Wednesday at Takoma Station
Takoma Station, 6914 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20012

Familiar Faces
I arrived shortly before 10 PM and just managed to catch Familiar Faces before they started - initially there were only five guys performing - Donnell, DP, BJ, Pooh and Doc - they performed Miles Davis' Tutu. They had a guest keyboard player, Donnell said, "He had just turned 15, they found him in the ball room at Chuck E. Cheese's". I didn't know the name of the tune they performed off the top of my head, but it is the Roots' You Got Me. Later, they performed "Secrets" (Alicia Keys' Diary) on request. The highlight of the first set was Seals & Crofts' Summer Breeze, punctuated by a strong guitar solo by Boolah. Donnell said, "He didn't used to play like that, when I first met him, he played like sh*t."

In the audience again were the police lieutenant Clark (off duty and out of uniform as I have always seen him) and Ebony (I meant to get her name, but it is hard talking to people while FF is peforming), both of whom I met at Takoma Station on May 19th. Kevin, the guest vocalist last week? was also there, as was Brandon, the guy I talked to two weeks ago. Also, during the first set, Donnell was upset that a fan wore a Detroit Pistons jersey (#11 - Isiah Thomas' # - I saw a guy with an Indiana Thomas jersey at Mayo Island), "disrespecting me, don't you know I'm a (Washington) Wizards fan? (Any local sports fan knows that three of the Pistons starting five (Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, and Rip Hamilton) started their NBA careers in Washington before being traded away.)" FF razzed the Lieutenant, mocking his voice saying that's my favorite song (Diary), calling him to come forth and give dancing lessons (I am no great dancer, but his dancing is distinctive and most people I have noticed watching him find it amusing).

The second set, the GoGo set, cranked as usual. During the set, Tara St. John, who had black hair tied back and wearing a pink t-shirt danced in unison with the front line during an instrumental solo. The best tune was the second to last, Family (for the lyrics go here). There was a girl named Imani (I got her name June 26th) with long black hair, glasses, a gold top, and black slacks who smiled a big smile during that song. I had thought she looked familiar, and it just dawned on me: she was one of the bartenders at the Market Lounge on May 17th. As usual, they closed with Prince's Purple Rain. Then Donnell went on joning: (Michael) Jordan came up. Someone said, "He never lost", to which Donnell replied "Nick Anderson (1995 Eastern Conference Finals Orlando vs. Chicago), took the ball away from him, raped him, molested him. Jauhar, don't you talk, your man Allen Iverson chased away his coach, Larry Brown. Now where is Allen Iverson with his coach? At home playing Nintendo since May. 'Practice!'" Donnell also made fun of two girls standing together responded by saying "did you switch outfits, one gets top, and one bottom?" (One of the girls had a white top, black slacks, and the other reversed). Donnell said "Jauhar is running for Mayor, couldn't be any worse than Marion Barry, anything to keep that closet door closed..." Jauhur then said, "Only someone from Duke Ellington (the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, a DC High School) would talk like that, they need to take a class (on joning?) to graduate." Donnell said, "Gaithersburg High, Jauhur was voted "Most Likely To Succeed", Michael Smith, Jauhar Abraham? Michael Smith, middle name was Bartholomew, changing his name..." Jauhar, responded "That while we were playing football and basketball, Donnell was taking ballet and tap dancing, a saxophone on his back and ballet shoes around his neck." Donnell then brought Bojack into it, saying "Bojack wore EEBs?" Bojack responded by going over to take the mic, Donnell told the sound man to cut off the mic.

After that, I was about to leave, but Adia told me to wait, she went to get their other album (A live 2-CD performance March 31st, 2004 at Takoma Station) to sell to me. Even though PA Palace and Showplace both sell copies (and PA Palace also sells another April 1-CD performance), I prefer to buy directly from the band. The other band members joked about what I was paid Adia for. While I waited, members of FF and their significant others told stories about funny incidents involving Rare Essence members in the past.

When I did walk out, I talked to Godfather; he gave me some suggestions - video & still camera. He also suggested I go with FF to talk with Tom (Goldfogle) & Becky of Liaison.