we party in my neighborhood" - RE Angie sat in on vocals
James and Ian were there.
Donnell said, "When you party with us on your birthday, that's special to me"
11) Donnell acapella Rare Essence's How Can I Know (tease) / "Come back, baby come back" / "Here we go again"
Donnell said, "My baby Tracy got the new 'fro, ready to go"
We called Donnell over for a group picture, "He said, "You know I need to talk. Halima don't let me sing, this the only time I can sing"
12) Donnell acapella "The greatest story never told"
Front: Donnell, Angie, Tia, Kim Back: Sean, Nephew, Pinkey, RE Angie, Jacques, Me, Rachelle, DP
All pictures taken by and Copyright - Darrell Foster
