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

There was a jumper on I-95, which delayed the traffic (the signs said accident, so I didn't know it was actually a jumper until I read it in the Metro section the next day) - it shut off all northbound lanes (later all lanes) on I-95, so the people wanting to take exit 27 essentially formed a parking lot.

After I parked, I spotted Doc, James and Godfather sitting outside by the side entrance. Lorenzo came formally dressed. They asked him if he had gone to a funeral. He had actually played at the Stone Soul Picnic. Then Big Tony Fisher from Trouble Funk walked up and said hello to us. Doc introduced me to Derek (spelling), the conga player in his band (Physical Wunders).

Inside, I talked with Tracy. She asked me about the Miami video. I teased her about her being on bad behavior, she said she had done nothing bad. She said she was waiting for Angie. Shawn was there, she waved to me. Tracy, Los, and June and his wife Shadonna were there. Dey and Slim Goodie talked with me.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Charlie performed from the beginning
1) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People - quite unusual not to start off with an instrumental
2) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
Donnell said, "June's already warmed up" since he danced right in front of me, I can confirm that is true
3) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - Halima danced
Mike said something, but I couldn't hear what it was
4) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
5) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot
6) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Ova (tease) - Love and Hot Sauce were onstage and Hot Sauce sat in on timbales
7) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
8) Donnell-led Hold the Note
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (tease)

Sanisse and Tijuana were there.

We talked about the water in DC. I remember when the Green Line station on the Metro opened on December 11, 1993, we went to Union Station and tap water was banned. DP said he wished he had known that Aquafina would sell, he used to make it when he was a dialysis technician. Stomp wore a Raw Image "under construction" shirt. Doc asked what under construction meant. We talked about the hookers in DC. DP said many of them were male - had adams apples. I told him about a survey at UVA of women who were monogamous and contracted HIV and didn't know where from, that 100% of them had boyfriends who had contracted HIV from DC prostitutes. DP said he f*cked with prostitutes in DC when he was in high school. Doc backed up, saying "You f*cked with them..., I can't moonwalk, but I can back up" (DP meant he messed with them, not in a sexual sense). We also talked about the so-called bums (not really homeless) who slept outside the library by Xcalibur. DP mentioned the Russian women in Bethesda (a massage parlor that was really a front for prostitution that the police raided in the mid 1990's). I said that was right across the street from the Bethesda Library. I talked about the College Park palm reader that is rumored to be a brothel because of all the expensive cars constantly parked there. I said now Montgomery County has some of the strictest legislation in the state for physical therapists and that you can't get a massage from someone of the opposite sex. DP said he wouldn't want a massage from a man.

Nena was there, she did a dance and said, "There's your lapdance."

Second Set
1) Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy
2) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
3) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
4) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (with him doing the keyboard effects vocally) (tease) / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
5) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
6) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
7) Donnell-led Vinnie D's Porno Star?
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine - with him doing the keyboard effects vocally initially
9) Mike-led Rare Essence's Lock It
Donnell said, "This is for the Grown & Sex only"
10) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25, Girls want to shake that ass, but you've got to give up the cash" - Halima did nonverbal arm & hand gestures to the lyircs / Rare Essence's Work the Walls
11) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?"
12) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / a female fan rapped / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / ? / "Wait a minute" echoes
13) Donnell-led 911
14) Donnell-led Brown & White (tease)
15) Donnell-led ?
16) Percussion solo during Donnell's announcements
17) Mike-led Lap Dance - Charlie and Smoke switched instruments, Donnell chanted "Swing your body", while Mike chanted "Swing"
Mama Chelle had danced on the stage floor.

Dey said hello.

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

I talked with Peanut, he said he didn't go to Miami because of a knee injury he suffered. He wore bandages around his knee.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Mr. Magic
2) Mike-led The Stylistics' People Make the World (Go Round)
3) Mike-led I Dreamed You
4) Mike-led Ruff Endz' Someone to Love You
5) Mike-led Tony Terry's Freaky Little Game
6) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - Halima improved, it was very different from any previous performance of it I've heard from her.
7) Halima-led Jill Scott's Whatever - again different, laid back - Donnell jogged in place, making fun of Stomp's beat
8) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - excellent as usual with different keyboard effects (I think by Lorenzo)
Donnell said to some woman: "Is that your song? We would have played that year ago."
Halima responded that the song wasn't out a year ago.
Donnell went to break, but ended up calling Halima back for one more song.
9) Halima-led improv - it had a refrain "I'll take you there", but it was not the Staples Singers song. Mike also sang after her.
I asked her about the song, she said it was made up, free flowing.

Halima and I discussed her different performances from usual tonight, she said Donnell is letting her go all out. Kato and Lisa of the World were there. Teago came over and said hello. Jacques talked about the old music being played during the break. They said it was Supa Dan, DJ Flava (aka GoGo Rudy) plays elsewhere now (but he was back working Fridays at Safari not long afterward).

Second set
Donnell said they were celebrating Supa Dan's birthday.
The crank started right away
1) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
2) 6 Minutes percussion solo
3) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hey Tamika
4) Donnell-led shout outs to Brandywine over the percussion section
5) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
6) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Superstition
7) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
9) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
10) Donnell-led Hold the Note
11) Halima-led Donna Summer's Love to Love You, Baby (tease)
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine - at the start Donnell did the keyboard effects vocally.

Doc talked about Marquis Melvin on the video I shot of last Friday's performance. Mike was doing a dance. Halima was laughing and said "Riverdance!" I said that's not correct, your arms are supposed to be flat on your sides. Halima asked what happened to Stomp - he had a bandage on his arm. Doc said that Smoke said he got his wound from masturbating too much.

Los and June were there. I went up to the bar and Tijuana asked me to buy her a drink, which I did. I introduced myself to her and her friend Shameika who asked me what I did.

Third Set
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
2) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa (tease)
3) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me
4) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25, Girls want to shake that ass, but you've got to give up the cash" / Alternating Donnell-led Rare Essence's Work the Walls / Donnell-led Rare Essence's How Can I know? / Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
5) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time
6) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up)
7) Donnell-led 911 - "Sixx 911", Sixx sat in
8) Sixx-led Rare Essence's All Da Time
9) Sixx rapped
10) Donnell-led "This is..."
11) Donnell-led "Knee"?
12) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - the sample and Donnell rapped, Stomp danced and Halima played the congas, Jay Gotti also rapped - the first time in a while
13) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes
14) Donnell chanted, "Each and every Friday night this is our set"
15) Donnell-led "You look and you'll see, recognizing Godfather, Mike Muse and DP..., if you have... recognize me.. These Faces are Familiar..."
16) Donnell-led "Side to Side"
17) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
Donnell said they would have the DVD and CD out from Miami, with everyone having sex, getting topless... (He was kidding of course). Donnell said something to Shante about a guy being past the legal limit.

Donnell talked about not recognizing us, you are most likely from Gaithersburg, Blair High School (where Jauhar is from I think). Some guy (who must be friends with Peanut, since he drove him) said of me to Donnell, this is my man. He made Donnell do a shout out to me. I asked Donnell where there next Thursday joint will be. He said that he wasn't sure but it wouldn't be for a minute...

I asked Stomp what happened to him, he said he was burned by a rod from his work truck that was really hot. I told him I had heard that he had injured himself masturbating. He yelled, "I'm going to kill you, Smoke!"

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

Darrell, Tim (LJ), Tamara, Ray, Michon, Candy, Slim Goodie, Marcus Smith, Cherone, Angie, Tracy, Jay Floyd, and Donnell's cousin Regina were there. I asked Packy how "his brother", Darryl "Blue Eye" Arrington, was doing (I read that he had been shot). He said, "Just fine."

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Instrumental - long with a nice beat
Jay walked in and said, "It's standing room only, sold out" as most of the chairs were already taken.
2) Mike-led I Dreamed You
Donnell said, "Nephew's Father, he's also my brother, and my Cousin Regina are here. She hasn't seen us in ten years. We can play old stuff."
The crank started and the dance floor filled during
3) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Golden Lady
Mike thanked the Verizon family for coming out
4) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's As
Tata danced next to me
5) Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy
6) Mike-led Ruff Endz' Someone to Love You
7) Mike & Donny Ray-led Atlantic Starr's Send for Me
Donnnell said, "Jealous dudes up here wouldn't let me sing my part, I can tapdance too."
Halima was not back yet - I asked Donnell when she was coming back. He said, "Tomorrow."
Marcus Smith left after the set.

Mike Smith, Donny Ray, Stacey, and James were there. Slim Goodie introduced me to Dey from TMOTT.

I talked with Doc. He asked how the Miami performance was. I told him that if he brought it back tomorrow, I could give him a copy right now. They asked how Bobby Smoot could forget to play 911 songs. I said that BJ had said when criticized by Lisa of the World for not playing something old correctly - it's like remembering one paragraph from a complete book. I talked about what Donnell had forgotten from Brown & White, but they said he hadn't actually performed that back in the day. Yannie walked in.

RE Angie was there.

Second Set
Yannie subbed for Halima in this set.
Donnell said, "Some of you all owe me money because you got too much screen time."
Donnell said, "Yannie is here, I will work her ass to death."
1) Yannie-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - better than how she performed at the Fur, but she still oversang it
2) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
The crank started with
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
5) Yannie-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - excellent
6) Yannie-led Destiny's Child's Danger - nice
7) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
8) Donnell-led Hold the Note
9) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
10) Donnell-led Tupac's Hail Mary (tease)
11) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot
12) Alternating Yannie-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Mike-led Lap Dance - Donnell chanted "Swing your body" and Mike chanted, "Swing"
Donnell said, "Don't be scared"
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
14) Mike-led Lap Dance reprise
Donnell said something about being a "realist"
Yannie talked, but I didn't hear what she said
15) Donnell-led 50 Cent's in Da Club (tease) - "Go Vanessa, it's your birthday"
16) Donnell-led DIP
17) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - just the sample and Donnell rapped
I danced with a woman who at first said, "Don't be afraid." I'm never afraid to dance with any woman. Godfather later said to me that when dancing with her, I looked like the guy from Big Momma's House (which I have never seen).

6'9, China Boogie, and Archie Paige were there. Slim Goodie introduced me to L-Boogie, whom I recognized as a regular, but never knew his name before. I talked with Tim about 6'9 being kicked off the flight. He said that's 6'9 being 6'9. He said he went to high school with him, but is a couple years older. RE Angie said he shouldn't have been kicked off the flight.

I talked with Dwayne. I told him that Halima isn't as far in front of Yannie as I had previously thought - Yannie's performance tonight was excellent. He said he didn't want Halima to be like Yannie, that he hopes she doesn't change too much to be like other GoGo performers. He reiterated that her not being from here is one of her strongest assets.

Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private location

Familiar Faces
Donnell and Godfather were there when I arrived. Donnell had his ex-wife's car. Godfather told me the whole story about how 6'9 was kicked off the plane. He left shortly afterward.

Donnell asked me about the video shoot. He's seen the footage - Jesse said that Halima really came alive whenever she was on camera. He said he wished she could have been on Evolution. He asked me what I thought about the video shoot. I said I didn't know exactly what to expect. I did say I wish they had allowed more people in from the outside for the Friday performance. He said that wouldn't have been fair. I said I understood why they didn't do it, He didn't like the PA system - he didn't think it was booming enough. He thought Friday's performance was terrible, especially Bobby Smoot, but Halima shined even so. It's interesting because I and other fans really enjoyed it. I didn't think there was anything wrong with the performance - either live or watching the DVD I made of it. We talked about what FF's goal is. Donnell said he wants to put the video through any place he can. I asked him how they would do that. He said a video promoter, just like radio promoters.

Duane came by briefly. We discussed the NEG reunion. He said he has 200 PAs. He talked about how RE had so many fewer PAs. Donnell said, "That's just giving your money to the street." Donnell asked how he hooked up with EU. Duane's mom grew up with Sugar Bear and met him at the supermarket, told him about her son. He subs for Scooter. Duane was supposed to play with Chuck, but made the mistake of saying he didn't know Chuck's stuff. Benny said he shouldn't have said that.

Donnell said one of the problems with GoGo is putting out ten people at the public. He said Halima will be the star, like the Jill Scott and the rest her band. They will have a front line like at Bike Week: Smoke, Donnell, Halima (in the center), and Mike. Halima will be like Lauryn Hill in the Fugees, with Donnell and Mike being the other guys (Wylcef Jean and Pras). They understand from years of experience that it is okay to not be the centerpiece. He likes having young percussionists, but not young musicians. He said Smoke would be on the front line because GoGo is about congas. James and DP were second row back. He talked about the plan to sign with a major record label because that's easier to become a national touring act. They have a three year plan. Then we discussed Halima specifically. We talked about her obvious talent. He said she's got the perfect personality, then qualified it, saying, not perfect but pretty good. He said she's humble because she's been knocked back. I talked about how I was surprised that she was still available six months after she came to DC. He said he was kind of surprised too. His camp was split on bringing her in. I said everyone says she's not GoGo. She's changing what GoGo is. Dwayne arrived during our conversation and continued it. He talked about Lorenzo: he wanted him to assert himself more. He has the credentials - Donnell said he is giving him a couple of months to win the job. He made a mistake previously by not giving Doc enough time to show he can play. Dwayne said the problem is Lorenzo is afraid of Godfather - he's timid because he feels he's at the bottom of the totem pole. Dwayne wants him to care more and tell people when they are doing something wrong. Lorenzo is excited about playing with FF, this is the real deal to him. When Stomp came in, he was naive, but he quickly asserted himself. He twirls his sticks more than anyone else, that's just his personality. Donnell said he hasn't been in a band that cared more than this one does.

I asked how Smoke (who had come and gone) played with NEG, that I had heard Donnell reined him in more with FF. Donnell said he was a star with NEG, that he's more conservative with FF, but that it works. He discussed how he liked his feel.

Donnell said that the national criticism of GoGo that most bothers him is the view that it is just noise. He has always been concerned with the musicality behind what they play.

Halima led the Chuck Brown show, but she spent a lot of her energy on herself. Donnell told her to spend her energy on the crowd, making eye contact, etc. Donnell was upset that Bobby didn't come to practice or any of their shows before the Miami trip. He said Halima has done everything he's asked her to do. He said, look out in another nine months. He talked about her probably lunching in twelve months, I asked what that meant. Dwayne said, "Diva-itis". They discussed examples of other people developing "Diva-itis". Halima says in response that she will never develop "Diva-itis" with help from "the Creator".

They discussed a 19 year old keyboard player named Chris for Suttle Thoughts, but Donnell reiterated that he doesn't like young musicians because they don't care enough: they do things half-assed (he didn't say that was true of Chris).

They agreed that one of the key reasons for Halima's success here, which she said is the biggest fanbase she's ever had, is that she doesn't know what not to do. I told them about my conversation with her on April 13th. Donnell and Dwayne talked about how she watches everyone and picks up things. She picked up how Adia would get the girls on her side by saying "Hey ladies", which she now does. She has watched Yannie and really everyone she sees, even Ebony rapping. I told them that she's working on rapping. Dwayne was happy that she was working on that. Dwayne said he was worried about her being stolen - we're not the only ones who have seen her talent. Dwayne said it was like bringing in Kobe Bryant to your basketball team, everyone knows who's going to win the championship. They said no one else has had people bring their seats up like at Takoma Station last month. Dwayne said she's made a lot of friends. Dwayne said someone calls him everyday about Halima.

Dwayne talked about the respect for his musical knowledge that Redds and James Funk gave him. I told them about Wayne from Fatal Attraction finding them boring. They said they were not surprised given the brand of GoGo that young people are used to: "banging roto-toms".

Saturday at the Kent Hotel

The Kent, 1131 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139

Familiar Faces
I arrived at the Kent at 6:45 AM. I talked with Stewart Clawson, the owner of the PA system they used for Friday's performance. He was the second person to arrive there after me. He said they liked it so much, they wanted him to give a price quote. It turns out Jauhar liked the PA system, but Donnell did not.

I followed Jesse and the film crew as they discussed the set up. The humidity fogged up the camera lens at the time.

Maria took me to room 108 to watch Sookie and the wardrobe people. She said that I could only go there early since I couldn't film the dancers when they were naked (while changing, which I understood completely). Omar and the other wardrobe woman were there. Sookie had a number of outfits. After she changed into them (not with me in the room), she went to Jesse to have him choose which one she would wear for the shoot.

The very first scene shot in the day was a dance scene with Sookie and Los in the lobby. Mr. Cheeks and his entourage arrived during this set up. I asked Los afterwards if this was his first music video. He said yes, but that he had done other types of video shoots before. This scene took hours of time. The video and sound were done separately. Jesse would ask them both to roll, and there were two horns/beeps that would sound before the actual music. The slates called it "Can I Get a Lap Dance". It is a remix, not the same as on Evolution apparently. Donnell said that scene went so well, they cut a scene of his.

Donnell asked that I have his son Derek accompany me so he could ask the questions of people as I filmed.

Derek Floyd and I interviewing Nikiya
We interviewed a number of people, including Donnell while Cindy applied his makeup. Halima inserted herself into a number of pictures - she said she wanted to be in everyone's pictures of the event. I said, "you mean like Kilroy was here?" She was obviously very excited and happy.

The second scene was on the patio - set up as a performance - like the actual performance but with tables in front.

Jacques getting makeup


Film crew - Marcus Smith in middle


Film crew - Jesse Vaughan with the hat, Marcus Smith looking into the camera


Film equipment

The band mimed performing with fans as extras sitting at the tables. They set up a number of light reflectors.

Standing: Bobby Smoot, Mr. Cheeks, Mike, Lorenzo, Donnell
After they shot this scene, they took a lunch break. They served chicken and pizzas in the hotel.

The camera people knew exactly how long clouds overhead would take to pass over. There was a scene with the band members and no extras.

Three of the dancers - Simone, Sookie in white and Christine in the mirror reflection


Dancers in the shoot

Also, there were also a number of scenes with each of the individual band members (including substitues Bobby Smoot, Mike Smith & also Mr. Cheeks), standing and dancing.

During the break, Donnell played drums while two kids (I think they are both Jauhar's sons) played the congas and cowbells. DP joked, "the drummer ain't sh*t, but the other two are good..." The next scene was a scene with Sharmba Mitchell and a dancer, Elizabeth, outside against the fence.

Elizabeth and Sharmba Mitchell
DP said he wanted a copy of that. I said, "with your head inserted over Sharmba's?" He said, "Yes!" Then there were a few more scenes against the fence with more of the dancers.


Los and Sookie

DP said RE has done about 7 videos, he's been in all of their videos except the Live in 2004. They worked with Marcus Smith on a number of them. He asked me where I was from and told me he was from Gaithersburg. I discussed how the audio was good, but that it was not in synch with the video. That was really obvious when GoGo Mickey was shown playing the congas.

There was another long break. Then they told everyone to change into club clothes. The next scene they made up a bar in the back of the garden at the Kent and allowed anyone who wanted to to be an extra in the scene. Donnell told me I should be the bartender, so I took that role, along with a member of the film crew. Halima sat on the bar so she could be seen. One of Donnell's sons talked about it being like a slave being forced to constantly wait. Halima said, "you don't know what being a slave is like" to him. I said, "Slave to the rhythm." She said okay. I then told her that JuJu from EU had played drums on that track. Bobby Smoot was impressed and said most people here don't know that. He said people also believed Sugar Bear was on the track but he wasn't. Donnell had to constantly wipe sweat off with a towel. There was a second club scene with Donnell, DP, and Mike Muse sitting in chairs getting so-called "lap dances" (not very much like real lapdances, Donnell said he wanted it to be tasteful) from Tata and two of the dancers. Halima still sat on the bar in the middle, with Elizabeth on her left and Christine on her right. Elizabeth kept playing with her own hair. Donnell joked that I should take Mike's place after the first take. At the end, Donnell kept joking, "one more take!"

The final scene was in a convertible with Donnell driving, Marcus filming from the front passenger seat, and Halima sitting on the back, like in a parade (like Miss Marigold in her words). After they left (and Jauhar said, "Someone better tell Donnell to turn the lights on or he will get a ticket"), we hung around and talked.

Nephew, Black Heart, Slim Goodie, 02, a friend of his out of Charlotte, NC (he asked me how I hooked up with FF, I told him I am a grad student at UNC, he said he is at UNC-Charlotte), Tata and I had a long discussion on music. They discussed the fact that Familiar Faces performs Rare Essence songs that Donnell and Godfather wrote. 02 said he has a friend who really doesn't like that. Nephew said they both have a right to play the old Rare Essence songs. Donnell wrote them, so he should be able to perform them, and he wrote them for Rare Essence, so they should be able to perform them. Nephew talked about how many people have talked about Familiar Faces and Rare Essence being on the same bill for a show together, but that Rare Essence is ducking it. Nephew said that it would have mattered more for 911 back when they first formed, but now they both do their own thing. He further went on to say many current Rare Essence fans wouldn't even know who Donnell Floyd is, that their crowd has changed. We discussed the Chuck Brown Birthday Concert. We agreed that 911's was the best performance of all the bands there (that's why I am following FF now I was at that show). We talked about their showmanship, with the opening dancer. Other nuances were discussed such as that when Rah said something about going to the next song, that he didn't really want to. 02 talked about the Onyx sample in Uh Oh (Heads Up). They also talked about a mistake Blue made. Nephew said that was 911's best performance ever. He also said that originally Rare Essence was going to perform rather than 911, but 911 had the hot song Brown & White and was cheaper. Nephew further discussed how 911 had the most talent, but the current band is a better band. Boolah is extremely talented, but he doesn't even like GoGo. Dwayne isn't as talented (a guitar player as Boolah), but has a lot of musical knowledge. Plus, given how busy (in terms of their playing) so many other band members are, that it is better with Dwayne than Boolah. Nephew said that Smoke is held back in the way he plays with Familiar Faces. He also said, "No one wants to see Bojack on the roto-toms (he meant that as a positive)." The personalities in 911 didn't go together well. Nephew said that Donnell wouldn't be in GoGo if it weren't for Bobby Smoot. He said that Donnell was studying Jazz at Ellington, and Bobby got him to join Chance Band. His teacher said he had to choose between Jazz and GoGo, and since he was making money playing GoGo, he stuck with that.

We talked about Northeast Groovers and the planned reunion which was posted on the TMOTT board by Khari the day before. I said Duane would be happy. We talked about him playing with EU.

They discussed in detail the first Fur show (which I was unable to attend. It was on May 22nd and I was helping my sister move.), where FF took the wind out of L!ssen's sails, or as 02 put it, "turned L!ssen into OP Tribe". Nephew said that FF was the only one that played songs that the other bands that night didn't play. They talked about how they performed songs really well that L!ssen wanted to perform. Nephew said Yannie was really frustrated.

The conversation shifted to Halima, who walked into the lobby in the middle of the discussion, but didn't join in. We talked about her stage presence and her voice. 02 asked where she learned to sing GoGo. Nephew said she was incredibly observant. 02 was really impressed with how quickly she picked up specific songs. Nephew said he didn't understand why Donnell didn't have her perform more the song she composed around Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane. He said she composed that in an hour at Bike Week. They talked about Halima's development with the band, an early show where Donnell interrupted Work the Walls to have her sing My Funny Valentine. He told the crowd, "Tell people you heard a little something." Nephew said when Adia first joined FF, that she was timid, afraid to touch the mic. 02 was surprised since she sang with Sounds of 1 Luv. Nephew said she had good stage presence. They talked about Ms. Kim. Nephew said her voice isn't as good as Halima's but with her stage presence, she's a better overall performer. Nephew talked about Linda Wills hooking FF up with Halima. He said something about her singing with them at Cranberries - I will have to ask him more about that.

Nephew's ex-boss came in; she said she saw him from the street. 02 asked, "Did she call him Nephew?" She asked his name, he gave a phony name, then told her he was 2. She said, "What happened to 1 and 3?" I told him and Black Heart that Nephew really is Donnell's nephew and that his full name is Eric Leon Floyd Sr.

02's friend asked what Black Heart's tattoo was, I think he said it's Ethiopian. I said that it says, "Your favorite band sucks". They laughed and I told them that was from the Onion.

02 said he thinks Mike has the best voice in GoGo. Nephew said it was a very 80s voice.

Wayne of Fatal Attraction found FF boring.

02 said he couldn't talk to Donnell; he would have too much to ask him. I told him how nice he was with Duane Face. When Donnell came down, he told 02, "I'm not all that." I said, "That's the most humble thing I've ever heard from him."

Saturday at Mango's
Mango's Tropical Cafe, 900 Ocean Dr Miami Beach, FL 33139

At midnight, I went with Donnell, Nephew, Black Heart, 02, Los, Tata, Mara, Shaun, and Donnell Jr. to Mango's. It was just a few blocks walk. While you wait, they have waitresses who come outside in outfits like bikinis (but with shorts rather than the typical bikini bottom).

Mango's is known for having dancers on the bar. We walked in and three women danced on the bar. Unfortunately, not all of the dancers are female. They don't all dance on the bar, either. There were both professionals and guests dancing in the aisles as well.

6'9 and Nikiya were at one of the bars as we walked in. We got a table, then a number of the people from our table left. I noticed a guy video taping from outside through the exit door behind us. RE Angie later joined our table. There were video monitors to see dancers in the Vodou room - I thought it was kind of lame actually.

A Latin band performed - 02 said they could keep a pocket and checked them out. There were signs on all the walls that had printed: "1 drink minimum per musical set." I thought that was kind of bizarre, especially given the cover and the fact that it was hard to distinguish the musical sets from each other.

There were different cycles of dancers - including a woman with a white plumed feather outfit and bikini. Nephew bought me one of the vial shots: the waitress held a cherry implaed on a mini-umbrella with the umbrella end in her mouth. I ate the cherry, but refused the alcohol. The waitress inserted the vial of vodka in her mouth and played with putting the open end in his mouth. Then she got much closer to his mouth with the vial of Rum.

DeeDee, Michelle, and Marcus Smith sat down at another table nearby. DeeDee danced over by our table and a woman from the next table eyed her - I think she thought that DeeDee was a pro rather than a guest. I left at 1:30 AM because I was bored and because I didn't want to make my friend Chris have to stay up too late for me.

Friday at the Kent Hotel
The Kent, 1131 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139


6'9 showing his flexibility

I did not take notes and since I spent eight hours on Friday and seventeen hours on Saturday at the hotel, I am not even going to pretend that I can remember every conversation or the order thereof. I will expect the two Miami entries to change as I remember more details.

Familiar Faces
On Friday, I drove down, found a parking spot and headed to the beach to look for the planned splash party. Fortunately, Chris had lent me a cell phone and I called Donnell. He said they had just arrived at the hotel, so I headed back over there. Many people were in the lobby with a lot of luggage.

The people whose names I know that were at the Kent are: Michelle, Dee Dee, Mike Muse, his girlfriend Cherone, Halima, Donnell Floyd, his sons Donnell Jr., Derek, and Donte, DP and his girlfriend Arielle (spelling?), Bobby Smoot - substituting for Doc and Bobby's sister Tracy, Godfather, Lorenzo, Mike Smith - substituting at the last minute for Stomp who had a family emergency, Smoke, Jacques, Nephew, Jauhar and his kids, 6'9 and his business partner at Seek Abundance, Angie, RE Angie, Tim (LJ) and his brother Roosevelt and their cousin Darrell, Pinky, Tata, Shaun (female), Slim Goodie, Marquis, Googie, Los, Tony (band security), and Mara.
Slim Goodie adds: 6'9's business partner is named Nikiya and he's the CEO of Seek Abundance, by the way which urban clothing Donnell and the crew were wearing in the video. Along with other Verizon co-workers like L-Boogie, David, Jauhar's business partner, a girl named Chanel and Dana. Lastly some Miamians.
Jauhar said about forty people came down.
In addition, Yvette and Felecia came down and Black Heart and 02.
Sharmba Mitchell was already down, doing his training here - he came by on Saturday.
Staff - Jesse Vaughan (director), Marcus Smith (camera man), Shelle Haynesworth (producer), Maria Romera (casting director and head of wardrobe), two wardrobe people - Omar and an older woman I never spoke with, Cindy (make up), three Black men and a white woman (don't know what their names or jobs were except that one is the playback man, and the woman said she didn't want to be on camera if I could help it), a middle aged blonde white man who was #1 on the camera crew, and three young white men along with a young Hispanic woman on the camera crew.
Mr. Cheeks came by on Saturday with an entourage.
The other talent consisted of four dancers: Sookie (Puerta Rican, she didn't speak much English so Maria translated for her), two Black women - one named Christine, one named Simone and another Hispanic woman named Elizabeth (there was a picture of her on the collage board at Mango's) - she was so nice and down to earth that I thought she was a staffer at first, not one of the dancers, despite being so physically attractive.


While sitting in the lobby, I talked with Godfather for a bit. DP played checkers; he played a number of games of checkers over the weekend.

Nephew and DP playing Checkers
They were setting up the band's instruments on the outdoor patio. They played the PA from July 9th - I recognized it from Donnell asking Halima to dance during Cleva on the recording.

I asked Mike Smith what was up with his hair, he laughed. I asked him about his being a former boxer. I talked with Smoke again about his friend not being his girlfriend. I told him I wish I had known that earlier because she is quite attractive.

The Hibiscis Room served as the production room. I really regret that I didn't just hang out in there for far more on Friday. They worked on wardrobe with all of the talent - the men are all wearing Seek Abundance gear in the video. Jesse liked the outfit that Halima wore - it is the same outfit in the performance picture for this entry (but she also wore sunglasses at the time).

Donnell and Halima went in a car to shoot the first scene. Jesse said I shouldn't come along because they were shooting on the waterfront and the city didn't really want them to do that. They might have their cameras seized if they were caught.

Mike Muse showed a bunch of people his website, Rearview2.Com. He discussed its nuances. Mike also discussed the picture of me with Rudy Ray Moore on the blog. I said I have a picture with my friend Clarence "Blowfly" Reid. He thought they were the same person, which is not true. Here is me and Blowfly:

Picture Copyright Jordan Rich, taken (probably taken by Shelden Goldberg) at Pandisc in January 1999.
Blowfly is a Miami native. I interviewed him at Pandisc Records, his current label, and they offered me an internship at the end of the interview. He worked in the warehouse at the time as well. We became good friends - he's one of the nicest people you could ever meet. Not the greatest driver though. My co-workers at Pandisc told me a story about how TK Records had given him a Cadillac. He ran out of gas on the train tracks and thought he could just go back and get his car the next day. Of course, a train hit it. While I worked at Pandisc, I sang back up on two bonus tracks for the re-issue of Blowfly for President, Pussy Whipped and TWBN (The World's Baddest N*gger). You can recognize my voice on TWBN.

Donnell talked with Nephew and told him to have the band ready for the performance at 8:15 PM and to start without him and Halima if they weren't back by 8:30 PM. He and Halima were back a little before then. During the set up/sound check, RE Angie played congas; she was not bad. DP called her "Jungle Boogie". Below is the setlist to the performance. I filmed the entire peformance. Marcus also filmed parts - with actual film rather than video, but he did a good job of staying out of my way. Googie worked the sound. I did not see him again after the show.

Mike Muse, Godfather, Halima, Lorenzo, Donnell, Bobby Smoot, DP, Jacques
Picture is a screenshot from video taken by me.

First Set
1) Halima-led Rodgers & Hart's My Funny Valentine - really excellent
Mike said, "When we hit that air pocket (on their flight), some of you all got saved."
2) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People
3) Percussion solo while Donnell did announcements
4) Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy
5) Percussion Solo
6) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
7) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
8) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
9) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
10) Donnell-led Hold the Note
11) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
12) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
13) Donnell-led Brown & White / Ride Out
Donnell said, "This is where we found Halima, right down the street in Fort Lauderdale. The land of Geechee Dan."
Halima said, "To my DC family, Thank y'all for loving me, for extending your love to me"
14) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - excellent as usual
Donnell said, "we don't have a DJ, Halima will be our DJ."
15) Halima-led Alicia Keys' Diary

A guy who said he's from San Francisco said his driver told him about the band. He asked for a business card and talked to Halima for a little.

Second Set
Donnell had his three sons Donnell Jr., Derek, and Donte and Marquis Melvin come up to perform.
Mike said, "With all the Ds I might as well stay up here, Dickie. Can I stay up here?"
Donnell said, "What are you, scared? We want these youngsters to have five seconds of time."
1) Donte played on the congas, while Donnell said, "I'll get them started since they are scared." He rapped Common's The Corner
2) Halima did a little improving
3) Marquis said, "I am from West Virginia University football." He sang a song, his own composition, Secret "I'll be wanting you baby, I just can't get you off my mind, I will take my time and do it right, I can feel now..."
Donnell said, "I thought you was a youngster, now I'm not so sure. Jauhar, this is your man? Listen to the subject matter. How old are you, eighteen? You're supposed to be singing Mr. Telephone Man. I guess he got no playstation."
The youngsters left the stage.
Donnell talked bout the video shoot tomorrow. He said, "6'9 is already a movie star, I just don't know which movie you were in."
4) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
5) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
Donnell said, "Since we're out with a bunch of old heads in South Beach, we don't need to worry about the youngins..."
6) Mike-led Rare Essence's Take Me Out to the Go-Go
7) Mike-led Rare Essence's Lock It / Mike-led Sam Cooke's Chain Gang (same music)
8) Donnell-led Lap Dance
Donnell said, "We're going to try to make this an annual event. Remember the video shoot strts at 8 AM when you go to Wet Willies. Don't go with LJ or anyone with a LoKee shirt on."
Halima's aunts and their friends were there. I filmed her introducing them to me. I also filmed her shirt, which she made herself.
Donnell said, "Halima is that your crew and you aren't going to introduce anyone? We love Halima, she's never coming back."
There were a few local Latinos in the audience, they sure got down. Another guy who asked me who the band was. Jauhar said they turned away 200 people who wanted to watch the performance (because it would have been unfair to those who paid). Nephew said that the PA could be heard for blocks away and that people really took Halima's singing.

Tata said she wasn't sure she wanted to go out or get up early for the video shoot due to heat exhaustion. I know exactly how she felt - the heat completely took away my appetite. I only ate one meal each day on Friday and on Saturday. I left without going to Wet Willies because I had to get up so early for the video shoot.

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

I called Donnell to ask him if I could film the Friday performance. He said that was okay. He then called me right back and said he wanted me to go ahead and film the making of anyway; he wanted me to start tonight.

A blood moon was out tonight.

Nita was there. She said she lives walking distance from Takoma Station. She talked about being tired a lot. I said you're awful young to be so tired. She said, "If I had waited any longer, I wouldn't have come out at all."

Ebony was there.

Candy and Michon were there. I asked if they were going to Miami. They said no. Candy said, "You can have fun for us." Michon laughed. I said, "I will". They both laughed.

Tamara and Tim (LJ) were there. I asked Tamara if she was going, she said, "No, but I'll be there in spirit."

Godfather had a second keyboard - a Korg in addition to his regular keyboard. He also wore granny glasses - I told him I hadn't seen him wearing glasses before. He said I should take a picture. I told Halima I wanted to film her - asking her about the trip because I couldn't imagine anyone else being more excited about the trip.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Blueprint - instrumental
2) Parliament's P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up) - instrumental
3) Alternating between Mike & Halima (just improving) Donny Hathaway's Little Ghetto Boy (Whatcha' gonna do when you grow up and have to face responsiblity ? Will you spend your days and nights in the pool room ? Will you sell caps of madness to the neighborhood ? / Halima had a speech and then she sang Gladys Knight & the Pips' "Morning" Train to Georgia (same music behind it as Little Ghetto Boy) / Mike-led ?
Someone yelled about Mike, "Parkland's finest!"
4) Mike-led I Dreamed You - he had an intro speech leading into it
A guy sitting behind me yelled, "Get that p*ssy, Mike!"
5) Mike-led O'Bryan's Lady I Love You - Mike led it with "No hurt worse than a hurt man. Tell your lady I cannot breathe without you.", Mike went out singing on the dance floor, it was an excellent performance
6) Halima-led Rodgers & Hart's My Funny Valentine - I thought, "Wow! It's getting harder and harder to determine which is her best performance."
Donnell said of her, "We are going down to her hometown." Halima said, "Yes, yes!"
The crank started & the the dancefloor filled during
7) Halima-led Jill Scott's Golden
8) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Golden Lady
9) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - She had an opening monologue to the women in the audience, in the middle, she said, "Everybody get down so I can take my shoes off", she was barefoot standing on the stage, she bounced up and down, it was excellent as usual.

June and his wife Shadonna, Darrell, Yaquim, Val, Peanut, and Jazz were there.

I filmed Halima outside, then she watched it and said she wanted a copy. After we were done, Junie from EU talked with her.

I talked with Doc and Dwayne. Stacey, who had had her birthday the night before, was there. Go-Go Mickey came by. A number of police cars were on the block. Doc and Dwayne said they were there to see Halima. Smoke told me he doesn't have a girlfriend, the woman I thought was his girlfriend is just a friend and often his ride to shows.

Dwayne talked about John Legend probably being gay. I said Dwayne would be married soon. He said he would be married, no engaged, by the end of the year. He went to something with his girlfriend and her family asked when they were getting hitched.

The second set was really crowded, which was surprising since there were fewer regulars than usual there. The woman who makes fun of my head bopping was there. I introduced myself to her. She said her name was KD. She wore a t-shirt that had "I Heart NY" printed on it.

Second Set
Donnell said that Mike would be wearing a brand new Speedo with extensions and a girdle."
Mike said, "Donnell is the 'Bama of the week."
Donnell continued, "Mike Muse will be wearing a new pair of Speedos. For the women, we have rooms available, for the fellas, we are sold out."
The crank started during
1) Mike-led Ruff Endz' Someone to Love You
Donnell said, "6'9 killed Len Bias." 6'9 yelled, "Hey!" - he was not happy about what Donnell said
2) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
3) Halima said, "Hey, ladies" - the percussion section played and the crowd shouted, "Go-Go Smoke-ay."
4) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - she worked it
5) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
6) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
7) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
8) Donnell-led Hold the Note
9) Percussion solo - the crowd shouted, "Go-Go Smoke-ay"
Go-Go Mickey sat in
10) Do the Mickey? - percussion solo
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine with Donnell doing the effects vocally at the beginning
A woman named Dawn started dancing with me during the set. She was annoyed when I would stop to take notes. Her brother asked me if what I was writing was her phone number.
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
13) Donnell-led Vinnie D's Porno Star?
14) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
15) Mike-led Lisa Stanfield's All Around the World (hard to read my own notes but it's a guess)
16) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Roll Call
17) Mike-led Rare Essence's Lock It
18) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Donnell & Ebony-led Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name
19) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (tease)
20) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
21) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time (tease)

I asked Jauhar if I could talk with him at the end of the performance, but he was nowhere to be found then. Stinka was there.
I interviewed Tim and asked why Angie and Tracy weren't there. He said they were getting dolled up for the trip. I talked with Nephew. He said he was camera shy.

I followed Stomp to his car, where he gave me a video from Bike Week. I saw Darrell, asked him if he was going, he said, "No", but he did go.

I went home, slept for a couple of hours, then drove to the airport. I flew out with Michelle and DeeDee.

I met with my friends Chris and Joe on Thursday.

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

A couple who had been at Thursday's show were there. The husband came by and introduced himself to me, His name is June - I later heard her name is Shadonna. I told him about my project.

Peanut was there.

Kato, Teago, and Wayne, rapper for Fatal Attraction were there. Kato and Teago took Wayne to the show to introduce him to Familiar Faces' music. Fatal Attraction opens for Backyard, so he's familiar with their music, but they want to expand his range to other GoGo bands. DP asked what kind of music Fatal Attraction played. I told them the Duane Face story.

Donnell told Nephew how my filming wouldn't work. The video people thought the different media wouldn't go well together... Nephew said, "I guess he owes me something", laughing. I said, "Was there ever a time in your life when you weren't a smartass?" He said, "Never."

Familiar Faces
First Set
Donnell performed Common's The Corner at the sound check, a guy asked me if that was Common, I think he really thought that was Common performing, I told him it was Donnell Floyd
1) Instrumental
2) Halima-led Alicia Keys' Diary
3) Mike-led The Stylistics' People Make the World (Go Round)
Mike said to some girl (I didn't see who), "We're going to get married some day."
A male fan said, "Don't be afraid". I don't know if it was a request for the next song
4) Mike-led Glenn Lewis' Don't You Forget It
5) Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy
6) Halima-led Jill Scott's Golden - percussion solo at the end
7) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People - Halima played the triangle, which she got from Jacques Before the next song, Donnell said, "Jacques, collect your toys"
8) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself
9) Mike-led I Dreamed You

I asked Kato the name of his blonde friend. He said Danielle and that her sister writes for TMOTT - Che're Pennington. Tyrell, Britney, and Chocoltchp were there. I talked with Halima. I also talked with Peanut who sat on my other side. I asked him where his woman was, he said at home with the kids. He said he drives a furniture truck, bigger than the stereo truck, but not a tractor trailer. He talked with me about flight information, since he has a court date on Friday. I told him how Slim Goodie and 6'9 said they wouldn't go out again until Miami to save money. Tyrell talked with Halima.

Second Set
Donnell did Miami announcements and Stomp said, "There is pleny of room in his room." I went to Donnell and kidded, "Just for women only?" Donnell, then kidded him on the mic about whether or not it was for women only.
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
Britney sat on the bottom right speaker during the set
2) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
The crank started with
3) Donnell-led "___ is in the house"
4) Donnell-led "Can you help me ___? Can you help me? Trying to get away. Waiting to get away"
5) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
6) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot
7) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
8) Donnell-led Hold the Note
9) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
10) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine - Donnell did the musical effects vocally at the beginning
11) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - this time with just the sample "Hands free" as Donnell put it, Stomp danced. At the very end the percussion section did play.

6'9 was there, Peanut taunted me about it using his fingers to show 6'9

I sat over by 6'9, we talked about Gilchrist. He was disgusted by Real Sex which was showing on the TV. Love (actually now from What? Band) was there, I introduced myself to him. He hugged Stomp. I teased Stomp that he must have heard there was room in his room.

I talked with Lorenzo, asked him if he went to the Naval Academy (he talked about his ID re: the Naval Academy at Rehearsal) - he said that he played for their choir. I asked him who he played with, he said he would give me a resume.

Third Set
Donnell said that "Britney would do an erotic dance in Miami." He then addressed her, "You are young enough" to get naked on Haulover Beach
1) They started to perform the music to Faith Evans' Mesmerized while Donnell did announcements / Halima-led Faith Evans' Mermerized
2) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning - Donnell said, "That's what we talking about Brandywine, Trinidad, Simple City" / Keith Murray's Call My Name (Tease)
3) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (tease)
4) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
5) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time "ay ay, awa ay, Southeast, South, Southeast, Northwest, North, Northwest"
6) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up)
7) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me "od ba ba ba"
Several women danced on stage, men put money in a woman's top (at her breasts), and skirt. Britney moved to the front of the stage (wearing a shirt with the words "Future MILF" printed on it that emphasized her breasts) so that she could get the same treatment
8) Percussion solo - the crowd shouted "Go-Go Smoke-ay!"
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Work the Walls
10) Donnnell-led DIP Stomp - Mike added lyrics
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
12) Mike-led Lap Dance
One of Britney's friends sat next to her on the speaker
Donnell on the mic, "Lynette Wright and Angel - skinny and sexy, sensual. DP reminisces. You didn't think he didn't tell me? The first lunch break he called me"
13) Donnell and Stomp "Would it be alright if I called you tonight, If I went home with you tonight"
Continuing his conversation with those women, "Reezio. Don't act like you don't remember when we were being childish"

Yolanda was there.

Thursday at Venus Hall
Venus Hall, 15 K St NE Washington, DC 20002

This was my first time at the Venus Hall. As Donnell said, it is over by the ticket adjudication. It shares a building with Dominoe's Pizza. I recognized one of the bartenders as Imani, formerly from the Market Lounge.

A four person Jazz Band (guitar, bass, keyboards and drums) performed. They just ended their first set as I walked in. I only recognized Telando and Vincent among the audience members.

There were less than fifteen people there. During the second set, they performed a number of familiar jazz covers, the first of which I recognized as Herbie Hancock's Chameleon.

Mike Smith was there.

I talked with Packy for a while. Doc, Dwayne and I discussed why they switched to this venue with its very small audience.

YC and Tim (LJ) were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Jacques played during the first set
During the sound check, Donnell sang Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane.
He said "Mark, please don't play the Girl from Ipanema, that's from the band before".
Still, Halima did sing Stan Getz & Jo?o Gilberto's The Girl from Ipanema during the sound check.
Halima also sang Bob Marley's Is This Love during the soundcheck.
1) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know
2) Mike-led I Dreamed You
Mike said, "Thank you love" to Halima
3) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - the intro was different with a very laidback beat
The crank started with
4) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You - Halima, Donnell and DP danced the same dance
5) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
6) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
7) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - this is the first time they played it on instruments rather than just the sample
Halima used more nonverbal arm & hand gestures than usual, and did a black power fist at the start of the set.
There were fifteen to twenty people there for the first set. There was a couple there that I later learned are named June and Shadonna.

I sat at a table with Dwayne, Doc, and Halima. I asked Dwayne if he could play Maggot Brain. He said yes and there was even a Maggot Brain setting on his pedals. I talked about Hichael Hampton supposedly purposely sabotaging shows due to the large entourages. Go Go Mickey came by and shook hands with all of us. I said to Halima, that's the best conga player in the game. She asked why he's the best. I said what he plays and how he plays it.

Val "Tina Turner", Renee, Michelle, RE Angie, Candy, Michon, Mookie, and Los were there.

Second Set
Charlie played during the second set
The crank started right away
1) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
2) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
Donnell said, "Michelle went back to the Metro."
Donnell and Halima danced together
3) Donnell-led Hold the Note - Halima danced
4) Donnell-led Sly & the Family Stone's Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
5) Donnell-led "If you have to believe in something, why not believe in me"
6) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot - Los rapped, Donnell added the line, "Bounce, bounce"
Mike pointed behind me and smiled. I turned around and saw Halima dancing in the audience.
7) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - Donnell invited Michelle on stage, she did a dance that mocked his onstage arm gestures / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine "going to get away, yes, yes (the line Charlie claimed Donnell had left out last Friday)
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Work the Walls
10) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl
The crowd had increased for this set - there were at least thirty people there.

Spanky, a promoter, talked with me.

Before I left, Imani talked with me. She recognized me from Takoma Station. I said Market Lounge too. She said back to then? She said she works here and at Killi's Kafe. It was raining when we left.

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

Val "Tina Turner", Candy, Michon (I kidded them about not wearing hats), Tamara, Tim (LJ), Ray, Jay Floyd, and Michelle were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Donnell introduced the set by talking about about a guy (Chuck Brown) who started playing in places like the Ebony Inn and started to play the beat from this song under every song. The song whose beat he used they played:
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Mr. Magic
2) Another instrumental
3) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People
Mike talked about hearing on the radio about GoGo's lack of originality. They named a band he had never heard of: Uncalled4Experience (he didn't actually name them tonight, I asked him the following night). They talked about their original. Mike said, "What about our album Evolution which is 75% originals?"
4) Mike-led I Dreamed You
Donnell said, "There's someone in the famiy who hasn't sung in three weeks". Mike said, "There's a picolo player who has their picolo in a case."
5) Tamara-led Mariah Carey's We Belong Together
6) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - she had a monologue with the women in the audience, She said "Shake your emotions, can't all wait around"
7) Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy
8) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
9) Percussion solo - Donnell sang, "Sweet Chelle, my belle"
10) Donnell starting singing Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane, then Halima did.
It's getting hard determining which is her best performance.
Donnell said, "Back all the way to Eastside"

Darrell, Mara, James and Sharmba Mitchell were there. I went over to Michelle, and sat between her and Val in the booth, with Halima across from us.

Michelle and I got out of our seats to go outside. A number of people, including Packy came by and said they didn't know she was pregnant. She joked about swallowing a number of watermelon seeds and a watermelon kept growing inside her. DeeDee came by. Mike joked that he too was seven months pregnant. DeeDee said he was eight months and I was four months. Jauhar said I came by it honestly with the size of my clothes. He had also been in Miami last weekend.

Doc talked about how he hated the political stuff in In the Pocket. I talked with Mike about how Halima said his daughter sings. He said she sings better than he does. I asked what she sang, he said everything off the radio. Mike started singing a song that was familiar to me, but I didn't recognize it. He asked me if I knew who sang that. I said I didn't. DeeDee said I should know, that it was a disgrace that I didn't. Mike said, "Barry Manilow." I said that I thought it was poetic justice that his character got shot in the movie Copacabana (which I later looked up was the name of the song Mike was singing). Mike said he likes Barry Manilow.

When we went in for the second set, I went on the dance floor for the set.

Second Set
Donnell said he had been in Miami auditioning dancers for the video shoot. He talked about how people should dress for the different parts of the video shoot.
The crank started right away with
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
3) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
4) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
5) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease) / Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
6) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
7) Alternating Mike-led Rare Essence's Lock It / Sam Cooke's Chain Gang (same music) / Percussion solo
8) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
9) Donnell-led Tupac's Hail Mary (tease)
10) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
11) Donnell-led Hold the Note
12) Percussion solo - the crowd shouted, "Go-Go Smoke-ay!"
13) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?"
14) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Donnell did the regular bananas line
15) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
16) Mike-led Lap Dance - Donnell chanted, "Swing your body" and Mike chanted, "Swing"
Donnell kept restarting the final solo, sayin a girl who sang along and Stomp messed up
17) Donnell-led Common's The Corner
During the set, Angie danced back to back with me.
Robin and Tracy were also over by me.
Sharika was there.
DP came over to Michelle with his trumpet, about to play. She said, you're not going to blow that at my baby? He played a lullaby for her. He talked with her about his unborn baby acting up right constantly when he would get back from the GoGo. So he would play a lullaby. Michelle talked about how her baby reacted to the bass making the bench vibrate. She asked how old DP's daughter was, he said three. His said his wife got the lullaby tape in the divorce.

I sat down at a table with Michelle and DeeDee. Halima said goodbye to Michelle. Donnell had talked about the possibility of filming the making of the video instead of paying Nephew the fee, he told me to call him on Thursday. I told DeeDee and Michelle the two stories about my friend Craig in Miami. I asked if DeeDee was going to get topless, she said, "only in foreign countries". I told her that Miami is a foreign country. Stomp asked the sex of the baby, said the kid would be a drummer. I told them about Cindy Blackman and Susie Ibarra.

Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private Location

Familiar Faces
When I arrived, DP was in his car with his sons Derek Jr. and Darrell. They got out and DP was on his cell phone telling Donnell that Doc couldn't get off of work. Shortly after, Godfather, then Duane Face arrived, followed by Donnell, who let us in. Duane rapped NWA's Straight Outta Compton, Donnell said he obviously doesn't have kids. I told DP about the correct spelling of Lorenzo's name.

Donnell had just been in Miami the day before. Dwayne had a new Pod XT guitar pedal.

I asked Donnell what he was going to do with the video, he said put it through regular channels. He said that he wasn't going to sell it, there would be enough for a making of unless I filmed it.

Over time, Dwayne, Halima, Jacques, Mike, Nephew, Charlie (wearing an Aikman jersey), Smoke and Lorenzo arrived.

They went over Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Donnell wants it to be performed in a certain way. He joked that it was Halima's fault. She said okay. She said it was by the Neptunes more than Gwen Stefani. She asked if Stefani was really white, I said yes. She said I should pick up the album, I said I was probably not interested. She said, "Yeah, you like GoGo." I told her how things work there, that Dwayne always says mistakes are Donnell's fault and that Donnell says he's always right. I said if you agree with Dwayne, you are part of the Union, Dwayne is Jimmy Hoffa. If you believe something should be performed in the pocket, then you are on Donnell's side. Dwayne talked about how with Redds and the Boys, that he was the only musician Redds feared. He said if he were alive today, he would tell you. He said Vincent (Redds' son) was at Tradewinds the week before last, he would tell you. Vincent was sixteen and Dwayne seventeen when he joined. Donnell said you've heard of me, I've been your boss for a year now.

Donnell said that there's something wrong with one of his Saxes, the one he was using right then, that it is off key, but different for different notes. He said he may have ruined his son's musical career because he used it and was kicked out of the band, but it may have been the horn.

At one point, we smelled burning, Nephew wouldn't go. Halima did, the hot plate was on. Halima said to Nephew and I, you can't protect me on the red carpet. I told her about going to a premiere and not realizing it was a real premiere. I said she didn't need protecting. Halima said of my leg jiggling that I have a demon inside. I told Mike he should use Charlie's video. I told Mike about Donnell singing Credence and why.

Donnell had a frontline meeting.

Mark talked with me and Duane about being into geneology, that he was interested in his roots. He said he has white ancestry too, the Hopkins from England. He said his parents are Henrietta and George Lawson. He has a cousin Steve who is a musician. Godfather told us about how a man should treat women and their own kids. Godfather's wife is Bernita Curtis. I told both Mark and Duane Mile's quote on 60 Minutes, they both said that wasn't for them:
Miles and Harry Reasoner were discussing his marriage to Cicely Tyson, which included Reasoner quoting a passage from Miles' book.
Miles responded that he didn't know that, that he hadn't gotten that far in his book to proofread it, causing both to laugh.

Continuing:
HR: "It sounds like maybe you think, maybe you should never have married her (Cicely) in the first place."

MD: "I didn't marry her for that reason. I didn't marry her for sex. I didn't marry her for that reason. I thought she was a level-headed black woman. You know, but it switched."

HR: "She changed?"

MD: "She changed because she got so jealous."

HR: "Will you ever get married again?"

MD: "To who?"

HR: "To anybody, not to Cicely."

MD: "I know there's a couple guys I've been looking at, but never to a woman again."

(HR laughs at Miles' tongue-in-cheek joke, Miles sardonically chuckles a bit, too ... probably still smarting from his divorce settlement with Cicely).

Original airdate: November 12, 1989.

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

Britney, 6'9, and RE Angie were there. Charlie came in through the front door; he said he was already in. I asked Doc if he had gotten any sleep, he said, "No."

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
2) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You
3) Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Y'all feel that?"
4) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - Donnell had Halima dance
5) Donnell sang the announcements
6) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
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 - Donnell added the line "Bounce, bounce"
10) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - excellent as usual
James was there, but didn't perform in this set. Sanisse and JoJo were there.

Halima asked why I never ate the food. I told her the same thing I said before - it's like taking away their pay. DP asked if I went to the beach, I told him I was at the Os game, and there was completely different weather from Thursday's weather. Godfather talked about how he used to try on Ms. Mack's wigs and play. Ras walked in. I talked with him about Ray Davis, and the girl being a fan of Reggae, intrigued by the Deep Band. I asked him where they are performing; he talked about places including Xcalibur.

Second Set
Donnell said, "This is the real Grown & Sexy, not just on the flyers. This is not the beat your feet or beat your meat."
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
2) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - with a percussion solo
3) Donnell-led Hold the Note - the crowd shouted, "Wind Me Up, Smoke!"
4) Donnell-led "___ is in the house"
5) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?"
6) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl
7) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
8) Donnell-led Tupac's Hail Mary
I noticed Halima first holding two drum sticks together, than beating one against the other. I also noticed Britney on stage playing a snare-less tambourine.
Donnell said, "This is old school, Eastside"
9) Mike-led Rare Essence's Lock It
10) Donnell-led Brown & White / Ride Out / Northeast Groovers' The Water
Slick Rick (Hot Cold Sweat/Crossover Band) was there
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (tease) - Donnell said, "They think you'll fight if we play this. We'll do it if you promise not to fight. Otherwise, we'll never do it again"
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
14) Mike-led Lap Dance - Donnell chanted, "Swing your Body" and Mike chanted, "Swing", Donnell said, "Stomp f*cked up," so he had them repeat the last solo
15) Donnell acapella Vinnie D's Porno Star?
16) Donnell acapella Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)

Stacey, March, and Robin were there. There was also a tall guy with cane who had a belt bucket with a Ben Franklin or a stack of them (don't know if real) rubber banded together. Ras said to me, "You're in the thick of things (I was only a few feet from the stage during the second set)". 6'9 talked with me about John Gilchrist and Larry Hughes. Doc told Ras and I that I should work for the Post, since I write all the time. 6'9 said he was going to fly to Miami first class. I gave 6'9 the URL to my website. He said he would put it in his Blackberry.

I saw Dwayne and in a separate car, Robin (in the passenger seat) at the Exxon by Tradewinds, gas went up $.13 over the last week!

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

I arrived late because the exit ramp for Annapolis Road from I-495 was under construction. I had never taken any other route, so I got off at the next exit and consulted a map. When I arrived, Donnell was in the parking lot talking to Kato and Preston Blue. Charlie was there, wearing a John Elway Jersey and matching Nike sneakers. DJ Flava (aka GoGo Rudy) talked with DP. He said he didn't play the trumpet anymore due to his braces. DP said both his sons did despite having braces.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Mike-led Bernard Ighner's Everything Must Change / Halima-led Rodgers & Hart's My Funny Valentine - Halima's rendition uses the same music as Everything Must Change, in fact, until Mike starting singing, I thought My Funny Valentine was going to be performed first
2) Mike-led Glenn Lewis' Don't You Forget It
3) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's As
4) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People
Mike said, "Give it up for Zippy Custamata"
5) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself
6) Mike-led I Dreamed You
Mike said, "They say it's your birthday".
6'9 and DeeDee were there.

I sat down by Halima. I asked her about Everything Must Change, since she had said that that was the title of My Funny Valentine. She said that the music was to Everything Must Change, but that she sang the words to My Funny Valentine on top of it. I asked her how Thursday's performance was, she said not great, not a very big crowd. She asked where I was, I told her I went to the Orioles game. I then talked with Renee. I said she's been to more shows lately. She asked me what I did: going to all the shows and taking notes. I told her about my blog and said her picture was up from Wednesday. I told her how Steve Francis had not wanted me to take his picture. She asked if he was alone, I said he had an entourage, she said, "That's why all those big guys were there and he was standing off to the side." Someone to my left said, "He's always been that way." I asked Jauhar if he was really going to run for mayor, she said maybe in six years, after he's married and has his life straight. He said right now that they would attack his social life. I asked if he would wear a bow tie, he said, "No, I would dress like this to fit in with the people."

Second Set
1) Halima-led Cleva / Percussion solo / Stevie Wonder's Superstition bassline
"Up in here?"
2) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
3) 6 Minutes percussion solo
Donnell kept doing shout outs to Brandywine
4) Donnell-led "___ is in the house"
5) They performed the music to Faith Evans' Again but lyrics the lyrics were Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh" / Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
7) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Donnell ad libbed line "If I were a rich girl" from Gwen Stefani's Rich Girl
8) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
9) Donnell-led Hold the Note
10) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
12) Donnell-led Brown & White / Ride Out / Northeast Groovers' The Water - "Slow Pocket Ride"

The woman who had consoled Donnell was behind me, she waved to me. At the end of the set, I asked her and the other woman who had gotten DP's birthday cake their names. The first one was Yvette, the other Felecia. They asked my name as well. I told them about my website.

Kato asked me, "Since I am now a part of them", what they will be doing with the video. I assumed that they want it on MTV. He said Mr. Cheeks has been out of the limelight for a while. I sat down over by Kato's blonde friend, Danielle (Wellfhed). She asked me the time; she had to go to work in a couple of hours. She asked me if I was dating, I told her how hard it was for me hitting on women at the GoGo, although I did hit on one woman at Fur. She liked my sense of humor and told me I should practice my approach with her. Sanisse is a regular whom I first noticed at Safari, joking that Donnell was her brother at Safari when Angie was still celebrating her birthday. She talked with Stomp and I because she was having problems connecting to my website due to JavaScript problems. She said that Stomp's girlfriend was at the bar. I asked Stomp who his girlfriend was, but he wouldn't tell me.

China (wearing a shirt with the word "Foxy" printed on it), Tyrell and Genard were there.

Third Set
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima sang, "I can't even sleep"
2) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?"
3) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot
4) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
5) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine
Donnell said, "It's an Eastside party".
6) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up)
Donnell said, "This is B__, my main man" song?
10) Percussion solo
11) Donnell-led DIP
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
Donnell said, "I take the Eat___", the crowd responded, "You a 'Bama".
13) A female fan rapped Common's The Corner
14) Donnell acapella with the same female fan on back up Credence Clearwater Revival's Proud Mary (tease) (because Ike & Tina Turner covered it)
Donnell said, "Val is looking old, as old as the real Tina Turner"
He went on to talk about how she "bought 2fers at Capital Plaza before they closed, who is next? Not Jordan because he will write something."
I asked why he did a Credence song but won't let Mike sing a Simon & Garfunkel song. He said he did that for Tina Turner.
15) Donnell acapella Simon & Garfunkel's Mrs. Robinson

There was a fight during the third set, but it was between a girl and her boyfriend and both were thrown out quickly. I talked outside with the security guards, Supa Dan and DeeDee. The security guards said that the woman who fought with the guy was his baby mama, so they didn't get involved once they kicked them out of the club.

Packy's & Genard's Birthday at Takoma Station
Takoma Station, 6914 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20012


Godfather, Lorenzo, Renee, unidentified fan, Dwayne, Halima (look how tall she is!)
Picture taken by and copyright Jordan Rich


Michon and Candy

Genard's Birthday - I don't know who Genard is. I walked in and the seats directly to the left of the aisle were taken. So I sat down a few seats to the left, but the guy next to me smoked, so I moved to the table to the right of the stage. I heard my name called and Stomp and Halima sat at the table behind me. Halima wanted to talk to me, but wanted to be able to hear me better or more privacy. One of the bartenders came by, she said to Halima that she had danced onstage with FF at Fur (I hadn't recognized her at the Fur). Halima talked with her about it. She has a beautiful face and large breasts and wore a shirt that had "Squeeze ____" printed on it.

Tim (LJ), Tamara, Renee, James, and Sharmba Mitchell were there. Jay said he thought L!ssen sounded like crap on Sunday. I asked him why he hasn't been out in a while; he said he embarrassed himself when he tried to dance with younger woman here at Takoma Station.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Miles Davis' Tutu
Halima asked on the mic, "Who is Sharmba Mitchell?" He is a welterweight boxer. He is scheduled to fight Zab Judah for his titles in September.
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - Halima said, "My mic stand has a personality of its own".
3) Halima-led Erykah Badu's On & On
The crank started with
4) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Golden Lady
5) Halima-led Jill Scott's Golden
6) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself
Donnell said that "Shelle Haynesworth from the video shoot says that you must dress properly for the video shoot".
7) Mike-led Lap Dance - Donnell chanted "Swing your body" and Mike chanted "Swing" (I assumed it was Halima because it it so high pitched, but based on subsequent performances, it was Mike) with a percussion solo
Donnell said, "If we run out of hotel rooms, we will have bunk beds and sleeping bags." Mike repeated his joke from Bike Week, "I am in room 666, come if you dare..."

Candy, Michon, Angie, Mara, DeeDee, RE Angie, Mike Smith, Tracy, Darrell, Slim Goodie and Ray were there.

I went outside and talked with Doc, Pooh, and Dwayne. I asked Dwayne when Heaven Sent was next performing. He said they perform the first Sunday of every month at the Ikon in Waldorf, but there was some event coming up.

Sugar Bear, Donny Ray and YC were also out there.

Second Set
1) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin' "Sharmba Mitchell is here, Steve Francis is here, this is where the stars be partyin'..."
2) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You
3) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
4) Percussion solo - the crowd shouted "Wind me up, Smoke!"
5) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
6) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
7) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
8) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - first time performed with the music
9) Mike-led Rare Essence's Take Me Out to the Go-Go
10) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Roll Call
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's One on One (Footz version)
12) Mike-led Rare Essence's Lock It
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine
14) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
15) Donnell-led Tupac's Hail Mary
16) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
17) Donnell-led Hold the Note
18) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (tease)
Donnell told Steve Francis not to do that to Antwan Jamison the next time he comes to Washington, just lay it in.

Derek (spelling) conga player for EU, Ron Moten, and Rah were there. I didn't actually see Steve Francis until the end. He had an entourage with him.

Shaun was there.

Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private location

Familiar Faces
When I arrived, Donnell was already in the parking lot (still in his car). Duane Face pulled up. Duane's car was shiny - Donnell said it looked like new. Duane usually gets his car cleaned once a month, but the guy did it for $15. Donnell said he must be dating your ex-girlfriend, feeling guilty to do that. Even double that is cheap. Duane said that it was a first time price; in the future it will be $30. The discussion segwayed into Korean businesses vs. Black businesses. Donnell talked about the neighborhood near College Park - Riggs Rd. He said they had a number of people living in each bedroom and everyone has their own business. They came from nothing and they work had to save. He said he couldn't live in a five bedroom apartment with another guy. The discussion shifted to the clothing brands in DC, they discussed the differences. Visionz is alleged to steal designs, but Duane said that as an artist, he noticed they all do to some degree. Donnell used the metaphor that if another band used his arrangement of Fantasia's Free Yourself, that he would be really mad because it is personal and it would be obvious where it came from. They discussed how they differentiated from each other, that Solbiato (Donnell kept correcting Duane on his pronunciation), had the best material and stitching. Scooter is the EU keyboard player that I think looks like Walt Williams. Duane wore a matching Chevrolet NASCAR hat and t-shirt. I talked about the John Deere clothing in the South. Donnell asked what kind of art Duane did, he had a measured response that he did a lot of different types. He said he used to be best at pencil, but then to painting - oil paints, especially of things flying. Donnell had considered him for painting a corner with Martin Luther King's and Malcolm X's pictures with a chessboard there. I told him about Black Wax, a Gil Scott Heron movie where he takes a cigarette from one among a number of wax figures of Black leaders. We talked about Gil - Duane was not aware of his music. Donnell said his play was incredible. We agreed that his cocaine addiction was a shame. He talked about his keyboard play, I asked him "Brian Jackson?" But he meant Gil's own playing. Dwayne walked in and said that MVP was better than 911. He said they were better then and would be better now. I asked, "then how come you're playing here and not with them?" He said, "I felt sorry for him (Donnell)". Dwayne discussed the Pimpin' All Over the World Rare Essence remix with Donnell. He said your boy (DJ Flexx) arranged that. Dwayne said that the beat for Pimpin' All Over is "more listenable", Donnell told me to look that up. Dwayne said he's right regardless. It is indeed a proper word. Stomp, Doc, Halima, Godfather, Mike, his son and daughter, DP, his sons Derek Jr. and Darrell, Charlie, Los, Nephew, Jacques and Lorenzo arrived over time.

I walked over to Doc; he said, "What do you want?" I asked if he got any sleep. He said no, but he did see my picture with Rudy Ray Moore. He said that I looked like a little boy in the picture. I told him I had just gotten a haircut at the time and that it was taken in February 1999. It was at a 70s Convention (in Tarrytown, NY) and Richard Roundtree, Fred Williamson, Antonio Fargas, Gloria Hendry, and Gerald Martinez from Quentin Tarrantino's production company were there. Martinez had recently (at the time) co-written the book, What It Is... What It Was!; The Black Film Explosion of the '70s in Words and Pictures. I taped the interview session and Rudy's performance. Doc has a friend who is a big fan of Rudy. I told him that Ron O'Neal and Jim Brown were also originally supposed to be there, but backed out.

They rehearsed Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl. I asked Jacques if Takoma Station still stunk, he said no. Donnell wanted there to be a section (especially rhythm section) rehearsal every first Tuesday of the month. Nephew talked about the reviews of the band on TMOTT. They had a private meeting. But before they did, Mike played a recording of Proper Utensils' recording of Toto's Georgy Porgy to go over parts he wanted in it.

Duane and I sat out the door of the big room with Nephew and Los. Nephew showed us pictures of the dancing women at the Fur on his cell phone. He talked about Alicia Keys in her outfit at the BET awards. He talked about seeing her in a cat suit at the Nation, that she wasn't grown up yet, but she is now. He said unfortunately, she's probably gay. I asked why he thought that; he said she's never seen with a man. I told the story about my niece Kelsey, she sat on my lap while I was at the computer, I looked at a jpeg of Alicia Keys and Kelsey shocked me by saying, "She's sexy!"

I talked about Terry McMillan's husband being gay.

July 4th Celebration at Fur
Fur Night Club, 33 Patterson St NE, Washington, DC 20002

I arrived at 8:40 because the Fur's website said the doors open at 9 PM. I got a parking space right on Patterson. A dude waved me in then asked for money to watch my car. Since I have had bad experiences with people in Baltimore who will break into your car if you don't pay them, I gave him a couple of bucks. The woman in the car in front of me criticized the guy and said I shouldn't have paid him anything. I walked up to the Fur and asked when the doors opened, they said 10. So I walked around the corner to the two story McDonald's and hung out there until 9:40 PM. There was a guy from Fur there (he had a Fur t-shirt), I asked him the admissions charge, but he said, "No speak English". I walked back to the Fur. A group of people was there. I didn't realize it right away, but most of them were members of Publicity Band. I picked up on it when they said female band members could go in. The woman from the car in front of me was with them. They referred to the one guy as Buck - his avatar picture is so small! I introduced myself to him and Ms. Devine, whom I did recognize, introduced herself to me. Buck said something about how you aren't allowed to chew gum. One of the women said, "This isn't Dream!" I was the fourth guest through the door. As I stepped to the door, one of the security guards shook hands with me. He works at Takoma Station when I go there on Wednesdays. The cover was $35.

The Blue Room is far from an ideal performance area. The dance floor is small, and a number of the seats don't actually face the stage. I got a seat on a coach facing the stage.

Publicity Band
There was a crackling sound throughout most of the set
1) Ms. Devine-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - it had more harmony and different keyboard hits from FF's version
2) Ms. Devine-led "There's so many things, free your mind"
3) Male-led "That girl thinks that she's so fine"
4) Male-led The GAP Band's Outstanding
The crank started with
5) Male-led ?
6) Male-led "turn me on?"
7) Male-led ?
8) Male-led "Love you" - it had harmony, I think I recognize the song as one that After Hours performed at the Fantasia After Party
9) Male-led ?
10) Male-led "Make money" - nice crank
11) Male-led "Funky Stuff"
During the set, three girls sat over by me on the couch. The one right next to me was dark skinned with glasses. I introduced myself to her, but she just smiled (in a way that said I had no chance) and shook my hand. Later she asked me what I do when she saw me taking notes. Chi Ali sat at the couch next to mine and said hello. Other people here during this set - Stomp and Nephew. Publicity sounded sort of busy during the set, I think the PA system had something to do with that. They did have nice harmony. It was pretty crowded by the end of their set.

Before After Hours started performing, I saw Slim Goodie, Mama Chelle, 02, Delano, 6'9, Tyrell, Britney, and Delano. The group of women sitting by me left to go to the bar, and a new group of women sat down by me.

After Hours Band
1) Sean (Kal'el)-led "To hold you tight" - I believe this was the same song as their opening song at the Fantasia After-Party
2) Pretty Nikki or TJ-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - nice, but very different from the FF version The crank started with
3) Chi Ali-led "Let me introduce myself"
4) Pretty Nikki or TJ-led Jill Scott's He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)
5) Sean-led "Big boy spot"
6) Pretty Nikki or TJ-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl (tease)
7) Chi Ali-led "I wish I could make you feel it"
8) Pretty Nikki or TJ-led Michael Jackson's Thriller (tease)
9) Chi Ali-led "2ing to the 3"
10) Pretty Nikki or TJ-led "All aboard the night train"
11) Alternating Sean-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down / Chi Ali-led "Step down, step back"
12) Chi Ali did announcements while the percussion section played.
The PA wasn't the best, but it was a nice performance. DP and Packy were there during the performance. Packy told me it was his birthday (the 4th). Even before the performance ended, they had opened up the entrance to the main room and people started to go in.

In the main room, I told DP about the gum, he said he chewed gum when they searched him. We talked about stringent security, he said, "Why would I bring a weapon in here?" He further said if they frisked his feet, he would just go home. A woman who looked familiar (I later learned her name is Shonda) asked me, "Are you Mr. Funk?" I said yes and asked her who she was. She and her friend with her are both bartenders from Safari. A woman I didn't know came right up to me; she was dark skinned with sunglasses on. She had had a shot of Wild Turkey and another drink, but she wasn't "where she needed to be." She is a bigger fan of Reggae than of GoGo. I told her about Deep Band and she was really interested. When I went to the bar, Supa Dan said hello. The woman left to go to the mezzanine, but asked me to stay there so she could see me again. She got Ras' website address from me.

L!ssen
E dedicated the whole show to Luther Vandross
Stan Da Man was the guitarist
This was the first time I have seen Michael Thompson in person without his eye patch (he did have a cast on his arm)
1) Michael-led "Let me hold you tight"
2) Michael-led "My heart breaks"
3) Yannie-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - laid back at first. Yannie is a great singer, but she over sang this; I wished I had ear plugs.
4) Michael-led "Heartbreak hotel"
5) Michael-led "I will say goodbye"
6) E-led Ludacris' Number One Spot
7) E-led "Racking four bones (or four balls, he had his hand on his crotch, but also held out four fingers)
The crank started with
8) Yannie-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl
9) Alternating E-led "Oh yeah, ladies" / "Hold it"
10) Yannie-led Amerie's 1 Thing
10) Michael-led Toto's Georgy Porgy
11) E-led "Say what, uh oh, uh uh oh"
12) Instrumental
E did a shout out to Levert, apparently on the mezzanine level? Their performance didn't flat out bore me like they did at their album release party, but they just don't do it for me.

Tracy, Angie, and Tamara came by. Sharmba Mitchell and Tijuana there. Angie pointed out Jay Floyd.

Familiar Faces
James and Jacques were there from the beginning.
Angie had us go up closer to support FF.
1) Halima-led Rodgers & Hart's My Funny Valentine - This is now the best performance from her I have witnessed, surpassing the best Free Yourself performance I've witnessed
2) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again - she pulled out all the stops on this one too
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
5) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a Minute" echoes
6) Donnell-led Tupac's Hail Mary (tease)
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda - the crowd roared
8) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
9) Donnell-led Hold the Note - Smoke added a different beat than usual
10) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up)
12) Doc-led Snoop's Drop It Like It's Hot
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Work the Walls (tease)
14) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
15) Donnell-led Rick James' Mary Jane (tease)
16) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
17) Donnell-led Vinnie D's Porno Star?
18) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Work the Walls - Donnell said, "Fun withya, done withya"
19) Donnell acapella Prince's Take Me With You
James did some crotch grabbing during the set.
During the performance, Jay went up to me and said, "Now who's number one?"
This was a nice performance.
I told Jay that Ed Stewart had filmed the prior show there. I noticed that none of the bands said "Happy Fourth of July", nor did FF do a birthday shout out for Packy.

I talked with Doc; he said he was surprised to see me there. I saw Diva with 02. There was a huge crowd to get out. Yvette waved to me outside. Outside I asked Doc about what he said, he said it's not a nice neighborhood and he doesn't like to be there. He hasn't gotten to sleep since Tradewinds and was headed toward an errand. Godfather had gotten a spot real close to the Fur. 02 and Diva walked by, 02 said I must have gotten there real early. Getting out was a pain, eventually a cop had me back up and eventually I had to turn around to get out. Godfather got out before me. I had meant to check how many GoGo's I've been to, I did and figured out that this was my 100th!

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

I went in and ate, 6'9 sat down with me. Ray came by and said hello to both of us.

Familiar Faces
First Set
James and Charlie were there from the start
Tracy and Angie danced over by me. Angie was trying to get me to dance more. The same woman as last week (KD) was again mocking my head bobbing. What they don't realize is that I learned to dance from these two guys:

1) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You
2) Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You
3) Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy
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) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - with a really long intro
8) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
9) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot - Donnell added the line "Bounce, bounce"
10) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself
During this song Angie had me swaying back and forth.

RE Angie, Mama Chelle, March, Nita, Tasty, and Renee were there. Mark (I think) said that I must know something about the food since I never eat. I told them how I don't perform, so I am not going to take their food. One of the cooks? said I look Italian, I should like some pasta. Doc said I'm not Italian, the cook said Greek, he'd like a steak and cheese. They also discussed the Rare Essence remix of Ludacris' Pimpin' All Over the World; that it works because of the simple beats.

Second Set
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized
2) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?"
3) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
4) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - Donnell said, "I thought we was a runaway train, right before we crash, we hit the brake." Donnell yelled to turn the house lights on because there was a fight. Slim Goodie asked me if I was going to write that. Donnell said, "We've had twenty, thirty weeks without fights, I don't know what the problem is." Donnell said something about Quisette / Notorious BIG's Warning / "Wait a Minute" echoes / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
5) Donnell-led "uh ah ___"
6) Donnell-led Tupac's Hail Mary (tease)
7) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
8) Donnell-led Hold the Note
9) Donnell-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl (tease)
10) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time "aya awa-a"
11) Mike-led Rare Essence's Lock It / Donnell-led Sam Cooke's Chain Gang
12) Donnell-led Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me
A girl named Shaadi danced with Mike, then had Donnell resume Miss Keta so she could dance for him
13) Mike-led Michael Jackson's I Can't Help It
Jessica pulled me over to March, whom I grinded with for a bit during the set. Later, the woman who mocked my head bobbing (KD) danced with me and she actually told 6'9 to leave me alone. Yvette was there.

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

Candy and Michon arrived. Peanut was also there. Lorenzo practiced on the keyboard. Michon took pictures during the performance.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Mr. Magic
Halima was eating from Wendy's again. While they performed Mr. Magic, I told her that this song is where the GoGo beat came from. I told her that when they did Night Time is the Right Time that it was different since Chuck is about the only GoGo artist who does Blues. She said she was surprised she remembered all the words.
2) Halima-led Alicia Keys' Diary
Mike dedicated the whole show to Luther Vandross; he said, "He was called home."
3) Mike-led The Stylistics' People Make the World (Go Round)
Mike said that Luther's voice didn't change since he was seventeen, I can't sing like Luther, but I will give it a shot. In the news, there is burning everyday, redemption is coming, the man they call our leader doesn't like people who look like you and me
4) Mike-led Bernard Ighner's Everything Must Change
5) Mike-led Sammy Davis Jr.'s The Candy Man "Some say who can make the ___ go on, who can make the sun rise"
Someone said, "Don't that sound like don't cha know?"
6) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know
7) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Golden Lady
8) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - Mike said, "This is a ladies song, I will have to make a rebuttal to this song". Halima laughed. Mike said, "I will be nice".
Donnell said, "They tore down Oxford Knolls ten years ago."

6'9, Nita, and Lisa of the World were there. I sat in the same seat initially, and Halima sat next to me. Then Halima had me move over so that Nita could sit on her right. Peanut asked me if I was pimping. I said no. I talked with Thomas and Peanut - about music and Maryland basketball. Thomas asked me who my favorite bands were; I talked about PFunk and Miles Davis. I said that Ricky Wellman had played with Miles Davis. We also talked about basketball; they asked if I was a big Bias fan. I said that I was thirteen when he died (actually I was twelve; I was four months from thirteen). I said that my first year at Maryland was Walt's senior year.

Second Set
1) Mike-led Michael Jackson's I Can't Help It
The crank started with
2) Donnell-led "___ is in the house"
3) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
4) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - with different keyboard sounds than usual
5) Donnell-led Hold the Note
6) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
7) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
8) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
9) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot - Donnell added the line "Bounce, bounce", the hits had more "punctuation" than usual
10) Doc & Halima-led "I should? That's my sh*t"" - I ask Doc what it was later, he said something with Nelly & Fat Joe - I looked up Get it Poppin' but it doesn't seem to match the lyrics, rather they matched Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
Donnell did a shout out to Tony Sharpe.

Peanut, Candy, and Tony Sharpe

Tyrell was there. I told Halima who Tony Sharpe was. Benjiy said hello, called me light skin. She asked why he did that, said that Jacques has light skin. I told her a number of people have thought based on my interests that I am Black, even one of the grad schools I applied to, even though I filled in Caucasian on the forms. Stomp told Netty about the dating service he wants me to put on the blog. Halima said of my notes, I bet those are gold to you. I told her I type them up them put them in a bag.

Doc asked if I could imagine Jauhar as Mayor of DC, he is apparently considering running. Doc said, I could see him as Mayor, but wouldn't believe anything he said. I asked, "How much of what Anthony Williams says do you believe?" Jacques said Jauhar's seriously considering running, can you see Jauhar in a bow tie?


Stomp playing congas

Third Set
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
2) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
3) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / Percussion solo - the crowd shouted, "Wind me up Smoke" / "Wait a Minute" echoes
4) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me - "Od ba ba ba"
5) Percussion solo with Donnell chanting
6) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine
7) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25, 30, 40, Girl wants to shake that ass, but you've got to give up the cash" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - he added the line "Hey Tamika", Mike added something as well and the crowd shouted, "South, Southeast"
8) Donnell-led DIP with added rap / the music switched to Faith Evans' Mesmerized, but the lyrics were still those to DIP / Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Stomp twirled his left drumstick (that was something Jammin' Jeff did)
9) Donnell rapped - Donnell said, "That's all I know, I need a copy from you Nephew"
Lisa, the same short unsmiling woman I saw sitting by the monitors with Rare Essence at Club U was there. Tijuana and Ytee were there. Donnell said, "Thank you, Lincoln Heights, since we got rid of your girl, sent her on a slow boat to China. Mission impossible, will self destruct. Look at Yolanda (complimenting her based on her tight outfit). Get in the grass girl"
10) Donnell-led Sugar Hill Gang's Rapper's Delight (tease)
Only Stomp was still playing. Donnell said, "Googie, tell Larry to give it up."

Thursday at Bryne Manor
Bryne Manor (3877 Knights of Columbus), 1501 Southern Ave, Oxon Hill, MD 20745

The flyer said $10 before 9 PM, so I was there before 9. I was the first guest. I even arrived before Suga Wuga. He talked with a security guy about how he was taking a risk with this show - he didn't get to hand out flyers after last night's show due to the early ending. I told him about the sewage problem. He called me Familiar Faces #1 fan. He said that FF is booked solid through October. He said taking risks is okay, it's only money. He said that the security guard shot at Lavar Arrington's party was one of the Four Horsemen. I went in with him and sat in a plush chair. I met a guy named 'Metrie, we talked a couple of times. The next guest arrived at 10:20 PM.

Telando came out and talked with me. He said he works for the government. He's getting old and should let someone young do this for a change. I said that he gets paid to go to GoGo performances. He said yes, that's cool. He said he sits in the back or wears earplugs so his hearing is unimpaired. I told him about a music professor I had who has tinnitus. He said, "I know what that is." He said he's almost done, his big three for the summer are Unifest, the BBQ battle, and I forget the third. When Thomas walked in, he said, "We can't get rid of you, huh?" Suga Wuga got Popeye's chicken for the security guys. A bass player walked in - he had a bass on his back; he wore a white Old Navy t-shirt. When the GoGo pics guy set up the backgrounds, I noticed one of the backgrounds was specific to this venue; it was of a black Escalade SUV and had "The Manor" and "Byrne Manor" printed on it.

I eventually went into the performance room - the lights were dimmed so that it would be cooler. Godfather said hello. He asked if Little Benny had played yet, I told him no one had. Then he walked over to Thomas and Googie. Thomas said to/of Godfather, "Look, it's one of the coneheads!" Los, Charlie and Little Benny were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Charlie was the second percussionist for the night
Donnell said, "You know it's the first of the month when Charlie got new stuff, buttas, new cowbell, Chinese shirt (Solbiato brand).
Donnell, Halima, and Mike performed when they tested their mics (they don't always). Halima laughed. There was lots of messing around.
The crank started immediately with:
1) Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
Day Day, the conga player from the beginning at Safari last Friday, said hello to me
3) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
4) Donnell-led "Trinidad crew" rap - "Da na ah"
5) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
6) Donnell-led Hold the Note
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda

Ray and 6'9 were there. I asked Doc how many sets they were performing, he didn't know. One of the drum set up guys talked with me and Telando about TCB's movie. We discussed how negative the cover image of the movie is for GoGo.

His brother, the other drum set up man, is the bass player for Dynasty Band. They thought I was the one in change of Byrne Manor, since I was there so early sitting in the plush chair outside the performance room. When I told them what I am really doing, they were interested in having me write about the Dynasty Band. He gave me the manager's phone number, his name is Twin. I teased Packy about wearing sunglasses; he said he's trying to be incognito. There was a really statuesque woman named JoJo there.

Second Set
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
The crank started with
2) Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Little Benny joined in - Donnell-led Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a Minute" echoes
3) Mike-led Donna Summer's Love to Love You, Baby (tease)
4) Little Benny-led Notorious BIG's Warning
5) Little Benny-led Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
6) Little Benny-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (Donnell still did the effects), Mike added singing in a high voice
7) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
8) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
9) Donnell-led Rick James' Mary Jane (tease)
10) Donnell & Little Benny-led Rare Essence's Roll Call - Halima joined in the dance
11) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25, 30, 40, Girl want to shake that ass, but you've got to give up the cash" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
13) Donnell-led "___ Got No Drawers"
14) Donnell-led 911
Los danced onstage
15) Rare Essence's Marinda - instrumental
16) Little Benny rapped
17) Donnell-led Family
18) Donnell acapella Dave Hollister's One Woman Man "Seeing you reminds me of"
19) Donnell acapella Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane
6'9 did more stuff with my hands during this set. He just doesn't think I dance and party enough.

JoJo danced up front at the end. Donnell's talked to her on the mic, "We was neighbors. Get off of him, you know I get jealous." He thanked the drum set up guys, saying, "Thank you, Harry's drum majors." Donnell teased Charlie more about his shirt and his shoes, "it's three blades of grass, not a tree, those are Timbos, not Timberlands. Charlie's shirt is from Godfather's store. He has an independence car (whatever that means)." Charlie said, "I'm not forty, over the hill." Donnell said to Tijuana, "Tijuana said when I popped the Jaguar, you were out of there." Stomp said of Nephew (who wore an orange United Clothiers Association t-shirt), "He looks like a last year pumpkin."

I asked DP about his vacation, he enjoyed it. He went to Myrtle Beach with his kids. I said, "Again?" There were between thirty to fifty people in the audience.