Monday at Market Lounge: Making contact with FF
Market Lounge, 1309 5th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

10 PM was the stated start time for Familiar Faces' performance (opening for EU), but I drove early in order to get a chance to talk with the band and to have a cheaper cover. On the way, I noticed that another GoGo venue, Bud's Restaurant and Nightclub was a block away from the Market Lounge. Both Familiar Faces and EU performed at the 9:30 Club concert, so I had seen them before, but this was different. As per the instructed dress code instructions, I wore a collared shirt, slacks, and formal shoes. As I expected, I was the only white person there. Doc was the first band member there. He sat at the bar. When I went to the bar, the bartender (Imani), served me a Coke in the can. I talked with Donnell Floyd, the leader of Familiar Faces. He agreed to work with me on my thesis, and introduced me to Mike Muse and Mark "Godfather" Lawson.

Familiar Faces
Familiar Faces performed two sets - the first set was basically neo-soul (a happy hour set he called it) - no one really danced to that one. Donnell's adult son, Donnell Jr., was in the audience. The second set was straight-out GoGo - they really cranked. I danced as did most people. However, my dancing was interrupted by me getting hit on by a couple of girls, which was unexpected, they asked me questions like whether I had any children. I talked with the girls for a while and danced with one of them including grinding. Later, another girl went to dance with me, and then walked quickly away, as if she had been dared to "dance with the white boy." They guy sitting at the table in front of mine told me I shouldn't take that from her. Donnell announced during the performance that this would be their last performance at the Market Lounge that "They were getting kicked out."

EU
EU performed a couple of neo-soul songs and then straight-out GoGo the rest of the way. The performance ended shortly before 2 AM. Overall, I really enjoyed the performances and wished I had gone to GoGos alone earlier.

The only negative of the night was getting lost on the way home, as I missed the correct turns on more than one circle.