Saturday at the Little Benny Reunion at the CFE Events Center
CFE Events Center, 7758 Marlboro Pike, Forestville MD 20747


JuJu, Big Jim, Stan Da Man, Wardell (Cousin of GoGo Rob) (Soldierette is in front, with her back to the camera, to her right is Rockin' Ron aka "jroc96")


Gene, Big Jim, Stan Da Man, Sugar Bear, (JuJu played drums) (Soldierette is in front, with her back to the camera, behind her is Rockin' Ron aka "jroc96")


David Rudd, Kevin "Big Foot" Smith, Little Benny, Big Tony


David Rudd, Kevin "Big Foot" Smith, Little Benny, Big Tony, Lil Dyke
All pictures taken by and Copyright Jordan Rich

I arrived at 9:45 PM. A number of people stood by their cars. I wasn't sure if they were letting people in because of that and the flyer saying 10 PM. I finally walked over to the front door; say a sign that said no tennis shoes, no timberlands, no exceptions. Fortunately, I had brought a change of shoes and went back to my car and changed them. Some musicians stood to the right of the stage, but not much was set up on stage. Donnell walked in and said, "no matter which band it is, I am the first one there setting up." Then he sat down at the table with me. I asked him how many people he expected at FF's shows at Bike Week. He said there would be 200,000 people at Bike Week, but he had no idea how many people would be at the shows. He said as long as he got paid, he didn't care if there were four people at the shows, "I just like to play." I also asked when the live recording was going to be sold. He said Wednesday, that he wants to wait until it's in the stores, to get a beat on the bootleggers. When Big Tony came, I introduced myself to him, Little Benny came by and said hello to both of us. He later sat down with me, and told me that Trouble Funk would be back in a big way this summer. He said they were going to regroup more of the original members and that they were releasing a new album this year. Donnell asked me what the itinerary was - I was surprised Little Benny hadn't filled him in with the details. Benny probably just asked him to come and play - it's all good. He asked if Trouble Funk was playing, I said just a couple members, that it would be an all-star band. Godfather came by and put his keyboard under the seat next to me. Donnell and other all-stars went up on stage, until the DJ said, "Everyone but Spur of the Moment clear the stage." I was surprised they would open the event. Soldierette took pictures; she's friends with the members of Spur of the Moment. I recognized one of the band members as Big Jim, who I had met at Safari Steakhouse.

Spur of the Moment was really tight - as in organized and cohesive. However, I didn't like their song selection - they performed four familiar light jazz covers, the last one I recognized as George Benson's Masquerade. While they performed BJ came in and sat down at my table. However, all three of the guys from FF left at 11:45 to go to their show at Tradewinds. Sugar Bear and JuJu walked in and control of Spur of the Moment's performance. JuJu initially played congas before switching to drums. Sugar Bear said happy birthday to Donnell, who was no longer there. Spur of the Moment's performance with Sugar Bear and JuJu was the best musical performance of the evening.
1) Sly & the Family Stone's Family Affair
2) Nelly's Flap Your Wings
3) Snoop's Drop It Like It's Hot - very different from FF's cover
4) "Go JuJu Go"
5) Shake It Like a White Girl, "I Like Booty"
6) "Get Your Freak On"
7) Rare Essence's Body Moves
8) Da Butt
9) "Hey ay, Ho oh"
10) Rare Essence's One on One (Footz version)

This was Sugar Bear and JuJu's musical contribution for the night. During the break, I went up to Big Jim. He pointed out Pee Wee as a legendary dancer; Pee Wee danced even on one leg. He led line dancing.

Big Tony, Lil Dyke, and a number of other all stars performed in the second set - all Trouble Funk songs.
1) Lets Get Small
Little Benny joined in
2) Drop the Bomb / Trouble Funk Express
3) Pump Me Up
4) Hey Fellas
This was a pretty good performance. A guy who saw me with my camera asked me if I was taking GoGo pics.

Soldierette got on the mic, then Little Benny. Soldierette both preached against violence and talked about seeing so many "teddy bears and balloons not on Valentine's Day". MaddChuck from the TMOTT Board introduced himself to me.

Little Benny performed Rare Essence covers with Soundproof Band backing him. It was terrible - they performed with no heart, it sounded like they were just going through the motions.
1) Rare Essence's Body Moves
2) "Hey ay, Ho oh"
3) Rare Essence's One on One (Footz version)
4) Rare Essence's Shoo Be Doo Wop
5) Rare Essence's Take Me Out to the Go-Go
6) EU's Um Bop Bop
SweetAngelmd27 was there, I said hello. She was looking for Kato, I said I hadn't seen him. (It turns out they wouldn't let him in because he didn't have formal enough shoes - something that's happened to me before).
7) Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
8) Freak A Deak All Night Long
9) 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
10) Rare Essence's Lock It
11) "? Love"
Then Soundproof Band performed without Little Benny. They covered Trillville's Some Cut - very different from FF's version. That they performed much better than the songs they performed with Benny. I saw Nena, and then I left early. I had to help my sister move the next day. I am bad at counting people - but the CFE was packed and it sure looked like a lot more people were there than at the Armory show.