Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private location

Familiar Faces
When I arrived, Stomp waited in his car. I asked Stomp how the Sunday show at Banneker Field was, he said good, Googie played bass, he was good. When Donnell arrived, he wore his "mustard yellow" pants. Thankfully, it was not as hot inside as last time. Over time, everyone but Jacques arrived.

They went to work on Fantasia's Free Yourself - they wanted to get it better for the Fantasia After-Party. Donnell had trouble getting a practice CD to play, in either the CD player in the practice room or in the main room. There was a discussion over Fantasia and female stars who aren't hot - talking about how much it matters, or as Donnell said, "Is it just a coincidence that almost all star female singers happen to be hot?" They said Jill Scott appeals to the backpack and berry crowd (I don't know what that means).

Finally, they worked on Geraldine - I guess it is a Rare Essence song. Halima joked that she wanted the song to be about her. I told her she could write a new song about herself, "Halima drives a beama, she is quite a screama..." Halima had seen my blog and was concerned when I told her I left in what she said about singing Fantasia's song. She said she didn't want people to think she was serious and that that she was arrogant.

Saturday at Tradewinds
Tradewinds Night Club, 5859 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20748

I arrived pretty early since the expected traffic delay didn't occur. Vincent and Paul were outside. We talked - about construction on I-495. They talked about not moving for an hour once on the beltway. I told the story of how I went on Spring Break and a tractor trailer crashing across all the lanes of the highway in the middle of the night. They said it is often about three hours to come and take car of stuff like that and is $200/hour. They said in the winter tow trucks and taxis gouge you.

I sat in a fairly close table while waiting for them to set up - I said hello to Doc on his way to the bar. Ray and Darrell were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Charlie and James were there from the beginning
1) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You
2) Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You
3) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
5) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
6) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
7) Alternating Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva / Mike-led Slick Rick's La Di Da Di - "La Di Da Di, she likes to party, don't hurt nobody", the second go round he sang in a really affected voice / Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Right there Smoke" - Donnell did a shout out to his high school sweetheart, Pinky, of another woman, he said, "I see you party when your husband ain't there"
6'9 was there
8) Halima-led Amerie's 1 Thing - she sang parts like an echo
9) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - another excellent performance

I went into the kitchen with the band, everyone was there except Halima. The food hadn't arrived yet. Omar said he had checked out my site, Stomp asked him if he was on it. He said he needs posed pictures and started to pose. I told him I couldn't hold a camera straight while taking those pictures, I'd be laughing too hard. Charlie called Donnell Pussybutt, I told him Stomp called him Pussybutt Jr. Stomp got down to what Doc called noise. Stomp said he made a living off that banging; he didn't need a (non-music) job until 2002. Doc said, do you know who you're talking to; I used to book NEG's shows. Donnell said, "Let him think he's paid well". In Rare Essence, we used to make $50 a week and had paid vacations, playing 4 times on Thursday, 3 on Friday - including that they would make $40,000 at the Coliseum. Ms. Mack made two million a year and we made $50 a week. Little Benny quit because he wanted a raise to $100 a week and they wouldn't give it to him. Nephew wore a really tight black shirt; they teased him about it - they said he dressed like Miami Vice. Doc talked about the pictures on Rare Essence's new website, including one with Smoke's uncle Boogie Dews and others he couldn't identify.




Mike, Doc, DP, and Dwayne had a long conversation about what they need to do and the music business. Dwayne said he learned about the music business from James Funk. He also took a class with Jay Rosenthal. They talked about the live experience and studio being different, DP said Rare Essence's Body Moves was the best GoGo record ever - it sounded like R&B but was GoGo. Lorenzo had worked on the original of a song that the DJ played, a DJ Rico song.

Diva, Delano, and Mama Chelle were there

Second Set
Donnell talked about Nephew wearing a really tight shirt with "fake muscles."
I danced toward the front of the dance floor this set. At one point, 6'9 danced behind me with his arm on my shoulder. Since I was taking note, the guy in front of me asked if I was their (FF's) manager. I said no.
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized
2) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
Mike Smith was there
3) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - Mike added new lyrics / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
4) Donnell-led "___ is here"
5) Donnell-led Tupac's Hail Mary
6) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
7) Donnell-led Hold the Note
8) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease) / Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
9) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
10) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
11) Donnell-led Rick James' Mary Jane (tease)
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
13) Mike-led Lap Dance
Donnell said, "Stomp is Lawrence Atwater".

02 was there. I talked with Halima. I asked if she was going to sing Free Yourself at the Fantasia after party. She said, "She won't be there". I said, it is the official party, she may be there. I asked Halima if she would sing Free Yourself in front of Fantasia. She said, "I'm not afraid of her, she should be afraid of me. I am talking a lot of junk, aren't I?"

Friday at Safari
Safari Steakhouse, 9430 Annapolis Road Lanham MD 20706

I was late because I had dinner with my parents, my sister, and her boyfriend and because of the construction on I-495. The lounge had a girl sitting in the first seat in the dark. I turned both lights on, the one equipment guy turned one off, saying Nephew turned off the lights. Later, DP and Thomas walked into the lounge; DP said the music is really loud, I agreed, telling him it is always louder than when they perform. Thomas turned on the TV, but Nephew got him to turn it off and scolded me saying, "Have you ever seen the lights off before?" I talked with Doc (sitting Me, Doc, Dwayne, DP, Halima) about his job and the details. Doc talked about the difficult part of his job is connecting the computers to the car. He discussed the anti-theft capabilities of the Lexus. If you break the window, everything in the car shuts down. If you use a slimjim, you can't then use the key. He said you need to call in and get the secret code. They have a system (he didn't name it as such, but is similar to Onstar). He had to call when in South Carolina because he locked his keys in his trunk. He woke up at 8 AM; he did every morning that trip. He worried about being in range, he called, the guy said to back up in case of static and it opened. He said there's only one other guy where he works who can do the things he can. One of them has to be there. That's why he can't go to Miami; the other guy is on vacation then. He said you try to teach others to do what you do. He talked about a conference in August about new development to come in the next few years. They try to keep you ahead of the game. Doc walked over and talked with DP in front of Halima about something. I walked over to ask Halima something.Doc said to Halima, this is guy band stuff, you are not a band member, you are a band woman. She said, "I am one of the guys." I later said to Halima as we all walked to the stage area, "You aren't one of the guys, look you're wearing a mini-skirt." She said, "You should come down to my salon and see some of the guys in there, they wear mini-skirts too."

YC was there and sat in during the first set. He asked me if the sound system was better here than Takoma Station, I told him yes and that they perform three sets here.

Michael Ford (or Forbe?) played congas during the first set; he told Halima that he has offered to play congas to Donnell for free numerous times.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Miles Davis' Tutu - YC sat in, Halima played one of the bongos
Donnell commented on the construction on I-495 affecting both the band and audience's arrival. Mike backed him up
Halima did an intro to the audience and said "Hey Googie"
2) Halima-led Rodgers & Hart's My Funny Valentine
Candy (wearing a shirt that had the words "Candy Girl" printed on it) and Michon arrived. I told Candy, "That's your name shirt", she said yes and hugged me hello.
3) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People
4) Mike-led The Stylistics' People Make the World (Go Round)
Peanut and Angie were there
5) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - Halima added new vocal effects
6) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - another excellent performance, James was on backup vocals and YC sat in
Angie asked me if this was new, I said no, they started last week, but she had missed it because it was in the early sets. I told her about Tamara, Candy and Michon pulling their chairs up on Wednesday, they stood up by the stage for this performance.

I told Halima that this had replaced My Funny Valentine as her signature song in that it is her best performed song. She said, "You think so?" I said definitely. She said she doesn't like that song, I said neither do I (it is too light for me), but that it is still her best song. She said, "Well thank you". I sat with Angie, by her sister Star and Tracy. Angie had another birthday cake - red velvet, but unlabeled on the icing. Angie was tired and seriously thought about going out to her car to take a nap.

Second Set
Marky Mark played congas at the start of this set.
1) Mike-led Ruff Endz' Someone to Love You
Halima fanned the smoke from the smoke machine and danced
Ytee was there
2) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized
3) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
Donnell did announcements
4) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
5) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
6) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
7) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
8) Donnell-led Hold the Note
9) Donnell rapped - Smoke took over for Marky Mark on congas
I talked with Marky Mark in the lounge; he talked about how he had earlier played congas for FF "for a minute"
10) Halima-led Amerie's 1 Thing
Donnell said the video shoot will star Packy, but Peanut is the star of tonight. He talked about their upcoming show next Thursday at the Zanzibar as the Official Fantasia After Party - maybe we'll disrespect her by performing her song, after all we did disrespect Anthony Hamilton by performing his song when they played with him. I think Doc or Dwayne said, "They'll probably sign Halima to a record deal".

I said to Donnell and Angie that it is not disrespecting if it is performed well. I told Donnell what I had told Halima, that I think Free Yourself is now her signature song. I asked him if he had gone to the Me'Shell NdegeOcello get together, he said he and Me'Shell aren't on good terms. I asked why, he said he used to manager her and was going to get her signed by Ed Strickland of Tommy Boy, it was around Christmas, and they had shut down, were going to sign her at the beginning of the new year. She got antsy and he got a girl named Angie to try to help calm her down. Angie turned around and got Me'Shell a new manager and on top of that, Ed Strickland left Tommy Boy for Chrysalis, so no one had loyalty to Donnell. Me'Shell then signed with Madonna's label (Maverick). He hasn't spoken with her since. I asked who else he had managed, he said Vinnie D. He said he thought the After Party was originally going to be performed at the place on Central Avenue. I said the former Mad Chef? He said, "yes, La Pearla" (the new name). I said the Mad Chef is where I was searched the hardest and treated strangely (asking if I knew what was going on) because I was white. He said not for us, for younger bands. I said, "no, Junkyard and Backyard." Tracy's birthday is next week. Tracy didn't want to sit at the head of the table because she said, "I am a low-key person". She said when I asked that her brother Bobby wouldn't play on her birthday that he doesn't go out like that. Angie went over to the bar to get a knife, she said he had to argue with them to get one; they gave her a stake knife. After I ate a piece of cake, I got a Coke to wash it down. I sat again by Angie. She was trying to compete with Donnell for birthday treatment - Donnell talked about the places he had been taken to dinner for his birthday. I suggested she rap and play the saxophone. Yolanda took Donnell's seat - she twice grabbed Tyrell by her shirt and chest, Tyrell said of her breasts, "Don't mess with my babies". Yolanda spilled water and Angie and I got up.

Stomp asked what I drank, I told him Coke and that I don't drink and why. He and Omar asked me the URL of my website.

Third Set
1) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva / Stevie Wonder's Superstition bass line
2) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - interrupted by a fight that Donnell said was two girls / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / Donnell's chant, "Wait a minute" had an echo effect
3) Donnell-led 911
4) Donnell-led Brown & White
5) Donnell-led Family
6) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine "Trying to get away, going to get away"
7) Donnell rapped
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (tease)
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
10) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time? "Throw your hands up, everyone in the club, __ is here all the time"
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up)
12) Donnell-led "___ Got no drawers on"
13) Donnell-led "35, girls want to shake that ass, give up the cash" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls
14) 6 Minutes percussion solo
15) Donnell-led Rare Essence's One on One (Footz version)
16) Donnell-led Chuck Brown's Bustin' Loose (tease)
This was a really unusual set with some songs they haven't performed in a while.

Donnell said, "There's a Mercedes outside blocking someone in. It's not Googie's, he's got a VW, a kid car. His car looks like a Mercedes, but it's really a VW with Mercedes parts on the outside." Googie smiled. He then said, "Stomp's baby mama is out directing traffic on 202. We need a cup for a collection, since Vincent got his test results back; he's got the Arthur Ashe, Melvin Lindsey, Eazy E." Vincent just laughed.

Bud's Birthday Celebration
Bud's 501 Club, 501 Morse St NE, Washington, DC 20002

I arrived and talked with SweetAngel. Many signs for Bud's birthday were posted on various walls and doors; surprisingly her whole date of birth was listed: June 20, 1956. There was a big cake for her. It is also Mike's birthday (I don't know this Mike). I sat down. Nena came in and stood beside me. Scottiejay sat by me. Ras asked me if anyone from TMOTT played congas, then asked Scottie to play with him since his conga player was late. But the conga player showed up before they started performing. Tyra came in later and said hello. I went upstairs, passing Slim Goodie and Kato on my way up, and there was a good sized crowd.

Ras Lidj & Deep Band
Julian was there this time. He first sang a song about Murder. From the way Ras Lidj introduced him "as an original member of Deep Band" I assume he's no longer a member of the band.
Ras Lidj said, "Tonight is for a mother to us all, although she didn't give birth to us - Bud."
They then performed Son of a One Night Stand.
Julian then sang Bob Marley's No Woman No Cry. Then he left.
Diva walked in.
Ras then performed Ganja Weed.
He gave a dedication to the TMOTT board. He chanted "Log on".
He then performed his song "DC's a nice place to live"
He called up Bud and gave her a hug - not just a regular hug.
Bud then said, "It's Mike's birthday too."
Ras said to Mike, "Stay there, sit down," then told him he should hug Bud.
He held her left leg up at a 135 degree angle with her right leg on the floor.
Ras performed, chanting "Hot dog!" while they danced.
Kato pointed me out to Shorty Q, who introduced herself to me.
Slim Goodie danced onstage and she and Nena got on the mic with another woman I don't know. I didn't really catch what they said.
Mama Chelle was there.
The last song was really excellent - I don't recall the title (even though I asked Ras), but he did say it is on their EP.

After Deep Band was done, the members of EU walked in. Right behind Sugar Bear was my friend Duane Face with his keyboard. After he set up, he walked over to my table. He told me he has performed with them before, in November and December on Fridays. I asked if he was working on his arrogance in play. I said only in play! He smiled. He talked about how plenty of bands have asked him to join, but that they weren't doing anything and he's already doing nothing with Familiar Faces. I told him about Scottiejay and he said Scottie used to watch him in a Gospel GoGo band called Turning Point before. He said they are all doing different things; it is hard to get together. I told him about Mambo Sauce, Smoke's other band. He also talked about how hard it is to get everyone to do a free gig. I talked about how Dwayne had talked about how difficult it was to get MVP to play for free when they looked for exposure. I also talked about that being a problem with all Gospel GoGo bands.

EU
First Set
1) Stephanie-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha know
2) Sugar Bear-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
3) Sugar Bear-led Sly & the Family Stone's Family Affair
Sugar Bear said, "It's for Bud tonight".
4) Sugar Bear-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) reprise
5) Sugar Bear-led "Give love to me"?
6) Donny Ray-led ?
7) Donny Ray & Junie-led ?
8) Sugar Bear-led Sly & the Family Stone's Family Affair reprise
9) Stephanie-led ?

Their regular keyboard player, Scooter, (the dude who looks like Walt Williams) showed up and played in the second set along with Duane Face.

Adia and Los were there.

Bud walked around with a kid that I assumed is her son

Second Set
1) Junie-led Earth, Wind & Fire's Can't Hide Love
2) Sugar Bear-led JGW? "a real MF?" "Go to a disco"
3) Sugar Bear-led Um Bop Bop
Bud had changed her outfit, from a white top and cream colored slacks to a black dress
4) Sugar Bear-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
5) Sugar Bear-led Snoop's Drop It Like It's Hot
6) Sugar Bear-led - I don't know what it was, but it cranked
7) Sugar Bear-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
8) Sugar Bear-led "How low can you go"
9) Sugar Bear-led "Shake it to the right"
10) Sugar Bear-led Freak A Deak All Night Long (tease) / Funkadelic's Undisco Kidd (tease) / Bad Girls (Cops theme) (tease) / Pop the Coochie (tease)
11) Sugar Bear-led Ludacris' Number One Spot (tease) - "We're so hot, we've got the number one spot"
12) Sugar Bear-led OutKast's The Way You Move (tease)
13) Sugar Bear-led Hues Corporation's Rock the Boat (tease)
14) Stephanie-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
15) Stephanie-led Amerie's 1 Thing
16) Sugar Bear-led Get Your Freak On
Sugar Bear said repeatedly, "Happy Birthday Bud".

I went in the VIP room and watched the end of the Pistons' blowout win over San Antonio in Game Four of the NBA Finals. Also in the room were Doc, Stomp, Lorenzo, Telando, and an equipment guy I don't know the name of. I asked Doc if he saw who played keyboards for EU, he said, "Yeah, it's about f*cking time!"

I then stood in the hallway with Duane Face, and other members of EU. Halima said, "Good evening" to me and Duane.

Minnie Me, Michon and Candy were there. Surprisingly, Donnell was one of the last band members to arrive, Smoke was the very last. Kato said to me, where is everybody (he had earlier worried they weren't going to perform until I pointed out that it was still early and that Stomp had just arrived). James was there at the start. Someone pointed me out to a woman who said, "You are FunkMasterJ, really?" Junie of EU pointed out Halima as someone to check out to a girl with long hair that Kato later said hello to. The DJ? or GoGo pics guy asked me what I thought of Bud's - I said it has a nice atmosphere but was small. He asked, "The dance floor?" I said, "Yes".

Familiar Faces
1) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - another excellent performance
Donnell referred to Bud as the hardest working woman in GoGo, being a female entrepreneur. He said she's from Lincoln Heights. Donnell said they thought about what to sing for her and settled on Golden Lady.
2) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Golden Lady
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
5) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
6) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
7) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
8) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
9) Donnell-led Hold the Note
Kay Kay was onstage
10) Kay Kay rapped
She put her glasses above her head - the first time I saw her without the glasses, she's really beautiful
11) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / Tupac's Hail Mary (tease)
12) Percussion solo
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
14) Donnell-led Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me - "Od ba ba ba"
15) Long percussion solo then Donnell rapped "Got to get you"
16) Donnell-led "___ got no drawers on"
17) 6 Minutes percussion solo
18) Halima-led Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane
They were basically done, but Donnell said he heard great singing from a woman in the back and invited her to sing, I later found out her name is Yvette Wright.
Mama Chelle said, "Can he play?" Donnell said, "You'll have to ask him yourself." I wasn't sure who she was talking about, so I walked up and saw Go-Go Mickey there.
19) Yvette-led "I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm about to freestyle, They turned the PA off, but it's alright"

I went outside with Godfather, so he could get something from his car. It was warm out and it really stank outside. He talked with Yvette Wright, who is friends with his wife, and her cousin, whom he knew, but didn't know was her cousin. He said at one point, "a guy is putting flyers on your car", she said that's my husband. He went over to talk with him, his name is Howard. Then he talked with the third girl who had been singing with Slim Goodie, Slim Goodie was in the car with her.

Angie's Birthday at Takoma Station
Takoma Station, 6914 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20012

I forgot my pen (it fell out of my pocket at home), I am positive they performed everything in the setlist below, but they may have played more that I don't remember and I am not sure of the order of what was performed. The line up was: Mike, Halima, Donnell, DP, Dwayne, Doc, Godfather, Lorenzo, Stomp, Smoke, and Jacques. YC sat in during most of the first set.

Michon and Candy sat to the left of the aisle. Tamara sat next to me, Tim (LJ) was there, Ray was there, Tanya was there - Doc hung out with her, Ras Lidj was there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Instrumental
Donnell said, "Mike has been singing for 40 years. His mom had said he had sang in the shower at three years old."
Mike said, "Donnell dropped out of college 'cause he couldn't add" - Mike is only 39.
Mike thanked his co-workers from Verizon for coming the last five Thursdays, but I and others corrected him - Wednesdays.
2) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People
Donnell said, "We had not rehearsed this (I've never heard this song before), but she says she knows it,"
3) Halima-led Erykah Badu's On & On
Donnell invited Tamara up. He said, "She's part of the family"
4) Tamara-led Jill Scott's He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat) - Halima was on backup vocals

Smoke, Jacques, Tamara, Doc, Halima, Stomp, YC, Godfather (behind YC)
5) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
6) Mike-led Ruff Endz' Someone to Love You
7) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - this is the best Halima performance I've witnessed - At the beginning, Michon moved her chair in the middle of the dance floor, Tamara criticized her, then Tamara, Michon, and Candy all moved their chairs up in front of the stage

On stage: Mike, Jacques, Doc, Halima, Stomp, Donnell, DP, Godfather, Lorenzo, Dwayne, YC (hand and flute only visible)
Facing stage: Tamara, Michon, Candy, Nephew
8) Donnell, Mike, and Donny Ray-led Atlantic Starr's Send for Me

Packy (arm only visible), Jacques, Mike, Doc, Stomp, Donnell, Godfather, Donny Ray, Lorenzo

I talked with Halima tonight, I have figured out that despite the fact that she is very outgoing; she is also a very private person.

Go-Go Mickey was there. 6'9 said hello. Damien Owens, Mike Smith, and Roosevelt were there.

Angie said hello, she's celebrating her birthday. She wouldn't tell me how old she was.

Sharmba Mitchell was there - Donnell said he did better than Mike Tyson. RE Angie was there, Tracy, Robin, and Sharika - she asked me if I was taking pictures - I told her I had taken many in the first set.

A woman sitting behind me asked if I was a reporter, I told her I was a grad student. I went outside, Tara St. John was there, she said previously she had gone out on her birthday (the last time I saw her). I asked if she was going to rap, she said that's up to the big man. A guy outside with a bandana on had his head had a green motorcycle parked outside, he seemed to be a cop 'cause he joked about taking care of Donnell's parking tickets. Donnell asked what he wanted in return, he said something old (earlier he had said, I don't want to hear that new sh*t). A regular came out, tried to tell Tara that it was his motorcycle, she told him to start it, which he didn't even attempt to do. The actual owner said he'd give him $100 if he could get from there to the corner (about 100 feet). I confirmed with Lorenzo the proper spelling of his first name.

Second Set
1) Instrumental
2) Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You
3) Halima-led Cleva / Stevie Wonder's Superstition bass line
4) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
5) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
6) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
7) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
Go-Go Mickey sat in

Smoke, Go-Go Mickey, Jacques, (Mike Smith is wearing the pink shirt)
All pictures taken by and Copyright Jordan Rich
8) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of love (tease) / Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Roll Call
10) Go-Go Mickey percussion solo
11) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit"
12) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
13) Donnell-led Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane (tease)
14) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Angie, it's your birthday"
15) Mike-led Lap Dance - Go-Go Mickey switched from congas to timbales and roto-toms at the end

Robin wore a shirt that said R is for Rockstar. I asked her if she was "Rockin' Robin", she said yes. I asked her why she had just started coming out in April. She said she used to go to Tradewinds and Safari before.

LA was there.

Angie cut her cake, I had a piece. While I was eating, I pulled a bloodsucking insect off the back of my neck. Angie asked Donnell about Sunday at Banneker Field, he said to ask Nephew - he gave her his own number directly on her cell phone. Angie said she'd be at Bud's on Thursday, Bud's birthday celebration - I said I had never met Bud (I assumed Bud was a male), she said she - then I knew who she was - she talked with me the first time I went there for a Thursday show.

Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private location

Familiar Faces
When I arrived, Duane Face and Donnell sat in their cars. Duane watched the NBA finals on a TV in his car. We walked in and it was really hot. It was even hotter in the practice room. Donnell went and turned on the air conditioning, but it was so hot that they ended up talking and not having a rehearsal. Duane wore HOBO socks. BJ was the next to arrive. He had his keyboard in the other room. He walked in and said hello to both of us. Dwayne was next to arrive, but left shortly and then came back later. The four of us went into the larger room - where it was cooler. Donnell sat under the fan.

Then Doc arrived. Doc talked with me about the entry in my blog re: last Wednesday: Michon (she must really be fan since Jacques wasn't here, she must not just be at FF shows to "stand by her man"). He said he thought I was insinuating something. I said I wasn't. Donnell said that the real reason she was there was to pick up Jacques' money while he was in Orlando. Mike arrived. When Jacques arrived, he confirmed that Michon was a fan of the band. I told them that Smoke had a girlfriend who came to shows too, but she stays by the bar. Doc said he didn't even know that Smoke had a girlfriend; I said I've seen her bring him water and towels, but she is low-key. It turns out, subsequently, Smoke said she is a friend of his, but not his girlfriend. I talked about a conversation between a man and a woman walking out of Tradewinds some weeks ago.

At one point, Donnell talked about Smoke leading the beat in some song, Dwayne said, "I changed my name, I am Smoke." Doc talked about Pleasure and the Huck-A-Bucks being programmed bands. I talked with Doc about the stuff "you asked me not to include in the blog", he said Halima asked you that, I stand by what I say. I asked Donnell and Mike the name of the song that they always sing with Donny Ray - Donnell said, (Atlantic Starr's) Send for Me, Mike said, "a tragedy".

Stomp was really hyper. He said Charlie was "Pussybutt Jr.". DP arrived at one point with his sons Derek Jr. and Darrell. Mike said that he co-wrote the Rare Essence song "Back up against the wall." Doc talked about Amerie's 1 Thing being a momentum killer, when was the last time we played it? I said, "Saturday". I said that Free Yourself was a momentum killer after Work the Walls on Saturday, that it cleared the dance floor, but Donnell said they don't want to hype the crowd at the end of sets.

They said, look at Mark in a Magnum PI t-shirt - he was in the hallway, where I couldn't see him yet. Godfather wore a see through - Hawaiian-type shirt. I believe it is the same one he wore during my interview of him last year. Band members teased him about looking like a stripper. He said that with this heat, they should be jealous. Mark talked about going to Valley Green to recover Funk's stolen collection - the story was really unclear on the details, but apparently a bunch of high school students had Funk's collection. Mark talked about going to Prince's house in DC that had a huge statue of a penis. Mark said that Funk knew Prince personally - the other band members were doubtful.

A couple of girls that Dwayne had worked with right before he came to rehearsal were looking for a guy named KJ. Dwayne said they were playing Sunday at 2K9 (which is now Kili's Kafe).

Donnell talked about the goal of the band being to tour (nationally). He said more originality was required.

They discussed the Miami trip. There were four applicants to direct the video of Lap Dance: Dwayne's friend Gary, Dougie Fresh's friend Dave Cooper, Jesse Vaughan, and Tom who had worked with Ed Stewart. Jesse Vaughn had the best presentation. Doc said he couldn't go, his job wouldn't let him. Stomp said that BFI needed a note from Donnell to let him go. Donnell teased him, saying "you need me." Dwayne said he was still waiting on them for the remix of Lap Dance. Mark asked when it was, I told him. Donnell? said you are really into the details. I said that I had reserved my rental car the day before.

Mark said that Me'Shell NdegeOcello was having a get together on Thursday. They kicked Duane and me out to have a private meeting. Duane and I went to the rehearsal area and hung out with DP's sons. Duane played the recording of the track he is working on. After a while DP came in, I asked him if the meeting was done, he said he's leaving, he would check for me. They were done.

I walked in, Jauhar, Donnell, Stomp, and Jacques were talking. Stomp said that Packy was happy that Jacques wasn't there on Wednesday so he could play. Jauhar said in ten years, Packy may be a top talent in GoGo. I told them that when Packy is early, he will play with all three bands on Thursdays. Donnell said that he's better than Charlie. Jauhar said, but what about Charlie's performance on the Chuck Brown DVD? Donnell asked me to excuse them while they discussed travel arrangements for the weekend. I left.

Saturday meeting with Filmmakers
Rock Bottom Brewery, 7900 Norfolk Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

I met with two video producers Elizabeth Kiehner and Keith Olwell. They currently live in New York City, but are from DC - they went to American University. They do music videos, commercials and other types of videos. They plan to do a documentary on GoGo. Keith used to be a part of the scene - an underground scene he called it - back in 1990. Their purpose is to show why GoGo prospers. Their talking with me was the first step after deciding to do it (I had suggested they talk with a band / musician rather than me). I mostly gave them information on the scene. They plan to come down every two weeks or so. They plan to ask GoGo fans to do shooting with disposable video cameras.

Saturday at Tradewinds
Tradewinds Night Club, 5859 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20748

I was late because of the construction on I-495, but the band wasn't there yet. When I arrived, the equipment was being set up by Packy, Thomas had driven again. Black Heart said hello. I saw Jacques walk in; I was surprised because Charlie normally plays on Saturdays, and then Charlie walked in, so I realized Jacques was just here to watch. I asked Doc who won the fight, he said Tyson lost. Halima waved to me.

Renee was there, she said hello. Michon and Candy were there. James and I folded our arms because the air conditioning was so cold.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures
Donnell did a shoutout to his high school, junior high, and elementary school sweetheart
2) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
Donnell said, "It's Tanya T's birthday". A number of fans yelled affirmatively
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized
5) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
There was a large bug on the dance floor - a bunch of women cleared out until a guy stepped on it
6) Doc-led Snoop's Drop It Like It's Hot
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Body Moves
8) Mike-led Rare Essence's Take Me Out to the Go-Go
9) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself
The dance floor cleared for Free Yourself, I thought it was weird at first going from crank to a laid back song, until I realized it was the set-ending song

Mama Chelle was there. I talked with Dwayne then he led me into the kitchen where the band went for the break. They were eating chicken; Donnell said to someone that you can't eat any chicken until you drink Halima's tea. I didn't eat or drink anything - I don't perform, so I am not going to take performer's perks. I talked with Doc more about what we discussed on Tuesday and the Tyson fight. I talked with Charlie about getting copies of his videos from Bike Week; he said Stomp is transferring them to DVD.

Second Set
Donnell said, "We're selling PA Tapes at the PA table." Stomp kidded, "CDs too" (they only sell CDs, no cassettes)
6'9 was there
Donnell thanked all those who had been loyal fans going to every show including out of town - 6'9 was one of those he thanked. Donnell said, "We are all family".
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
2) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot
Bobby Smoot was there - Donnell did a shout out ot him.
3) Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - a different beat then their usual performances / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
People shouted: "Wind me up, Smoke"
4) Donnell sang "Familiar Faces is Back, every Saturday night, spread the word"
5) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
6) Donnell-led Hold the Note
7) Donnell-led rap Sade's No Ordinary Love? "I'm going to give you all that I go to"
8) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit"
9) Halima-led Amerie's 1 Thing
10) Mike-led Lap Dance - long percussion solo, Donnell chanted "Swing your body" and Mike chanted "Swing" in chorus with him (I assumed it was Halima because it was so high pitched, but subsequent performances show it was Mike). Jacques played percussion during the final percussion solo.

A guy walked up to Donnell and said, "Nobody is as good as Familiar Faces, not even L!ssen, I want tonight's PA." Stomp said, "I have PAs from every group, even 911 / Familiar Faces or Pussybutt (Donnell) and the gang."

Friday at Safari
Safari Steakhouse, 9430 Annapolis Road Lanham MD 20706

My Dad pointed out to me that the weekend section of the Washington Post listed FF's Wednesday and Friday gigs. I walked up and Nephew stood outside with the security guys. I could tell that again there were less people than usual since I got a good parking space, despite arriving after 10 PM due to construction on I-495. The security guard, Patrick, asked if I was in charge of the band's website. Nephew said, "No, I am." He wanted Nephew to take a down a picture, because there was a girl in the picture also, even though he was just standing there doing his job. He said it wasn't the girl in the picture he was worried about.

Thomas was there, along with a friend/co-worker named Bob. He had driven the equipment truck on Wednesday and tonight as a fill in. He used to drive and unload, sometimes even more. I told him that I have on video when he talked on the phone to Donnell when Donnell recorded in the booth. He said Church should always come first, that's why he can't become their permanent driver again, in addition to the fact that he makes more money at night than during the day. Bob really liked what he heard of FF. He asked who did their sound, I told him Googie, and that Googie works with Rare Essence and worked on the sound on Rare Essence's last album. Thomas talked about driving down to Miami and staying at a motel next to a Bennigan's in the northern part of the city, near the small airfield across the street from Florida Memorial (I went to a concert there in 1999). When we finished talking, many of the band members had already set up.

I talked with Halima. She ate fries from Wendy's. I told her how Donnell said she was on fire at Myrtle Beach; I asked her what she did. She said she was wild, really energetic. I asked her, "Like My Funny Valentine (her signature song)?" She said three times that. She talked about how I said I had trouble believing negative stuff happening with her - she said she's learning from Donnell. I said her smiling when performing looks genuine, she said it is. She said the almighty wouldn't make her go through things without a reason.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Peanut, Michon and Candy, and Jauhar's business partner David were there
1) Instrumental
2) Mike-led Bobby Caldwell's What You Won't Do for Love
3) Mike-led ?
4) Halima-led Jill Scott's Whatever
5) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - with a great climax
Packy said, "She's David Ruffin in a bottle"
6) James-led Jill Scott's Not Like Crazy
7) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself
8) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People
Doc said Stomp is twelve years old

Ytee was there

Mike said on the mic, "Packy has the microwave (red) light on. It's like a tanning booth; by the time we're done I'll look like Wesley Snipes."

Tracy was there.

Donnell did the announcements for tomorrow's gigs first at Venus Hall for the Tyson After-Fight Party with L!ssen, and After Hours Band, then their usual Tradewinds show. He said, I think it's Scooby's L!ssen with Scooby, Scrappy, and Skittles. Halima laughed. Mike said Ytee has his Terrorist outfit on (he had a towel on his head, under his blue beer hat) Halima said he's someone who's going to be searched. Mike wore Shooters clothing, he said it's across the street from where he lives. Donnell asked Stomp (who also represents Shooters) if he pulled Mike in, Stomp said, "No, Shooters is just hot now". It was a smaller crowd than usual like last week.

Second Set
6'9, Blak, and Scuba Steve Covington of Y2K were there
1) Instrumental with percussion solo
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva -> Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Superstition
3) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
Mike teased Ytee
4) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
5) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
6) Alternating 6 Minutes percussion solo - Donnell said, "Don't nobody say nothing, don't nobody play anything" / Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) RE Angie and Angie were there
7) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot
8) Scuba Steve rapped
Donnell said, "Simple City?"
Donnell danced with RE Angie
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
Tasty was there.
10) "Right through?"
Donnell said, "Ten for ton, nine for nine, eight for break." People teased him about it.

RE Angie said hello and sat by me

Third Set
Donnell talked about multiple shows in one night, like when you would go from Cardoza to Howard Theatre.
Los was there
Donnell called Tasty "Frankie Knuckles"
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
2) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / Tupac's Hail Mary / "Wait a minute" chants repeated - females danced on stage
3) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - women sang along
4) Donnell-led Hold the Note
5) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit, ready to split?" - the crowd shouted, "Hell no!"
6) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hey Tamika
7) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
8) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
9) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease) / Rare Essence's Spotlight (tease) / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
10) Alternating Halima-led Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane (tease) / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Work the Walls
11) Donnell-led Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me - "Od ba ba ba"
12) Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Simple city"
13) Mike-led Lap Dance
They resumed performing
Donnell said, "They're so disrespectful, I am looking for a drummer, can anyone play drums?"
He talked about the Miami trip and that, "South Beach is topless, don't go down there like Stomp, anyone here work for Stomp? Haulover Beach is nude".
14) Donnell acapella rap

Celebration of 1-Year Anniversary at Takoma Station
Takoma Station, 6914 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20012

Michon (she must really be fan since Jacques wasn't here, she must not just be at FF shows to "stand by her man"), Candy, Tamara, Tim (LJ), and Darrell were there. Sharika, a friend of Tamara's whom I first met on May 18th, said hello and we introduced ourselves to each other.

There was a light-skinned woman with freckles who sicked her mom on Donnell; she smiled a big smile as her mom talked with him.

Sharika asked me to give her my seat. Godfather said, "I see you were a gentleman."

Familiar Faces
First Set
Jacques wasn't present tonight.
Donnell said, "There's a legend in the house, Hollywood Breeze. Grandpa, what's up?"
1) Instrumental - YC sat in on the flute
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - Halima and YC foiled off each other, and thanked each other at the end
3) Halima-led Rodgers & Hart's My Funny Valentine - Donnell played with her hair during the appropriate part of the song, she also played with her hair, it was a great performance
Mike said, "Halima is stronger than she looks."
Mike gave a speech about being a pioneer twenty-some years. He said men need to take more time, show their love, show that they can't breathe without their woman.
4) Mike-led O'Bryan's Lady I Love You
Mara was there.
Mike made another speech: "I was sixteen, done by my idol. I was skinny back then, a little crazy too. I didn't know that God would still bless me with the ability to do this. I thank him everyday. I'm thirty-nine, not sixty-nine. I thank my co-workers at Verizon too (they yelled), for making my work day better."
5) Mike-led Prince's Purple Rain - Mike had really nice vocal solos, Dwayne as had nice solos, with Doc putting the punctuation on the end
Donnie Ray walked in and Adia shortly afterward.
7) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
Donnell thanked Tracy, me, and others "who had been here the whole way".
Roosevelt was there.
8) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Superstition

Angie and Tracy arrived; I told Angie she had missed Mike's nice performance of Purple Rain.

I asked YC his name.

Tom Ellis came in with his girlfriend - I told him I had meant to call him, but he said he was out of town.

Darrin Jackson of Largo District Records, with whom I had exchanged emails, introduced himself to me.

I asked BJ who he had performed with last week, he said Ledisi at the Capital Jazz Fest.

I chased down YC, who walked and talked with Godfather. He said he had arranged a GoGo version of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite.

Adia, Doc, Dwayne, Packy, RE Angie and Stomp talked outside. Doc talked with Adia about Exquisite. I said I didn't think he went to other GoGos, he said no, he just doesn't like to go as a group. Adia asked Packy about his girl, she described her in great detail (including saying she looks like RE Angie, which RE Angie denied) but he didn't know who she was talking about for a while. Finally he said, "She's not my girlfriend." We talked about DC - Rory Felton.

Second Set
1) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself
2) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized
3) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
5) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
6) 6 Minutes percussion solo
7) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
8) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
9) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot
10) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - Donnell said "Yes, Yeah" as a transition / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) (baby, baby) / "Wait a minute" chant repeatedly
11) Donnell rapped
12) Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute"
Donnell joked about the lack of air conditioning - joking as if they preferred it that way
13) Donnell-led DIP with rap
14) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
15) Donnell-led Sly & the Family Stone's Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) - Donnell said, "uhh yeah", very laid back
16) Percussion solo
Donnell announced that they would be playing twice on Saturday - first at Venus Hall for the Tyson After-Fight Party with L!ssen, and After Hours Band, then their usual Tradewinds show.
Mike Smith was there, he waved to me
17) The percussion section started playing again
Donnell said, "They are trying to take over, like Blake Arrington. They want to work for Luther's janitorial service"
Halima came over to me and said, "I'm sick", but smiled.
18) Donnell acapella Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane

Donnell said, "It's warm for seat pleasant and Maryland dudes", he also talked about it not being too warm for other neighborhoods.

I told Dwayne and Doc about how Dawn Silva will be performing with the Family Stone Funk Experience, 7/15/05 Ramshead Tavern (2 shows this night) Annapolis, MD

Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private location

Familiar Faces
It was hot inside. When I walked in, Doc sat in a chair in the hallway. He said that Donnell, Baba and Godfather had a meeting going on. Doc and I talked a little, and then he went to get something from his car.

Halima walked in and we both walked into the rehearsal area. I gave her a copy of The Beat. I asked her about her rapping - she said she's practicing. She casually looked in the Beat and was shocked that EU was performing back in 1974.

Halima, Doc and I had a discussion about music. We listened to Fantasia's Free Yourself. Doc said that it needs proper harmony in order to be done properly. Doc said Missy Elliott wrote it. Doc said there are only three GoGo groups that have good harmony: Exquisite Band, which is not in FF's circuit, L!ssen and After Hours Band. Doc said that Mary J. Blige's is the same song as Bobby Caldwell's What You Won't Do for Love. Baba stepped in to say hello.

As time went on, Donnell, Godfather, DP & his sons Derek Jr. and Darrell, Mike, Dwayne, Smoke, Jacques and Duane Face arrived.

Donnell talked about helping Halima by having her vocals in every monitor like his are. He said like Prince and compared himself to Prince. Dwayne laughed, I pointed out to him that Donnell had compared himself to Jesus too.

They rehearsed Fantasia's Free Yourself - in the pocket. On one point, Derek Jr., who was playing drums was feeling it and they had to ask him to play a simpler beat. Dwayne said he though this would be best played in the pocket. He said, "I agree with Donnell". Doc said, "That's the first time." Donnell said, "No, that's just the first time he's agreed with me, PUBLICLY." Dwayne talked about using the keyboards to back up vocals

Godfather looked at the Beat, I told him it was remaindered, cost only $2.

Donnell said there are three methods of doing harmony - one is horns backing up and keyboards. Donnell said we did that twelve years ago with Funky Ned, you are my father's Chevy.

James works at night, which is why he can't come to rehearsal.

Larenzo maybe the proper spelling of the keyboard player's name (later I confirmed it is Lorenzo). He came in briefly to pick up his pay.

Smoke wore a Northeast Groovers t-shirt. I told Halima that he and Stomp used to be in Northeast Groovers and that the lead talker of the band, Rah, comes to see FF every Wednesday and that he leads a new band called What? Band. I also told her that he was an original member of 911, but Donnell corrected me and said that Bobby Smoot was in it before him.

Duane Face came in without his keyboard and sat by me - he wore a matching "24" NASCAR hat and t-shirt. I asked him if he was a NASCAR fan, he said no, that he liked them from a fashion standpoint. That it helps to stand out and that the fact that there was a matching t-shirt to go with the hat was a bonus. He said that he went to the UCB show that 02 went to on Thursday. He said he and 02 talk about Northeast Groovers a lot. Duane Face left suddenly, he had somewhere to go.

Halima's still sick. Halima said until we do lunch, we aren't friends, we are associates

I went over some unknown things in the setlist with Donnell.

Friday at Safari
Safari Steakhouse, 9430 Annapolis Road Lanham MD 20706

It was raining. I sat down - there was a movie playing on the TV with Kevin Bacon - I looked it up, it is called White Water Summer. The people next to me talked about it, especially the thin rope bridge in a few scenes. As Packy set up the lights, they shined brightly into the lounge. There was only a tiny crowd at the beginning because of FF's absence the week before and the rain.

Onstage, Doc made fun of Halima's dancing - I said to Doc, "Don't go on Soultrain." He said, "That was her dancing". I asked how his dancing was. He said, "how much money do you have, I'm bored." I told him about DJ Mike Nice the leader of the Butta Team in Durham, a Hip Hop radio show - he stands still against the wall like in a trance when he gets into a song, and has to pull over when driving when he gets into a song on the radio.

I told Dwayne what Jauhar said about him on Tuesday, he laughed.

I talked with Halima. She said she was working on music from the Gibb Brothers, she asked if I was old enough to know who they are. I said, "The Bee Gees, I am older than you!" I asked her if she rapped, she said yes, she's the whole package. She said both her parents were musically-inclined. I told Halima I would give her a copy of the book on GoGo. She asked if I wrote it. I said no, but I plan on writing my own. She said she wants to be in the chapter when GoGo goes international. I told her it is already international - they have a following in Japan, but that it's not national yet. Jeff (CrankinDrumma) was there with Donnell Jr. - Halima asked Donnell Jr. if he was old enough to drink, he said, "I'm almost 22!" I said, "Didn't you graduate?" He said, "No, that was my little brother (Derek)." She recognized a guy from the Safeway by her work and went to talk to him; he later came over to talk to me. His name is Mike Styles.

Michon was there with Candy, Yaquim and Britney were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Mr. Magic
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know
Mike Styles introduced himself to me; he wanted to talk to me about another singer. He said that he had done the filming at Fur and he hadn't recognized her until then as the same singer - he said she's a great singer.
Mike (Muse) said to the crowd "We love you, even if you don't love us". Halima agreed with him.
3) James-led Jill Scott's Not Like Crazy - Mike was on backup vocals
4) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's As
5) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized
DeeDee was there, I said "Hey sis." Donnell said, "For two people to go on the boat ride is $100 that's one meatball".
Kato was there.

During the break, DP said, "I am sweating because we were under the chicken lights."

Second Set
1) They started to perform the music to Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't To You - a long pause then / Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't To You - nice Smoke solo
2) Percussion solo
3) Halima-led Faith Evan's Again
4) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
5) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
6) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot - nice percussion solo
7) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
9) Donnell-led "Why is ___ smiling, cause ___ ain't got no drawers!"
10) ? "Yeah slow"
BJ arrived during the set and watched them perform over by me.

I sat by Angie, Mara and Tracy for a bit, then went over and talked to Doc. Donnell and Doc talked about Mike's drumming, Donnell said he's as close to Footz as there is, Doc said Blue Eye is better in the pocket. We talked about Jammin' Jeff. He said, that's my man - he said he had talked to Jeff and found out the parting was mutual, he had a lot going on and he wasn't real happy playing in FF anymore. I told him about how when I walked out on April 12th that was his exit interview, and what Donnell said about Jeff at rehearsal this Tuesday before Doc got there. Doc also talked about my line in the blog about Boolah - "Dwayne Lee is my friend and I like his playing, but I miss Boolah". He said Boolah is a world class talent, GoGo was holding him back. He understood that he was fired and why. At one point Tracy/Mara/Angie said something and I pretended to listen in - cupped my ear - they laughed. I told them about stealth microphones that tapers use.

Third Set
1) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
2) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Superstition
3) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - the crowd sang too
4) Donnell-led Hold the Note - Go-Go Mickey sat in, first on cowbell, then timbales, then congas
5) Donnell-led "Lincoln Heights" chant
6) Donnell-led 20 Minute Workout
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Body Snatchers (tease)
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads up)
10) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
Stacey, Britney and a number of other women danced on stage with the band
11) Donnell-led Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me / "Od ba ba ba" - end of Go-Go Mickey's sitting in
12) Percussion solo with Donnell rapping
13) Donnell-led "What ah oh? Lincoln Heights"
14) Donnell-led Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane
15) Donnell-led Slick Rick's La Di Da Di "Don't hurt nobody" - the crowd sang along
16) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
Godfather and I went out in the parking lot, Michon introduced Candy to us. They teased Godfather about how they would have hung out with him in Myrtle Beach.

Thursday at Bud's
Bud's 501 Club, 501 Morse St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Shortly after I arrived, I talked with Sweet Angel about what the members of FF told me about Bike Week - about the women chasing the men (she said, "I never do the chasing") and about Bowboa. She said, "There's my husband" - it was 02. He and Diva sat by me. He asked Diva if she knew me, she said, "Yeah". I asked if Ras Lidj had really worn a fishnet shirt to a TMOTT event, Diva said yes, she was there. 02 asked Ras, a vegetarian, if there was anything for him to eat at Fuddruckers. Ras said they have a veggie burger, but he had already eaten anyway. 02 and I talked about the similar lyrics in Ms. Jade's Dream and Notorious BIG's Warning. He said he wasn't going to see FF tonight; he was going to see UCB. I said he should talk to Duane Face, he said they are good friends that Duane Face knows a lot about GoGo. He asked me if I knew about the Huck A Bucks, I said I knew they put out their studio album before performing. I also said Duane told me only their first album is good, the others are crap. 02 said their other albums aren't bad. 02 was also at the Chuck Brown concert on DVD - I told him it was edited, he said he knows, a few BYB songs were removed, leaving one song as just a groove I said I was told 911 was edited too, he said he didn't notice anything cut, except an alteration of the effects in Uh Oh (Heads Up), the effects are from an Onyx song. I went upstairs so I wouldn't miss the start of Deep Band's performance as I had last week.

Ras Lidj & Deep Band
Julian wasn't there again. There were about ten people there for Deep Band's performance. It was a nice performance - I noticed Ras Lidj didn't do as many "contortions" as usual. It went from about 8:40 to 9:30 PM. He did a shout out to me and others who were there.

EU came on about 10:45. More people had arrived by that time. Michon and her friend (whom I later found out is named Candy) sat down with me. Junie wasn't there for their performance.
First Set
1) Stephanie-led Alicia key's Diary
2) Stephanie-led Rufus' Sweet Thing
3) Donnie Ray-led John Legend's Lets Get Lifted? "Let's get easy"
4) Sugar Bear-led Sly and the Family Stone's Family Affair
5) Sugar Bear-led "Funk it Up"
6) Donny Ray-led song
7) Stephanie rapped
8) Stephanie-led song
9) Donny Ray rapped
They had to stop because there was a problem with the congas
10) Donny Ray-led John Legend's Ordinary People
Sugar Bear whispered on the mic - the audience laughed
11) Sugar Bear-led Freak a Deak All Night Long / Undisco Kidd (tease) / "Bad girls" (Cops tease)
12) Sugar Bear-led "Deeso Hot" / Ludacris' Number One Spot (tease)
13) Sugar Bear-led OutKast's The Way You Move (tease)
14) Sugar Bear-led "Get your freak on"
They went to break.

RE Angie was there. Angie came by - I was surprised, she doesn't like how small Bud's is, but she said Tamara wanted to go out. Tamara said it was her first time at Bud's.

Members of FF started coming in. Angel asked me why I wasn't in the VIP room with FF. I said I didn't know I was allowed. She said, "You're allowed" and led me in - she sat down and I initially stood. Inside were: Mike Muse, Donnell, Dwayne Lee, Doc, Mike Smith, Jacques, Ras Lidj, Jauhar, Nephew, Telando, and Googie. Someone left and I sat down in their seat. Halima walked in and Angel started girl talk with her. Angel left the room (to go back to work?). I talked with Halima. I asked her how when she smiles all the time, what in her life is negative. She said I won't tell you, you're a writer, you'll print it in your blog, like the globe, you're a tabloid. She said she is learning from Donnell how to focus on the task at hand and tune out the negatives. I told her I censored my blog. I then said, aren't we friends? She said no, we haven't had lunch together or chicken wings at Takoma Station. DP walked in and put down his horn cases. Lorenzo walked in and basically had to stand do to the lack of space. Godfather walked in. I missed EU's entire second set sitting in the VIP room - you couldn't hear the music too loud when the door was shut, but when it was open, the music was really loud, it sounded louder than when I sat in the audience. EU finished at about 12:25 AM. The DJ said EU will be right back and then FF, DP deadpanned, "Oh no they won't or I'm going to go home and go to bed!"

Familiar Faces started at 12:57 AM.
First Set
1) Instrumental - Halima danced
2) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized
JuJu came by and asked what I was taking notes on - I told him the setlist. He said that no GoGo band ever plays the same set twice - I agreed with him. He said I should have come out to see Chuck Brown play with Parliament (actually Original P). I told him that I went to the show with EU, Ayre Rayde and Trouble Funk. He said he played drums for Chuck that night.
3) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
4) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
I saw Charlie, asked him if he filmed Myrtle Beach, he said yes, he would show me tomorrow night
5) Donnell-led Hold the Note
6) Donnell-led Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me - "Od ba ba ba"
7) Alternating Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Keisha, it's your birthday" / Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome (tease)
9) Donnell-led "Why is ___ smiling, cause ___ ain't got no drawers!"
10) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up)
13) Donnell-led "If you have to believe in something, why not believe in me"
14) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
15) Percussion solo
16) Halima-led Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane
17) Donnell acapella Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane
They finished around 2:15, Donnell said, "Security is furious, they are late for their nap, they want their cookies and milk"

It was raining when we left.

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


Doc, Mike Smith, Donnell, Godfather, Lorenzo, Dwayne


Smoke, Mike Muse, Jacques, Doc, Halima, Mike Smith, Donnell, Godfather, DP


Mike Muse, Jacques, Doc, Donnell, Mike Smith, DP, Godfather, unidentified fans
All pictures taken by and Copyright Jordan Rich

I arrived and sat down. Michon talked with Jacques. Jacques told Michon that the guy who drives the equipment truck for FF quit because they wouldn't let him go to Myrtle Beach, and they didn't find out until tonight. Doc put his bass down and sat down with his friend Tanya. When Halima walked to the service entrance, she had a funny look on her face - obviously she was confused as to whether they were performing because there wasn't any equipment set up. Jacques explained the situation to her. Donnell was late arriving because he was at his son Derek's high school graduation. I joked with Smoke about playing percussion on his body - I talked about the day at Takoma that Jammin' Jeff played percussion on so many other things.

When Baba arrived with the equipment truck, he asked me and the band members to help the equipment guys bring the equipment in, which we did. After they started assembling the drum kit and other percussions, I kidded Halima that she didn't have to sing acapella anymore.

6'9 was there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Donnell apologized for the late start, he said, "Everything that could go wrong did." I was a little surprised he didn't just say, "Our driver quit."
Donnell introduced Mike Smith as someone he hasn't played with in five years. Donnell Jr. was there. He wore a tie. Donnell said on the mic, "My son is here, he's 12 years old."
1) Instrumental
2) Mike-led Bernard Ighner's Everything Must Change
Angie, who sat next to me, was really into Mike's singing
3) Mike-led Bobby Caldwell's What You Won't Do for Love
4) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's As
Darrell was there, he jokingly put his head in Angie's lap. Nephew got fresh with Angie, but he said she likes it. Tracy told me she though she saw me earlier walking a dog with a woman. I told her how my friends had seen two lesbians - one walking the other on a leash at Tracks when we were in college.
5) Mike-led Ruff Endz Someone to Love You
Donnell said, "Halima had called to say she was under the weather, but she's going to go ahead and try to sing."
She said, "Hi Googie," then greeted the audience before singing.
6) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - she used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures
Mike said, "She wasn't sick, she was just playing."
Donnell did shout outs to Sweet Tracy, Sweet Angie, me and Darrell
7) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Golden Lady
Donnell said, "Ray, if she wasn't here, I could give you a book of lies to tell her (so that he could go on the boat ride on Saturday)." Donnell said that the following Saturday, they would be a Venus during the fight then at Tradewinds for their usual show. Donnell teased Felecia (spelling?).

6'9 asked me if I had gone to Myrtle Beach and was going on the boat ride. I said no, but I am going to Miami.

Second Set
Donnell said, "Ray, you better get on the dancefloor or I'll tell your whole name" - Ray got on the dance floor.
1) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You
Go-Go Mickey was there
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
3) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva / bassline from Stevie Wonder's Superstition
Robin said hello
4) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down - James was on backup vocals
5) Halima-led Faith Evan's Again
6) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
7) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot
8) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "20, 40 baby, baby" / "Wait a minute"
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (tease)
Donnell said, "Jauhar is furious." Halima mocked it. I joked with her.
Dana and Shaun were there.

I asked Godfather who was playing drums for Rare Essence now, he said Blue (Darryl "Blue Eye" Arrington). He told me Tracy is Bobby Smoot's baby sister. Jennifer, a white girl, was there.

Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private location

Familiar Faces
When I arrived, the outside door was open, but not the inside door. I walked out again and Donnell was there with Mike Smith, formerly of Rare Essence. Donnell explained that Stomp couldn't make the coming Saturday's boat ride, so Mike would be filling in for him. Because the boat ride is so important, Mike will be playing with FF the whole week. I said I was disappointed Stomp wouldn't be at the rehearsal because I wanted to hear the results from the woofing between him, Charlie and Donnell about how many woman they would sleep with at Myrtle Beach. Donnell said, "Don't worry, other than (the late) Footz, there isn't anyone that could outdo me."

Mike said he hadn't met me before when Donnell introduced us, but I told him that I had talked with him at Takoma Station a few weeks ago. Donnell played the commercial live recording from April 27th for Mike Smith.

Godfather arrived shortly afterwards - he and Donnell talked about how it was the women chasing the men at Bike Week. They said the stories about prior Bike Weeks were true and that the women showed a lot in public. I asked Donnell how the shows went - he said that the promoter wasn't a music promoter - he just needed to guarantee the sponsors a certain number of people would show up. He did this by having a best bike contest. Unfortunately, they had the contest before they performed both nights. The Thursday performance had a very small crowd of people who stayed through the performance, but Saturday's performance had a larger audience. Donnell said that Halima was on fire, it is okay to be weird on the road.

When Duane Face arrived and set up his keyboard - Donnell talked with him about his ability: he can play the notes; he's come a long way since he started practicing with the band, but he needs to develop arrogance in order to forge his own identity. These practices may not be the best place to do that, but it is important. Donnell said he can pick BJ out of a recording because he has a strong identity. Donnell also said to Duane - "I talked to your boss yesterday." Duane said, "My boss?" Donnell: "Jammin' Jeff, he's doing well."

Over time, DP, his sons Derek Jr. and Darrell, Mike, Halima, Dwayne, Doc, Lorenzo, Jauhar and Nephew arrived. Also, Stomp, Charlie and BJ all came in briefly - mainly to pick up paychecks.

Donnell said that Lorenzo was filling in for BJ who is going to play in another artist's band this week. Donnell talked about how both BJ and Godfather play by feel. He said the BJ plays the lead lines, if it were Godfather who was off (playing elsewhere), that Duane could sit in for him, but since it is not, Godfather would force him to play lead.

They first went over a cover for a song that Halima will sing - Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane. Then they quickly went over standard songs in their repertoire for Mike Smith, Rodgers & Hart's "My Funny Valentine" (they said this version was called Everything Must Change - I later discovered what they meant: it is the lyrics to My Funny Valentine and the music to Everything Must Change). Donnell asked where the song came from I pointed out that Rodgers & Hart wrote many show tunes years ago. A simple search of ASCAP shows that Lorenz Hart wrote 308 registered songs and Richard Rodgers 700. The other standards they went over were as follows: Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know, Marvin Gaye's I Want You, Bobby Valentino's Slow Down, Stevie Wonder's As, Erykah Badu's Cleva - which leads into Stevie Wonder's Superstition, Amerie's 1 Thing - they worked on this a little, Donnell said Halima should sing on the hook, Stevie Wonder's Superstition, Faith Evans' Again and Mesmerized. Donnell talked about the transition from Amerie's 1 Thing to Trillville's Some Cut. He also talked about Notorious BIG's Warning which follows that. Finally, they rehearsed Lap Dance. At one point during this, Godfather played with his eyes closed. Donnell and Lorenzo teased him about it.

Jauhar teased Dwayne to Donnell - he said of Dwayne, "He was really into it, you could see it on his face, it had to be the music because he didn't get any that weekend" (Dwayne's girlfriend didn't go to Myrtle Beach). All the band members I talked with said they had a good time at Bike Week.

Outside in the parking lot, Doc played Dwayne's current cut of Little Benny's new single in his car. They talked about a rap group called Bowboa that had been down at Bike Week with five expensive luxury cars with the band name painted on. Doc and Dwayne really admired that - they said that no one in DC has that kind of money behind their promotions. Until they can find that kind of backing, GoGo will not be national. They said even their website was professional. I told them about my meeting with Ed Stewart and my email correspondence with Largo District Record.

Blast from the Past at Club Levels
Club Levels, 1960 Montana Av NE, Washington, DC 20500

I arrived at 10:40 PM - this time I wasn't the first one there. The doorman recognized me. He said, "It's been a while". I paid the highly affordable $15. There were probably already fifty people there when I went up to the performance area. Iceberg Slim danced. Big Jim was there and said hello.

Ed Stewart was there, he said hello and introduced me to DC filmmaker Bruce Brown - so far I've only seen Streetwise among his movies. He talked about his large video/film collection with many performances, that "Ed wasn't ready for it yet". We talked with Big Tony when he came in. I didn't even try to bring a pen since I have had so many taken away from various venues (as a potential weapon).

Nece the promoter was there, wearing a shirt advertising the club's new restaurant starting Tuesday - Scoopie's Soul Cafe.

Rootie Baltimore said hello, he said, "You didn't go out of town (with FF)?" He told me he had written some of the songs on their album (Evolution). I knew that, I told him how Godfather had tried to call him about the chords for I Dreamed You at rehearsal. He said he wished the best for Donnell and them. He said it was really fun when 911 was first formed. He said he's playing for Ayre Rayde now.

I also said hello to Tee Bone, he asked me how I'm doing.

EU was up first - it was weird, there was no big announcement between switching from the DJ music to EU, they just started performing. They really cranked - their setlist was similar to what they performed the last two times I saw them at Bud's. They opened with Earth, Wind & Fire's Can't Hide Love. They performed for about 45 minutes. Then Billy the Kid, the MC suggested people go to the buffet, which I did.

Donny Ray said hello and "You sure get around." Sugar Bear greeted me as he left also. The food was good. After, I ate, I got a drink and on my way back, I spotted Roosevelt Littlejohn. We talked for a little while he was waiting in line.

Ayre Rayde was up next, they introduced themselves as "Maryland's own - Ayre Rayde". I didn't see China Boogie among them. Their performance was nice - the music was not very focused on lyrics. They did mostly originals, but they covered PFunk's Get Off Your Ass and Jam and another cover I don't remember. Again, they performed for about 45 minutes. Tee Bone was working the monitors for them.

Billy the Kid kept joking about how thin Tee Bone used to be. Laughing Lenny performed - he was okay.

Rootie talked with me some more. He said, "They (the new members of Familiar Faces) are living off of what we did." He said he remembered when they went from big crowds to no crowds. He was thankful to Donnell for being the first to give him a chance to put his songs on an album. He repeated wishing Donnell and them the best.

Trouble Funk was the headliner. They had a lot of technical trouble getting the sound up to their standards. They opened up with a tease of Ludacris' Number One Spot. Then after working on the sound some more, they performed almost entirely their own music. I don't remember it all - but they played Let's Get Small, Hey Fellas, Trouble Funk Express, Don't Touch That Stereo, Drop the Bomb, and finished with a tease of 4th Gear. Towards the end, the lights came on, Tony said, "we have a lot to play, turn the lights back off." They then had a young rapper and singer cover Keith Murray's Call My Name - it was very different in style from the normal Trouble Funk sound. During the performance, a guy walked by me and said, "A white boy!" The woman next to me smirked. At one point a guy standing next to me played pool on his cell phone during Trouble Funk's performance. Trouble Funk's performance was nice. It ended a little after 3 AM - I was right up by the stage at the end. It was a great performance and I'm looking forward to more.

Meeting with Ed Stewart
Uncle Jed's Roadhouse, 7525 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD 20815

I met Ed Stewart of Sticky Candy this morning at 11:30 AM. He is the co-producer with Big G of an in-progress documentary on GoGo called 68 Square Miles. He is from DC, born and raised on GoGo, but is currently a film student at AFI in Los Angeles. We talked for a while about his project. His documentary is on the history of GoGo. He had a local film crew film the performance this past Sunday at Fur with Suttle Thoughts, Familiar Faces, and L!ssen. He said the total performance parts from his documentary may only be fifteen minutes of the total ninety minutes. He has already interviewed Chuck Brown - two or three months ago. He also found out that Chuck was not the first to start GoGo and will interview the pioneer. I told him that I had heard that Chuck was like Miles Davis with Jazz Fusion, he wasn't the first, but his adoption of it gave credence to the genre. Chuck also talked about an outstanding bass player at the Vegas Lounge who never made it big. He will also devote his documentary to DC's taxation without representation. He told me about an email he received from Darrin Jackson at Largo District Records, when I discussed the Joe Clair LA GoGo label rumor. He knows Rich Harrison from high school and Harrison's success spurred Ed to do this documentary. He also interviewed Breeze, whose whole interview was a commercial against the Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Breeze also told him about a woman (I later learned her name is Rachel Story) who has been working on a documentary on GoGo for nine years! Ed is planning to finish his next year. He also talked about the name GoGo music being from Smokey Robinson, but ultimately related to GoGo dancing as in GoGo girls with GoGo boots. He also got an excellent unrehearsed sound bite from China Boogie at the Ayre Rayde reunion. He said that DC was behind the times - they didn't start listening, much less liking rap until 1990, therefore they are a decade behind. We discussed the violence both perceived and real at GoGos. He said that the people who commit violence at GoGos are cheating themselves out of entertainment opportunities. He also said they deserve to go to prison. He said he is a fan of police now; his viewpoint has changed since he was younger. He wants to talk about all the existing types of GoGo including Gospel GoGo. He has not watched the previous documentaries on GoGo as he does not them to influence his existing creative vision. He is very straightforward and professional - we discussed me possibly doing research for him, but I would have to sign a non-compete clause, so I passed. He knows exactly what he's doing. There will be a Citypaper article on his project coming to print shortly. He said I am already working on a documentary since I have filmed my interviews. I wish him and his project the best of the luck.

He was shocked and critical when I told him this blog is edited, that D-Floyd and others don't want me to include their comments critical of other bands and other things of a personal nature. I only censor those kinds of comments from rehearsal & the studio - anything they say in public is obviously fair game. But I don't just censor that- they are things only I know that I don't choose to share with the world. If I didn't censor my blog, there are things they simply wouldn't tell me. He said therefore my blog is not actually a blog. He said finding this out was like finding out Santa Claus isn't real. He said I am really only a commercial for Familiar Faces. There are things I don't tell on my blog that I do tell in person to people. It does give me something to think about. Given his view, the only thing I didn't include that he told me is the name of his potential executive producer/distributor - a big name.

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

Packy's arm is better - it is no longer in a sling. Tim (LJ) said he may do the Miami trip. A guy named Perry introduced himself to me. Tamara was celebrating her birthday.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Lock It in the Pocket - very long with nice solos by Donnell, DP, Stomp, Jacques and BJ
Donnell said, "We call Jacques 'Dr. Noise'."
Donnell said, "Stomp is trying to get sexy."
James went onstage
2) Mike-led I Dreamed You, the smoke machine came on
Mike talked about his co-workers (from Verizon) at the table next to him.
He introduced the next song as "Coming from the days of album covers."
3) Mike-led Atlantic Starr's Send for Me "Goodbye doesn't mean a thing to you and I" - I recognized it as a song that Donny Ray often sings when he sits in.
Godfather arrived
Mike introduced the next song as "Put out to anyone struggling with relationships."
4) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People
Mike said see what Packy-our light man does with special effects - I feel like Michael Jackson
5) Mike-led John Legend's Live It Up
Mike introduced Halima as a prodigy
Halima encouraged everyone to tip the bartenders and show love to one another
6) Halima-led Alicia Keys' Diary
7) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva with Stevie Wonder's Superstition bass line / Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Superstition - Halima danced when not singing

Ytee, Tracy, Angie and Robin were there. Robin wore a T-shirt with the words "I Have Issues" printed on it. I said, "You have issues?" She said, "All women have issues" (all men do too).

Second Set
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again with James on background - nice solo by Halima
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
3) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down - both Halima & James were on backup vocals, Smoke had a nice solo
Mike danced with a woman in the audience at the end
4) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized
5) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
Ray was there
6) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot - the sound was terrible as if the speaker were blown, but there was nice percussion
7) Halima-led Amerie's 1 Thing
8) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - lots of birthday announcements / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
Slim Goodie was there
Ytee screamed
8) Donnell rap "Baby baby"
9) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
10) Alternating Donnell-led DIP / "It might be, tell your man, you've known me a long time"
11) Mike-led Prince's Purple Rain
I told Halima what Mike said about her: "She might be witch" - she laughed, said who said that? She said "I may be a witch". I said, "A good witch?" She said, "Yes". I told her a story about a Wiccan witch who supposedly cast a love spell on a man. I talked about the trip to Myrtle Beach; she said she would sleep as soon as she got there. I said since you were in Florida, you didn't go on long trips to Florida. She said she went to school in Daytona Beach and lived in Fort Lauderdale, ten minutes from the beach. I said, "So you are sun-brewed, like your tea" She laughed and said, "Yes".
Robin pulled me on the dance floor and I danced with her and Angie. Donnell did a shout out to me, "Don't get carried away"

Rah was there, he said hello.

Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private location

Familiar Faces
When I arrived, Donnell, Godfather, Stomp and Charlie were there. Donnell bragged about getting four or five birthday cakes and that his house was "full of balloons." Over time, Mike, Halima, DP, DP's sons Derek Jr. and Darrell, Dwayne, BJ, Jacques, Duane Face, Nephew and Lorenzo (with a Roland XP-30) were there. Stomp and Charlie ate subs from Jerry's - I think it is the first time I've seen someone eating at rehearsal. They discussed the Sunday show, with a female background vocalist Tyrell sitting in with them. This show, which I was unable to attend since I was helping my sister move, was at the Fur and was filmed for a documentary. Donnell talked about reading the Tmott posting on the show:

all I can say is Donnell ..........Donnell .............Donnell

First off we was chilling in VIP poping moe and remy Lissen came in there and they told them to get out ( I was not going to put them out there like that ,cuz my man who I grew up wit play wit them, But FF set them dudes up.....see bottom

First my man chi and dem got there late so they did not play so suttle open they did ok pratt was a lil nerves cuz everybody in go-go was there exept Rah (Donnel was up front parting nervertheless) Dae Dae aright he got tighter since the last time i seen him Kimese

Dem came dem DOGS FF is no joke all star line up from G saying a lil speech right befor to stink a dink rapping, Stomp and smoke rocking then THE MAIN EVENTER "D. FLOid" the real most creative and talented lead mic took the party and left with the party soo much energy he brings

There girl singer (Halima - my note) tighter than all in the circuit at this piont everybody was parting until...............................

they step off the stage

Lissen did not come through they could came out a lil better although Peanny was the best congo player of THAT night and of course yanni was nice but that was not even fair to make them play after FF

who in the world had LIssen close that beautiful event?
Evil or Very Mad Twisted Evil Mad Crying or Very sad
_________________
Di De
www.diallodejaun.com

He did complain to Stomp. He talked about how in baseball, the two biggest things are the no hitter and the perfect game. He said he had a perfect game until Stomp ruined it. He said that after they do Lap Dance, they always pause and do it again and he messed up. Dwayne said he (Donnell) said, "Do something", so it was his problem, all he had to do was stop playing and it would have been fine. They talked about the great job that Halima had done (she was not at rehearsal yet at that point). They discussed her camouflage outfit she wore on Friday - Donnell said the women "Eat up her fashions." Mike said, "Watch out, with all the rubies and emeralds on her fingers, she may be a witch". Donnell talked about how he was so glad he didn't listen to Jauhar and Nephew who said she couldn't properly replace Adia.

Still referring to Sunday, Donnell said that if he had Yannie, he'd have her singing until her voice gave out - that she was that good. He said that Halima has learned from Yannie's physical showmanship. He said that E had begrudgedly given respect to Halima and FF. Donnell also said that Grady, L!ssen's manager, had invited out Chucky Thompson (who is working with Chuck Brown right now) to see L!ssen, but he ended up just watching FF instead.

Godfather asked me how Saturday's show went - he questioned why they had Spur of the Moment performing, and if so, they should have been in the back where the food was. It said they were tight, but I didn't like their song selection - which was lite jazz. The tunes were familiar, but the only one I directly recognized was George Benson's Masquerade. However, when Sugar Bear and JuJu (first on Congas, the drums) took over Spur of the Moment: that was the best part of the night. It was interesting seeing Sugar Bear cover Rare Essence - they covered Body Moves and One on One (Footz version). The all-star Trouble Funk part was nice too. But when Soundproof backed Little Benny for Rare Essence covers, it was terrible. They peformed with no heart, they totally slummed.

They went over three Stylistics tracks to possibly perform: Children of the Night, You're as Right as Rain, and a third song I can't remember. Mike talked about choosing songs by vocalists within his comfort zone. He joked that the lead vocalist for the Stylistics was his father. Mike talked about the limited number of male vocalists within his comfort zone - Bobby Valentino, Donell Jones, John Legend, and Glenn Lewis. When Stomp criticized him for not going beyond his comfort zone, Mike talked about having sung high on boat, coke, having a cold, etc. Donnell said not to do Right as Rain because the Pointer Sisters version was more familiar and they have a female singer. Donnell said Halima sounds like Erykah Badu, someone who is 21 will know Erykah Badu, how old does someone have to be to know these (Stylistics) songs? They worked on the Bobby Valentino song Slow Down that everyone is covering right now (I recognized it as a song that EU has performed the last two Thursdays). Donnell said to go ahead, that everyone was covering John Legend's Ordinary People and that they did it too. Halima was there to work on the background vocals for this. Jacques suggested that they not do this in the pocket, Dwayne said, "Welcome to our side" (Donnell likes virtually everything to be in the pocket). At one point, Mike joked to Donnell that "If you go to hell, it will be Dwayne taking over your band."

One of DP's sons fell asleep in his chair and Stomp yelled, "Wake up!" Then he played the drum right next to him. Stomp talked about playing on Thursday with only one tom, playing as if there were three.

They talked about travel arrangements for the trip to Myrtle Beach. There was a discussion questioning various people's driving skills. They are planning to leave at 5:30 AM, because check-in time isn't until 3 PM. Stomp said, "I'm fat, we can eat as soon as we get there." Halima talked with Donnell about a song she sang for him - apparently over the phone. Stomp said, "Why don't you sing for me over the phone?" There was a great deal of woofing between Stomp, Donnell and Charlie over how many women they would have sex with at Myrtle Beach. Stomp said he would knock on Donnell's door to tell him when the show (him having sex) would start. Charlie said he was "The number one stunna", and Donnell said, "You mean the number one fronter." Donnell told a story about holding off on a girl 'cause Charlie said she was his girl, and then he asked her and she said she didn't even know Charlie.

I introduced myself to Lorenzo; he said he thought I was a musician, a percussionist. I said I play the same instrument as Nephew (who sat next to me) - in other words, nothing. Donnell said, "But he plays it better." I said, "If you got me a mic, I could say, 'What about the Fat Chicks' just as well." That line is Nephew's sole musical contribution to Rare Essence.

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.