Northeast Groovers Reunion at the DC Tunnel
DC Tunnel, 2135 Queens Chapel Rd, NE Washington DC 20018

I arrived at around 9:45 PM. Duane Face was there; he said, "So you made it!" He introduced me to Larry, who had played guitar for Fatal Attraction with him. I went around the corner to call Stomp. When I came back, I spotted Tasty and Nita in the line. I asked why they were there since they said they won't be going out much. They said, "It's a reunion."

Jammin' Jeff came out and I talked with him. I told him how I knew Zachary Cutler. He said, "Zach's my man." Rah Rah and Stomp had separate limos and each had a male guest (Stomp's was his friend Kenny). I also spotted Black Heart in the line and said hello. At one point, they carried out some percussion equipment out, a guy in the line said - that's a bad sign. I said hello to Red as he walked in.

This was my first time at the DC Tunnel. Inside, I checked out the stage. There were two separate drum kits set up for Stomp (on the left side), and Jammin' Jeff (in the middle). The timbales and roto-toms were in the middle between the two drum kits. The keyboards - three sets of double keyboards, were on the right side, along with the guitar and bass (not yet set up). The congas were in the middle, but at the very back of the stage. Banners were hung up outside and in for WPGC. They let people in at a little before 11 PM.

Duane Face talked about the previous reunion also had both Stomp and Jammin' Jeff playing at the same time. He said Jammin' Jeff had told him they would both play all night, but he didn't tell him how they would work that out. Duane also told me how the 808 / sub-woofer sound all night he likes is done by the Northeast Groovers. He wondered why there were four mic stands and hoped the fourth was for a guest, possibly (Gene) Pratt, whom he said was with the Northeast Groovers in 1998. He said that this would be the first time many crews who were fans of Northeast Groovers would be together in the same place since they broke up. I asked how many sets there would be. He said they'd probably like to do three sets to prove a point, but would only do two because of fights. Unfortunately, this came true.

Black Heart teased me about being here. He said, "Donnell let you out?" Nita also came by and said, "You're cheating on Familiar Faces?" I pointed out to them that part of Familiar Faces was here...

I talked with Duane Face over by one of the platforms that had tripods for video cameras. Rah Rah stood nearby and teased me. He asked if I would be working the camera. Someone told me that Charlie and Los were out front.

Rah Rah said on the mic, "This is the best band in the city. It's been three years. The lack of originality is killing us in GoGo. We're going to make sure you get what you want because it might be the last time you get it, right here at the DC Tunnel. Someone was blessed today; he wasn't supposed to be here today but was able to make it." He wouldn't say who. He called up everyone "associated with Northeast Groovers" to the front of the stage. He said that Jammin' Jeff would lead a prayer and invited up Smokey Joe (drummer for Rah Rah's What? Band) to say a few words as well. He further said that Jammin' Jeff would lead a prayer. He then said, "You don't need to bow your head and close your eyes, but open your ears and your heart." Jammin Jeff's prayer: "Thank you God for anything we might have done and for bringing us together." He also hoped for "nothing to happen outside or inside tonight." Rah Rah then said, "Let's Party. Established 1988, the Northeast Groovers"

All song titles provided by my friend Duane Face and from OneManBand's post on the TMOTT board.
I am not 100% certain of the track order in my notes.
First Set (Started at 11:45 PM)
Rah Rah, 32, and Hugg on the front line, Stomp and Jammin' Jeff on drums, Smoke on Congas, Red on guitar
Rah Rah said, "I don't know which drummer will play first."
He then did birthday announcements
1) Lovely Day, lines "In love with me, Gonna be"
2) Ms. Piggy Beat, lines "Keep your head on"
3) ?, line "Stay"
Pause - Rah Rah "Not tired?"
Rah Rah said, "32 Beg Pardon."
32 said, "Yes, sir."
Rah Rah said, "Some of you are stirring up sh*t. I will kill the rumors, watch me."
He then hugged 32.
32 said, "Where did that come from?"
Rah Rah repeated that he wanted to "kill the rumors."
4) Lines "Dig Dug, He Hay, 58 yeah, F*cking Good" - the front line danced "what about, what y'all do, Southeast the real deal" The singer held the mic stand to the crowd so they could respond
5) Like Mike, lines "It's alright to be like Mike, against the ___, you knows me, one must __ to me" the crowd responded
I noticed then that they had a cowbell player
6) The Water
7) Lines "Y'all, lets rock on" - frontline danced A Pause
8) Nike Song - keyboard intro
Smoke switched from Congas to the frontline mic (Rah Rah's mic)
9) 2 Ya Head, Smoke rapped, lines "Feeling, Smoke, two tears on your head, realize?"
10) Lines "Gimme that beat, don't know what"
11) Booty Call - Smoke went back to the congas - long percussion solo
Rah talked about an @sshole on the radio on Thursday - they went back to a percussion solo
12) Gallop & Double Barrel Shotgun - percussion solo
13) Lines "DD Doc, listen to us, DC socket"
14) Familiar Faces' DIP - Rah called out "DIP, Stomp"
Rah Rah said "I want you to see the difference. It sounds different sicce to me, Familiar Faces."
15) Come Home?, lines "Woo, woo hoo, socket ___, Kari, Come Home"
16) Sound of the Police
17) 20 Minute Workout, lines "Stop yourself, put it in, come on baby, what's up" - the crowd responded
18) Funky Hump, lines "Bone dance, all the time"
19) Lines "Give it that, hey come, be real, hu-ah"
20) Lines "who what" - front line dance
21) Take It Off, line "Put that in all of the light, watch the __"
22) Lines "Yeah ___ smooth, toothache"
23) Line "Let me on?"
Rah said they were going to break
32 left after the first set because he had to perform with Rare Essence. Hugg also left after the first set.

During the break
1) NEG rapper (not Rah Rah or 32) - Trillville's Some Cut to pre-recorded music (not the regular music to the song)
2) Same rapper - unknown rap
Rah Rah talked for a bit

Land-ova said:

Damn, My man Draus perform @ the halftime show, I wanna be there to support my p.t.a. (Phamly Tize Affiliated) members but couldn't and glad.

Two other rappers performed during the break.

Stomp did his "Sir" joke he often does with Smoke, I don't understand it, but Smoke laughs

A guy behind me in a Barry Atwater jersey asked me if I felt out of place. I said, "No." He asked me if I had heard the Northeast Groovers before. I said this is my first time hearing them live. He said he'd been following them since he was 16-17, he's 25 now. He said it broke his heart when they broke up. He knew Duane Face as they later greeted each other.

Another guy said during the second set that it was good that I was there, taking in the GoGo culture.

A woman asked me why I was taking notes; she asked if I was a cop. I told her what I was doing.

Supa Dan came by and said hello.

Second Set
Michelle Blackwell and Kay Kay were among the people onstage. There were a lot more people on the stage for the second set.
Rah Rah said, "What are the words to that song, 'she gave me money'"
1) Strong crowd response - "You ain't f*cking with the ___ n*gger"
2) Probably sound check - Rare Essence's Take Me Out to the Go-Go - instrumental
3) DF - Bounce to This?, lines "Oh oh oh, all my ___, ain't no more" Michelle Blackwell? - "Ladies, Da Da, Da
4) Line "someone"
5) Kick It, lines "Whoever?" - the frontline danced
6) Bout It, Bout It, Rah Rah said something about 6'9 calming down - I never saw 6'9, Los was onstage, as were many women, lines "DC N*gga?" they performed the music to Survivor's Eye of the Tiger
There was a pause
7) The Basement, lines "That's 1, 2, 3, let's get, let 'em work, one more time, da da"
8) Rah Rah said, "Let's do it real slow" - not many lyrics, lines "Doo da doo"
9) Pop that Coochie, keyboard made sound like da da da, line "Pop that coochie?"
10) Lines "Water, jam on it" - prominent keyboard
11) Van Damme - nice long percussion solo
12) Rah Rah said, "Hands up" crowd responded (could this be Get your Hands in the Air?"
13) Goosebumps
Pause
Rah said that's it
14) Someone played the Inspector Gadget theme on their keyboard(s)
I noticed a number of people onstage drank directly from Champagne bottles
15) DF - Pop That Ass, lines "I don't know"
16) Line "Fill it up"
17) Lines "D*ck on ___, freak your baby"
18) "Stomp dog something"
There was a fight
Rah Rah said, "We don't do that fighting here"
Rah Rah said, "88 is pissing me off, making me go hard"
19) Southside, Southside, "Southside, let it roll" Rocky theme music, "We are the Southeast Groovers"
Rah Rah stopped them
"Give me some money"
Rah said, "If you don't want us to leave, stop fighting"
"Bigger d*ck", they performed the Rocky theme music
20) Drop the Bomb, lines "I want to fly away"
21) Crank That, the guy behind me insisted I put down my pen and paper and clap
22) Lines "Grease that crack?"
Rah Rah said, "The keyboard players ain't getting nothing on me"
Supa Dan told me to do a good write up, this is his favorite band
There was a real long pause
23) Da Rocket interrupted by a fight, keyboard made a sound like "hoo"
Rah Rah said, "Y'all need to settle down"
I said to Duane Face that it's too bad, he was right. He said, "I wasn't guessing, I knew this would happen".
The lights came on and stayed on
24) The Fight, lines "This fight, yeah hands up, fight, fight, to the jail" - interrupted by another fight
Rah Rah said, "Stop this"
25) Ruff Rider
Rah Rah said, "They say we gotta go!"
"Boomp, boo bo da"
Rah Rah said, "Smoke be playing the beat"
Another fight
26) Basic Beat
27) Drop the Bomb
Duane Face pointed out that Smokey Joe, formerly of Fatal Attraction, played drums on Jammin' Jeff's drum kit

When I went outside, two cop cars were parked outside, one with its sirens on. Cops were breaking up a fight by two of the cars parked across the street. I noticed walking to my car, that a number of cars had tickets on them - a cop wrote them up as I walked by. Black Heart said good bye, his car was behind the cop, hopefully he didn't get a ticket. I was relieved that I didn't.

Other than the fights and the massive amount of cigarette smoke (making me cough and irritating my eyes), I really enjoyed the show.
Apparently according to Duane Face, OneManBand, and YoungOne, I am also missing:

NE In Da House
Hey Hoe!
We Came to Party!
Grab a Girl
Dip
Horny Horns
Rumble
Off Da Muscle
Generation X
In my Automobile
DJ Screw version of Walk