Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private location

Familiar Faces
When I arrived, I didn't see Donnell's car, but I did see Godfather's. I went inside, but the inner door was locked. After I tried to open it, someone I didn't recognize let me in. He was part of the studio crowd.

Doc and Godfather were already in the rehearsal area. They were working on a couple of songs I didn't recognize. In hindsight, I believe one was Alicia Keys' Unbreakable.

I told them that I had never seen Familiar Faces work a crowd like they did on Sunday night.

Jacques walked in and he also talked about Sunday's show. He said that Sixx had said that until that night, he never thought anyone could outcrank Rare Essence.

Donnell and Dwayne were the next to arrive.

Dwayne said something about how good MVP was. I asked, "Then how come they aren't playing anymore?" He said sa band doesn't have to be playing to be...

Over time Jauhar, Duane Face, Stomp & Omar, Mike Muse, DP, and Lorenzo arrived.

Donnell pulled out his new portable horn mic set up. Dwayne said, "Don't leave the stage!"

Doc talked with Dwayne about buying a portable mic set up for his bass.

They had a heated discussion about what music is appropriate for the audience they are going for.

They discussed Halima's range, dropping songs that are too low that she had first sung when she replaced Adia: Erykah Badu's Danger, Alicia keys' Diary (Donnell called it Secrets). They said Jill Scott's A Long Walk was barely in her range.

They also talked about her drinking tea during performances, that if she's going to do it, they should incorporate it into her act like Erykah Badu: put some style into it.

Donnell talked about how he was inspired by the Anthony Hamilton live DVD (Comin' From Where I'm From, Live & More). He said that he lead off Since I Seen't You with an intro - "holding a note". He wanted them to have the same kind of thing. Godfather said, you mean "interludes and preludes". Donnell asked if Mike had watched it. He said, "My kids peed on it." Donnell said, "Wipe the piss off and give it back to me." They came up with one initially also to use with Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You. Lorenzo led the composing, but Donnell said that intentionally he didn't want to be something completely scripted. Doc said to Lorenzo, you stole that, I know exactly where you got it from. I later called him on it; he talked about it being similar to something on Gratitude (I assume he means the Earth, Wind & Fire album). Stomp and Donnell said that it was like church. Godfather kept referring to Lorenzo as "the tall man." Donnell asked something about it to Lorenzo. He talked about the tonal center. Donnell said he wasn't afraid to ask questions. Stomp hit the cymbal suddenly and Mike laughed because Duane Face was startled. Donnell talked about how the trumpet is a dominant voice, so it is important to keep that in mind in composing DP's part. He had them change a note that he would play on the sax because it was too close to DP's note. Stomp said, "If you can't play the trumpet and read the music (of course they had no sheet music), learn to play the trombone." Everyone laughed. I talked about the trombone group Bonerama. They talked about how they could use this prelude for songs that started with a downbeat including I Want You. Mark played something as part of it that made Mike say, "That sounds like Count Dracula." I talked about how Blacula had played the organ in the movie Blacula.

Mike Muse talked with me about Whitney Houston and Vanessa Williams, how they both said, "Kiss my ass!" I said that the In Living Color skit changing Vanessa Williams' Save the Best for Last into "You Can All Kiss My Ass" was one of my favorite Living Color skits.

They talked about what went right at the Fur show. They talked about what Halima had done; Dwayne said she had changed the game and made the other female vocalists cry. They said that they were all on the same page from the very start. Dwayne talked about "Using all their weapons" and "bringing everything they've got." They discussed listening to the recording of the Fur to see if it can provide any more insights on what to do in the future.

White Linen Party at the Fur
Fur Night Club, 33 Patterson St NE, Washington, DC 20002

I parked in the same place I had at the previous Fur show I attended. I was the first person in line. Two women came after me. They had a friend who was a bartender there. She came out to them, but they wouldn't let them in yet either. Three deaf guys came by, read the clothing rules on the walls by me and asked me what time they opened at. Since as far as I knew it would be 10 PM, I put up my hands and tapped my watch to show that. The two women said they didn't ever wait in line, so they left.

Next two older men came by. Since it was clear they weren't letting us in yet, they went to their car to drink and invited me. I declined. I saw the Fur staff let the bass player and one other member of Soundproof Band. They finally let us in at 10:30 PM. I was the first in of the paying fans. When I handed my ticket in, the guy laughed, probably because I chose not to wear white.

They let us into the club, but not the performance area. Unlike last time, all of the performances were in the larger area. The blue room stage had couches and tables on it, but it was roped off anyway.

I sat in a chair and waited for the performance area to open up. The security guard who works the front door of Takoma Station came by and talked to me.

The guy who had been behind me in line came and said hello to me again. He told me he lost his tooth.

A girl at a couch several feet away waved, apparently to me.

Packy came by and said hello. Chi Ali went to the bar.

Sometime after 11 PM, they let us in.

When I walked in, I spotted Jacques with Michon. I said hello to him. I asked him how the anniversary party that Familiar Faces had performed at earlier in the evening had gone. He said it was good. I asked if he was the only one in the band here. He said, No, that DP was here.

I went over to the bar and got a Coke. DP came by and teased me about not wearing white.

Nephew was there.

Soundproof Band came on a little before 11:40 PM. They were all dressed in white, and a number of them wore t-shirts with the band logo on them. I noticed the lead female singer from the last time I saw them was not there. I asked Packy about her (I knew that his cousin Danni is the other female vocalist), he said she had left the band. They have three male vocalists (lead talker, lead singer, and backup singer), and two female vocalists
1) Male-led ?
2) Female (not Danni)-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - not bad
The lead talker said, "Going to have a good time tonight"
The crank started with
3) Male-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down - nice harmony, but the lead vocals weren't really distinct
4) Male-led "Bad Girl, If You Want to Party"
5) Danni-led Amerie's 1 Thing
6) Male-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl (tease)
7) Danni-led "Some Guy is spending on me"
8) Lead talker-led "Bam Ban, do it like this, wait and I show you this"
9) Lead talker-led "Peek a boo to ya"
10) Lead talker-led "All the _____ in the club" - it had a repeating keyboard phrase
The lead talker did announcements then the set ended.
I thought they were not bad, but their vocals and music aren't very distinct to me.

Arielle, Angie, Tamara, Tracy Smoot, Darrell, and Shadonna were there. I told Angie that I had seen her last night. I asked her if she was along that night. She said Tracy was there too. Tamara asked me about the crowd, she said it was smaller than last time. I told her that at the previous show, the first two bands had already performed in the other area (which she didn't know), so it was too early to make a comparison.

I spotted Dey and Slim Goodie in the mezzanine level. Dey waved to me.

Mike Muse said hello to me.

A guy came and said to me, "I see you at every Familiar Faces show. Are you their manager?" I told him that I wasn't.

After Hours Band
Before they performed, the members of After Hours Band joined hands in a circle and spoke to each other (we in the audience couldn't hear what they said- whether it was a prayer, a motivational speech, etc.)
Chi Ali addressed the TMOTT members on the mezzanine level, including Blak, whom I hadn't spotted.
1) Sean (Kal'el)-led "TLE say oh no, they don't know"
Chi Ali addressed the audience
2) TJ-led (Tom Browne's) "Funking for Jamaica", "All night long"
3) Chi Ali & TJ-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl
4) Alternating Sean-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down - Sean stood at the edge of the stage / Chi Ali-led "Step front, step back" - Sean stood on the speaker in front of the stage, Chi Ali tapped his tambourine against Pretty Nikki's leg
Sean went back onstage
5) Chi Ali-led "Drop ___" - Pretty Nikki sang "oh"
6) TJ-led Jill Scott's He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat) - the band members held their hands palms up - with the index fingers up and the tips touching and the thumbs down and the tips touching making a diamond shape
7) Chi Ali-led ?
Chi Ali went on a speaker in front of the stage. He talked to a girl in the audience. Sean also stood on a speaker.
8) They played the bassline to Rare Essence's Body Snatchers / Chi Ali-led Kanye West's Gold Digger
Chi Ali and Sean returned to the stage
9) TJ-led S.O.S. Band's Just Be Good to Me - Pretty Nikki and TJ stood on the edge of the stage
10) TJ?-led Gloria Estefan's Rhythm Is Gonna Get You (tease)
TJ and Pretty Nikki returned to their regular spots on stage
11) TJ-led Michael Jackson's Thriller - TJ went onto the speaker
12) Chi Ali-led "2ing to the 2"
13) TJ-led All aboard the night train"
14) Chi Ali & TJ-led "Everybody in the club, put your hands up, make it bounce"
Chi Ali said I'm going to do a public service announcement: he thanked the crowd, for without them, they wouldn't be there.
Chi Ali would call out for TJ or Pretty Nikki to sing during the set.
I liked After Hours' performance. Pretty Nikki wore a very flattering short skirt.

Stacey and RE Angie were there. David and Jauhar walked past me, with Godfather right behind them.

I went up close to the front to watch Familiar Faces' performance. Tracy said, "I can't read your handwriting, it is chicken scratches." I said, "I can't always either."

Tata and L-Boogie were there.

Nephew played on the congas during set up.

Familiar Faces
Halima said, "A lot of things are going on"
1) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - she took off her shoes and got on the speaker - she gave a great performance, the crowd, which I noticed was packed, sang along, almost as loud as Halima on the mic, she bounced up and down, Donnell played both his soprano and alto Saxes for this song
2) Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes - Halima gave a similar speech to the night before, saying "Sometimes you need to say what you need to say", She later said, "Sometimes your man is telling you stories, you don't believe him, he won't let you out", She sat on the stage, with her legs on the speaker - again excellent and the crowd responded accordingly
3) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U - Mike stood at the edge of the stage, the frontline danced
4) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - really strong crowd response, Donnell stood on the speaker, Halima mimed some of it and let the crowd sing / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa - the crowd danced harder in a way I hadn't seen before
5) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?" - The crowd was yelling their response
6) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh" - he lead it, but the crowd was a backup singer
7) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" - Halima and Mike posed for the ladies/fellas lines
The lights went off for the start of:
8) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - the frontline danced, again strong crowd response / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / Donnell-led "Wait a minute" echoes - the crowd shouted "Go-Go Smoke-ay"
9) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - the ladies response when Donnell said, "by yourself ladies" was loud
10) Donnell-led Hold the Note - first Halima, then the entire frontline danced
11) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What? - Donnell stood on the speaker
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time - again strong crowd response
They paused, Halima bowed, but they weren't done yet
14) Donnell-led "Southeast, South, Southeast"
15) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up) - Donnell stood on the speaker, Halima mimed "I can't hear you" and danced
16) Donnell & Halima-led Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp
17) Donnell-led Kanye West's Gold Digger "Get Down" - Halima mimed
18) Donnell-led Family
Donnell said, "Good evening"
19) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
Donnell said "That's it, we got to go before I have to beat up Stomp".
20) Donnell-led chant "Brandywine, friends of mine"
Donnell announced it was Jacques' birthday.
I have never seen Familiar Faces work the crowd better than they did tonight. They controlled the crowd throughout the performance. I knew Donnell said they were going to really put on a show, but I was really impressed. Onstage with the band during the set were: Nephew, Los, RE Angie, Sixx, and Tijuana. At the end, as they were leaving the stage, Tasty and Nita were there.

JoJo was there.

I talked with Doc for a little. I asked Michon what number birthday it was for Jacques.

I helped Doc by carrying one of his basses for a bit. Tasty and Nita teased me.

This time it was easy to get out of the street, L-Boogie directed people out of my way for me.

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

When I walked up, Godfather, Googie and Vincent were talking. I said hello to Godfather, then walked in. John, the cover guy, joked with me that What? Band was performing instead.

James was there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Donnell wore a dark blazer, a dark shirt and jeans.
Mike said, "I will sing this one out to all the beautiful ladies in the house."
1) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself
2) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You - Halima sang to herself, there was a nice percussion solo
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" - Halima posed the "do it for the ladies" part
5) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
6) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized
7) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Halima held her mic to the crowd / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa - very heavy beats
8) Donnell-led Brown & White
9) Donnell-led Ride Out - Donnell invited Slick Rick onstage, he did the Ride Out dance
10) Donnell-led Northeast Groovers' The Water
11) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - Halima was onstage barefoot, she bounced, excellent performance / Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes - also excellent, Halima said, "It's been some kind of week. I have to say what I have to say. Right ladies? That doesn't mean I feel that way. Somebody knows what I mean out there.", Women behind me in the crowd said, "Yes" to Mike, Mike said, "Ready to say yes, treat her right."
I grinded with two women separately during the set

Archie Paige, 6'9, Angie, and Chocoltchp were there.

Ebony came over and talked with me. I didn't recognize her at first - in her words, "I have hair."

I asked Donnell how often he plans to use the Bike Week configuration which he used last night. He said, "As much as possible." I asked him about wearing the blazer tonight; he said, "This is the new me." The other band members laughed.

Doc introduced me to his cousin Wes. I asked Wes if he was a musician; he said he was a rapper. I talked with Doc about Ras Lidj's review of Fatal Attraction. He had read it. I told him that Kato manages them and that he had recently brought their female singer Ms. Chevy to a FF show at Safari a few weeks ago. I had noticed her mainly because she is very attractive. He said he didn't remember Kato being with a young attractive woman recently. I told Doc about Duane Face's tenure with the band, the guitar player he introduced me to at the Northeast Groovers reunion. I also told him about the drummer Smoky Joe who now plays for What? Band.

An attractive woman named Tiffany F. hung out int the kitchen. She later walked over and gave me her number. I then asked her name. She said, "50/50" (joking about being married). She put her arm around me and said, "This is my new boo".

Los was there.

Second Set
1) Donnell acapella Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp (tease)
Donnell said to Stomp: "Go where they are beating their feet."
Donnell said to women in the audience, "What do you mean where are the men at? We're the men, you don't need anyone but us."
2) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
Donnell said to a woman in the audience, "You're making me jealous."
3) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - there was a different beat to this performance, there was a purposeful pause
4) Donnell-led Hold the Note - Mike danced with a female fan
5) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?"
6) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - the frontline, Doc and Dwayne danced / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes - Los danced
7) Donnell-led Tupac's Hail Mary
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon? / Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease)
9) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
10) Donnell-led Rick James' Mary Jane (tease)
11) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease) - Halima pretended to play the congas
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine
13) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That
14) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - Mike again danced with a fan
15) Donnell-led Kanye West's Gold Digger - Los and Halima were dancing in sync
16) Donnell & Halima-led Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp (tease) - Doc was on backup
17) Mike-led Lap Dance - Donnell chanted "Swing your body" and Mike chanted "swing" - Stomp threw a drumstick at Halima
18) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
A guy in the crowd shouted, "Lincoln Heights" repeatedly.
19) Donnell acapella Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp (tease)
Donnell said, "We need to take a collection, since Vincent got his test results back; he's got the Arthur Ashe..." Vincent just laughed.

Yvette, Felecia, JoJo, and Tracy were there.

A woman asked me my name, she said saw me all the time there at about the same spot.

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

I asked Doc how the wedding was. He said good, the guests partied.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Donnell had them put make the configuration the same as at Bike Week: Mike, Halima, Donnell, and Smoke up front, DP further back
Mike Smith played drums just for this set
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Mr. Magic
Donnell said we got to try something
2) Halima-led Jill Scott's A Long Walk - excellent, Halima bounced and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures.
She really had a lot of energy right away.
Halima said, "Yes, I got an issue tonight. Anyone see how high the gas prices are. I went to a gas station and they changed the price sign while I was there. The government is losing their minds. There are even worse things down south."
They did a smooth transition straight into
3) Halima-led Brand New Heavies' Never Stop
Donnell said, "Thank you Lorenzo, that's alright, I've been dreaming when it's like that." He referred to the smooth transition.
4) Mike-led Ruff Endz' Someone to Love You
Mike said, "I have a unique ability to make twenty minutes seem like an hour and twenty minutes."
Halima said, "Twenty minutes?"
Donnell said, "You heard it, twenty minutes."
5) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself
Halima had a monologue with the ladies in the audience
6) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself / Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes - both very nice performances
DJ Flava (aka GoGo Rudy) set up lights on the side of the stage during the set.

Tasty, Nita, Kato, Mara, and Tyrell were there.

I saw over next to Tasty and Nita. I threw a pool cue case over in the far seat. Keisha (as I later learned her name) said, "You almost spilled my drink." I said, "But I didn't."

Later, Tiffany sat by me.

Peg Leg waved to me, he kept signaling to me by waving his arm. His friend said on his behalf that he was going to try to rap again tonight.

Shawn & Shante, Stacey, Lisa of the World, and Sanisse were there.

I said hello to the woman sitting next to me. She told me her name is Keisha. She said she had talked with me before, that I was real nice to her. I don't know why I hadn't remembered that - I am usually very good with remembering talking with people, especially attractive women. She said she's part of a film crew shooting a documentary on GoGo for MTV. She got up to play pool. When she sat down again, I asked her if she worked with Ed Stewart. She said, "Yes, how do you know him?" I told her I had met with him. She said, "So do you know Michael Flowers too?" I said, "No, but I had read about him."

Britney was there, she sat on the right speaker.

Second Set
1) Donnell sang (fooling around): "Be Cool with ya, shoot pool with ya"
2) Donnell-led "Where you at ___,"
3) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You - Halima and Donnell danced
4) Donnell-led "Brandywine" chant
5) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima bounced
6) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
7) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
8) Alternating Donnell-led "Da na aah, We got ___" - Donnell said their not ready yet / Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - Omar tapped a conga with a drumstick, the frontline danced
9) Donnell-led Hold the Note - the frontline danced
10) Donnell-led Kanye West's Gold Digger
11) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease)
Donnell said, "We're going back to Eastside."
He then had an intentional pause before going into:
12) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - Britney, who had been dancing onstage since Hold the Note, played on the congas
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Doing the Do - "Are we loaded, I got no such..., no punk"
14) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
Donnell joked, "I'm the Pappy, Let's Go Tasty"
15) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me - Tiffany, Keisha, Britney were among the girls who danced onstage
Donnell said, "Girls gone wild"
A guy asked me during the set where DeeDee was.

Keta and Monique were there.

Stomp sat next to me. Later, Stacey sat over by us on a stool.

Kato introduced me to Net Boo. She said, "Don't say I did anything." I kidded her about that.

Third Set
Godfather played while Donnell did announcements, Donnell said, "Hold on Liberace"
Donnell did a shout out to Jay Gotti, "not yet, let's try to do something for the ladies."
1) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
2) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - nice percussion solo, the frontline danced / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
Halima played a tambourine with her water bottle
3) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - she bounced, Donnell danced
4) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What? - Donnell chanted "What?" in a different way
5) Alternating Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time "aya awa-ah" / Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads up) - Donnell chanting "It's Like an Eastside Party"
6) Donnell-led Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp / Kanye West's Gold Digger (tease)
7) Jay Gotti rapping
8) Mike-led Michael Jackson's I Can't Help It - Donnell said, "Double snare, right there" - there was a nice percussion solo
9) Godfather played the music to Rare Essence's Body Snatchers
Donnell said, "I forgot Omar's birthday"
10) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Omar, It's Your Birthday"
11) Rare Essence's Body Snatchers - instrumental
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
Mike said, "Kites do not fly in the projects"
13) Godfather started playing, Donnell said, "Thank you, Godfather", then he said to Googie, "Make sure you turn Godfather off"
14) Donnell did some acapella rap to Monique "All night, all right, play the congas if you're able, RE Angie"
15) Monique did a rap on Familiar Faces, she danced all over the place

RE Angie was there.

When I went to the Mobil by Safari after the show, there were notes with "Out of order" on all of the 87 octane nozzles.

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


Mike, Smoke, Packy, Jacques, Halima, Tamara (back to camera), Stomp (only arm visible), Donnell


DP, Doc, Godfather, Lorenzo, Netty (in white), Dwayne

Yvette was there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Donnell said, "Lincoln Heights is in the house. Adia must have cut them loose."
1) Blueprint - instrumental - nice playing all around, Packy played second percussion
Mike said this is an old fashioned love song off of Evolution.
He repeated that you can pick it up online at TMOTT or Amazon.com.
2) Mike-led I Dreamed You
3) Mike-led John Legend's Live It Up
Mike asked "How many of you are living it up? I don't see anyone smiling.
4) Mike sang something about "Sun, the rain, the Mountains" - he just played around
Mike said, "Sometimes I'm political." He encouraged people to donate to a local charity if not to the people in New Orleans. He then kidded, "Or you give the money to me, I'll give it to them."
5) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People
Mike said, "Who sang praise the lord", then he said something about Sexual Chocolate, then he said, "Don't make me do my Elvis impression. Welcome to Takoma Station where we bring real music to you."
Halima responded "Good."
6) Halima-led Brand New Heavies' Never Stop (debut performance)
Mike said, "That takes you back to 1992."
Halima said, "Is that where that's from?"
I worked on a Brand New Heavies compilation when I worked at Rhino. I found their music to be too light (not crankin' enough) for my taste. I like FF's cover though.
7) Halima-led Jill Scott's A Long Walk (debut performance)
The dance floor filled during
8) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - the frontline danced
Donnell said of Halima, "We're going to rename her Hair Everywhere."
Halima said, "Don't do that; it might change next week."
Mike had a speech I didn't catch leading into:
9) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself
10) Donnell-led ?
Donnell said that Kwame was the enemy, he played for a different summer league team.

Adia, Netty, Tim (LJ), Darrell, Tamara, June and his wife Shadonna, Keisha (Halima's stylist), and Stacey were there.

When I walked out during the break, a woman asked me why I took pictures. I told her. She told me she was a promoter. She gave me a card and asked me to call her. Outside, she told me about a Gospel group. Lorenzo asked me about getting copies of the photos with him in them.

I talked about my car problems - they had Googie talk with me. He said it was probably the battery. I told them how Godfather caught me on the highway on Friday. He said that that was the worst night for him. They talked about the Wedding they would be performing at the next day and the anniversary they would perform at on Sunday.

RE Angie was there.

Second Set
1) Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You
2) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
Halima took her shoes off and went onstage
5) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - one of her best performances ever of this
6) Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes
Donnell said John Thompson III (Georgetown's men's basketball head coach) was somewhere in the house. He praised him, especially his turning around Georgetown. While I respect his ability as a coach, I can't applaud him. Georgetown being successful is not good for Maryland basketball.
Donnell said, "The Bulls drafted Keith Booth and Lonny Baxter; they ruined them."
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
8) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - the frontline danced / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) - Go-Go Mickey played timbales
Go-Go Mickey got off the timbales
9) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Halima bounced, Stephanie from EU rapped (in the second go round) / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa - Go-Go Mickey got back on the timbales
Security kicked out a guy.
10) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That
I danced grinding back to back with a woman. When we were done, I looked to see who it was - one of the female bartenders.
11) Donnell-led DIP
12) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - the frontline danced
13) Donnell-led Hold the Note
14) Mike-led Lap Dance - Go-Go Mickey had a nice timbale solo, Donnell chanted "Swing your body, girl", and Mike chanted "Swing"
Donnell said to Go-Go Mickey, "I thought you was the one to f*ck up"
15) Mike-led Prince's Purple Rain - Ron Sutton Jr. sat in on Saxophone - Ytee threw money down at his feet

Doc, Godfather, Ron Sutton Jr., Lorenzo (only arm and body visible), Ytee (back to camera), YC, DP
All pictures taken by and Copyright Jordan A. Rich
Donnell said, "This is why I almost dropped out of school right there."
Tim said that all the great players like him can play off the beat
Donnell continued: "They didn't let me in the room. His father is a pioneer at WPFW, his massive record collection."
Tim said, "Next time take him with you to Miami."
Donnell said, "No, he'd make me look bad; he'd take my job. I'm going to have to put something in his gas tank."
He talked about other players who were too good: Marshall Keyes and David Rudd.
Donnell said, "I can't say no more, start the bus"
He also teased Halima.

Ytee, Tracy Smoot, 6'9, Sharika, Shawn, Tracy, Slim Goodie, Dey, Tata, YC (he had his flute with him, but did not play it) with Ron Sutton Jr., and Michon were there.

I said to Ytee I hadn't seen him in a long time. He said he was there on Friday, he had tried to get my attention.

I explained some of the analogy that Donnell said to Slim Goodie. (When one team is sure to win, the announcers will say "start the bus" because the losing team might as well leave - "the game is over".)

Jacques and Godfather asked me if I knew where the wedding was, I didn't. I asked Michon if she was going to the wedding. She said maybe. I asked, "Are you going to wear white?" She said she didn't want to show up the bride.

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

When I arrived, the Redskins preseason game against the Steelers was still on. Yaquim came from the game to Safari. The Redskins won 17-10. L-Boogie and Arielle were there.

Halima played congas during set up.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Line up: Mike Muse, Halima, Donnell, DP, Doc, Dwayne, Lorenzo, Godfather, Mike Smith, Smoke, and Jacques.
Packy played third percussion as well.
1) Instrumental
Halima said, "Hello" - laughing.
She then said, "Good evening" and got a crowd response.
She then said, "Anyone out there?"
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - really laid performance by Halima, very different from usual, Doc sang some back up
Halima said, "Y'all alright. Thank you for coming out. It's always a pleasure to see everyone."
3) Halima-led Alicia Keys' Diary - Halima really hit some high notes
4) Halima-led Jill Scott's Whatever - Omar played on the one conga drum as the song winded down
Donnell said to Mike, "Good morning".
Mike said, "Welcome again this Friday evening."
5) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself
Halima complimented Mike. She then said, "We're going to do it for the ladies."
6) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - Halima's singing was excellent, she used the most nonverbal arm & hand gestures of the set, she leaned to the edge of the stage during it -> Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes

Adia was there. Adia wore a black Hooters t-shirt. I kidded her, asking how she had the time to work at Hooters, sing and keep her day job. She said, "Okay, Packy". Packy had said the same thing to her. Actually Hooters merchandise has huge fans among women. I remember there was a couple who murdered another couple (in Maryland's Eastern Shore) in the midst of their crime spree of breaking into Hooters due to their obsession with Hooters. In the same article, there was a girl who said Hooters was her favorite restaurant, even though she lived 400 miles away from the nearest Hooters.

Second Set
As Smoke returned to the stage, I asked him about the "Sir" joke. He and Omar laughed. He said it was an inside joke going back to his days in Northeast.
Donnell said, "Somebody check Godfather's car, it don't smell right. Welcome everyone from the Redskins game."
1) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down - Donnell said, "I want to watch this girl do the shimmy shammy; right there, Smoke."
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures
3) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
4) Donnell-led Hold the Note
Donnell said, "Adia, are you working tonight?"
She sat in.
5) Adia-led Erykah Badu's Danger
6) Donnell-led "Da na aah, We got ___"
Shorty Corleone from Rare Essence sat in (He wore a white t-shirt, jeans, and black sunglasses)
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine - Shorty drew it out very slowly
8) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease) - Donnell did the keyboard effects vocally / Rare Essence's Spotlight - Mike hit some really high notes / Rare Essence?s Get on the Wagon?
9) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease) - Shorty didn't sit in on this song, but came back for the rest of the set after Donnell said, "One more thing"
10) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Body Snatchers
11) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - Dave "32" Ellis from Rare Essence also joined in for the rest of the set (he wore a Miami Heat Shaquille O'Neal jersey, appropriately numbered 32, a baseball cap, and sunglasses)
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time
14) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up) (tease)
15) Donnell-led Slick Rick's La Di Da Di (tease)

Tyrell, DeeDee, and 6'9 were there.

During the break, I finally introduced myself to the two lady regulars who hang out by the monitor board at Safari and Tradewinds. Their names are Shawn and Shante (spelling). Shawn said she and Donnell go back to his days with Rare Essence.

RE Angie was there. She played congas during the break.

Third Set
Donnell did a shout out to John Turner, the former Georgetown basketball player.
He then said, "The boat ride is sold out, don't come and ask me anymore."
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures
2) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a Minute" echoes - the crowd shouted "Go-Go Smoke-ay" - Halima played a cabasa, Donnell added the verse "___'s in here"
3) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
4) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club - "Go Aria, It's Your Birthday"
5) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Halima bounced up and down and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell inserted a "Wait a Minute" in it for the first time
6) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me - People put bills on Pocahontas' butt as she danced
7) Percussion solo
Someone in the crowd requested a Mike Smith solo
8) Mike Smith drum solo
9) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - the band played with the sample, RE Angie played the congas, Jay Gotti sat in and rapped, RE Angie also rapped, at first not on the mic, then on
Donnell said, "Andre, I haven't seen you since you used to deliver pizzas in Palmer Park. Robbie, I'm going to take you off probation" if she keeps coming out. He continued, "You must have fallen in love".
10) Donnell did the music to the Odd Couple theme vocally
Donnell said, "Mike Smith was stealing time on the video."
Donnell said that Googie would be leaving them tomorrow, "He just loves Pops (Chuck Brown, who is performing at the 9:30 Club tomorrow night)."

Los and Blak were there.

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

Donnell said hello to me as I walked in.

I went and talked to Candy. She said, "Did you miss me?" I said, "Yes." I asked her how Michon was doing. She said she was good and was going to be there tonight. I later talked with Michon and she asked me how Miami was. I told her that it was an experience - hot for Miami and that it killed my appetite.

I said hello to Doc, back from his vacation.

Yvette, Tamara, and Felecia were there.

Junior worked the sound.

Familiar Faces
First Set
There was a nice crank that started during
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Lock It in the Pocket - a very long performance, Lorenzo played a mini moog (he later said tonight's show was a tribute to it's inventor, Bob Moog, who died a few days ago) - it sounded really good
During the performance above - Donnell said, "My man Doc on bass, Welcome home Doc". Smoke had a nice conga solo
2) Mike-led I Dreamed You - Mike said, "I'm trying to get skinny again. This is a song about love that is wished for; the perfect love that comes once in a lifetime."
Mike said, "This song is from Evolution. You can order it from TMOTT or Amazon.com, I don't think it's in the stores anymore."
Donnell said, "We're going to try to learn this song off the radio."
Mike said, "If a man tells you he'll make love to you all night, he's lying."
3) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself (debut)
The dance floor filled during
4) Halima-led Jill Scott's Golden
Halima kidded, "I want to thank my saxophonist". She laughed.
5) They started to perform the music to Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima said, "It's a nice night. We came to party! Everyone have a good time with us.", Donnell said, "Ras Lidj is here celebrating his birthday.", He called up Ras Lidj to perform / Ras Lidj rapped / Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima added a chant of "Baby, Baby!"
6) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - Halima's singing was excellent as usual, Halima made the lyrics transition into / Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes
Halima said, "I like it when I take my shoes off". She laughed.
Donnell said, "Donny Ray, where you at? Donny Ray knows I can sing."

Sharmba Mitchell, Angie, Donny Ray, Tracy, James, Tata, Tim (LJ), June & his wife Shadonna, 6'9, and Sharika were there.

I went outside. I asked Mike the name of the song that is Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself.

DeeDee and Nikiya walked in while I was outside.

I walked in behind Doc, Dwayne, and Stomp. Tasty and Nita were there. Tasty asked jokingly, "Are you in the band?" Nita said, "Because you walked in with the band."

Second Set
Donnell did announcements, especially for Saturday's boat ride. He said $50 is the no knucklehead price. He then said, "Ray, you know you can't afford that. You'll probably go to the Tradewinds on Saturday". He then said, "All the other bands in the city are going down to Puerto Rico (for Labor Day weekend) to perform for the Puerto Ricans (he pronounced it Rick-ans)
Mike made fun of his pronunciation, said he's probably the type to say Eye-talians...
Darrell corrected my spelling of his name. I asked him why he waited so long. He said, "I know who I am and you know who I am, what does it matter if everyone else does?"
The crank started during
1) Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
A woman who had danced with me at Takoma Station a few weeks ago said hello to me. She kept trying to give me tips during the set.
Donnell told the men to leave their shirts on, "This is not the Black Hole".
2) Mike-led Rare Essence's Take Me Out to the Go-Go
Mike said, "We've got two Iraq veterans, real heroes, I want to thank them."
3) Mike-led Rare Essence's One on One (Footz version) - Mike held his mic to the crowd during it
4) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Roll Call
5) Donnell-led "Hey ah, Ho oh"
6) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
7) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
8) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - nice percussion solo at the end
9) Donnell-led Hold the Note
10) Alternating Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Halima bounced up and down / Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?"
11) Donnell-led DIP - Halima added "Who?"
12) Mike-led Glenn Lewis' Don't You Forget It
13) Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut (tease)
14) Donnell acapella (but later Stomp drumming) Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp
Donnell started joning "Tasty is having a baby. I'm the Pappy! I'm just joking, I don't know or like her. I know her, but don't like her."
He then picked on Ray, "Langston Lane is like the Bermuda Triangle. Ray, I know your real name, I don't know where Ray came from. I don't know how you came out of Langston Lane so soft; soft as Cottonelle. You must have had a bodyguard to take you to school. 6'3 and no basketball skills. 6'9 played for the state championship, but Ray 'Hi, can I take your order, Welcome to McDonald's.' Meet me at the police station."
He then noticed Keta for the first time. He said to the band members who were still there, "One more song - Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me. If you leave, you're not going to be paid."
He said, "Both Ketas are here. I have an indecent proposal for you."

Saturday at the Pool Party
Oxon Hill Rec Club, 1661 Tucker Rd, Oxon Hill, MD 20744

The pool party unfortunately did not have a large audience. Very few of the people who did come actually swam. I arrived at about 7:20 PM. A number of the band members were there already. Charlie, Los, and Tony (the security guard) sat at a picnic table. I asked Charlie if he was at the Northeast Groovers reunion. He said, he was and that he saw me there inside. Ray was there.

Jacques said he had heard Charlie was in a band. Charlie said that wasn't true.

When I went to get something to drink - I went over to the snack bar. Bartenders from Safari Steakhouse ran it, including Shonda who talked with me at the Fur. She laughed when I ordered a Coke. They didn't have any. They asked me to go get some. I said are you going to give me some money? They said, we don't have any either. I asked if they had any other soda, they said grape and ginger ale. I ordered a ginger ale.

I asked Mike how the crowd was at Safari last night. He said it had shrunk a little, but nothing either way surprises him anymore. He wore the same Green Lantern shirt he wore Tuesday. I went back to the picnic table.

Later, they had food on two long tables - hot dogs and hamburgers and later chicken. Donnell said Little Sam had organized this pool party.

DeeDee showed up later.

All of the pre-recorded music Googie played was Chuck Brown's music. Nephew laughed about something that he didn't think was Chuck. He had asked Googie, Googie said it was Chuck, "But I didn't mix it." Nephew laughed.

Familiar Faces
First Set - started at 8:40
The lifeguards set out chairs so they could watch
The line up was: Mike Muse, Halima, Donnell, DP, Dwayne Lee, Bobby Smoot (Bass), Lorenzo, Godfather, Stomp, Smoke and Jacques.
Googie said there was a problem with the snare mic, the cord needed changing.
Donnell said, "Put the chicken down, Vincent. Next time he's going to have to pay at the door".
1) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - Mike's background singing was really high pitched
2) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You - Dwayne had a really nice guitar solo
3) Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You - Halima beated her tambourine against a water bottle, Donnell said, "How much are you going to eat, Charlie? You've had at least three plates.", Charlie said "Five.", Donnell said, "I've been waiting to interrupt Michael Muse for years. I don't know what it is."
Mike started to sing again, but Donnell interrupted him with "Wait a Minute", Donnell said, "Since 1983, I've been waiting to set him off.", He started to do a special shout out to Ray for being at Safari last night, then he said "Ray wasn't there", Donnell said, "DeeDee where's Cookie?" He joked that she didn't come because of the small turnout, Donnell said, "This is the last night we got to tolerate my man Bobby Smoot."
4) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again - Donnell played with her hair
5) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U - Mike suggested that either Ray or Los start the party, grab one of these ladies by the hand and start dancing, Halima danced
6) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa - Donnell said, "Don't shake too hard, Halima"
7) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - Halima's singing was excellent, Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures.
Mike left the stage, but Halima called him back to do:
8) Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes - during the line "So" Halima said, "I can't do that"
Mike said, "Sexual Chocolate"
Halima said, "Thank you". She raised both her arms from her sides and dropped her water bottle.
9) Donnell acapella Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp
I smelled Marijuana - I have no idea who in the audience smoked it, during the set.

Nikiya was there.

Jacques left after the set.

First two male rappers and later a third performed during the break. I believe there names are BDR, Pablo and Zach. The first two were BDR and Pablo, they said they be dropping an album soon.

DeeDee tried to push Mike in the pool. He later changed and swam.

Second Set
Charlie replaced Jacques on percussion
1) Donnell & then Halima acapella Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp - Donnell added chants of "Cannonball" to tease Mike
Donnell said, "I think she's ready"
2) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Mike danced
3) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - the frontline danced
4) Donnell-led Hold the Note - the frontline danced, there was a different beat at the end
Donnell said, "Somebody wake Bobby Smoot down there."
5) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - during the performance one of the guest male rappers sat in and rapped (Pablo I believe because he referred to Zach and BDR) - his performance drew a crowd on the dance floor, he obviously had a number of supporters there
6) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - Donnell added the lines "yes, yes", Halima danced
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What? - they played stronger hits than usual
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up) (tease)
10) Donnell-led DIP
Donnell said, "Do that dance, Mike"
11) Halima (sang not rapped) Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp - she did some improving, Clint sat in on congas
12) Donnell-led Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp
Donnell said, "You getting back in, Aqua Man? I'll race you."
The show ended at about 11 PM. It was just a short distance from the Tradewinds.

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

The security guys didn't look at my ID, they recognized me as a regular. The cover guy asked me what was up. I told him I just came from a pool party where they performed two sets. He asked if they had more to go.

Stomp was in the back, talking with his friend Kenny. Virtually all the members of Familiar Faces wore different outfits than what they wore to the pool party.

Ray (also in a different outfit from what he wore to the pool party), 6'9, Los, DeeDee, Tijuana, and Val "Tina Turner" were there.

Halima was playing the congas during set up.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized
2) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
Mike said, "All those fellas who don't know how to treat you, I'll treat you right"
3) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
4) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot - they had some technical difficulties per Donnell, the frontline danced, Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell chanted, "Bounce bounce"
5) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Halima held her mic to the crowd during it / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
Mike did a shout out to Pee Wee in the audience (he was the same hat he wore at the Little Benny reunion)
Donnell called him onstage to dance (members of FF smiled at his dancing)
Donnell went with old school songs for him, his dancing was definitely old school style
Los tried to compete with Pee Wee's dancing to the left of the stage
6) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love - Donnell did the keyboard sounds vocally / Rare Essence's Spotlight - Mike held the mic to the crowd / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
7) Donnell & Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
8) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
Donnell introduced as Pee Wee's song:
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Lock It - Donnell called out, "Hey Smoke, hey Halima"
Donnell said, "Hey it's like the Eastside Party. Back in the day, the song wasn't hot unless Pee Wee was at the spot."
Pee Wee left the stage
10) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - Halima stood onstage instead of on the floor, women screamed at the start, Halima's singing was excellent as usual, Halima bounced up and down, Halima said something to the ladies, but I didn't catch what it was, Halima said, "Sometimes it gets a little personal; that was personal. Don't talk to me; I'm okay inside."
11) Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes - Mike sang really hitch pitched, Halima said, "Why you got to do all that?", later Halima said, "That would do it to me" (smiling as she spoke), Halima said, "I can't do that", Mike said, "If you could", somehow she did, Mike clapped
Donnell said, "Don't play anything".
He then asked for applause - it was much deserved; their singing was excellent.

Tracy (not Tracy Smoot), Nikiya, Slim Goodie, Mama Michelle (aka Chellley), March, L-Boogie, Archie Paige, and Nita were there.

I talked with Mike about the conversation at rehearsal on August 3rd: "Halima said that men can't sing female background and sound like a woman, they have different timbres. Doc said Mike is close." I said with his singing in Say Yes, he did. He laughed.

I told Packy how Pee Wee had danced on one leg at the Little Benny reunion.

Nephew said it was pretty good that they only lost 50 people to the Northeast Groovers reunion.

Archie, DeeDee, DP & his girlfriend Arielle, and I had some conversations. DeeDee talked about how the pool party wasn't successful because it was so late and that people get lost going there. She said even she got lost going there and she had been there before. Archie talked about giving Arielle an unpowered mower. She was interested - it would lead to good exercise.

Black Heart and Tasty were there.

Second Set
Halima said, "Ladies and gentlemen."
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again - Halima said, "Hey 6'9"
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
3) Donnell-led "Can we do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
4) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
5) Donnell-led Hold the Note - Donnell said, "I've got brand new friends", the crowd shouted "Wind me up, Smoke"
6) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
Donnell did shout outs to Slick Rick and Charles Smith (former basketball player for Georgetown and the Boston Celtics)
7) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Halima again stood onstage instead of on the floor
8) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me (tease)
9) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls
Donnell did a shout out for Bojack's birthday (which started after midnight), even though Bojack wasn't there.
10) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Bojack, It's Your Birthday"
11) Mike-led Lap Dance - Donnell said, "Is that you Nikki, oh my God!", Donnell chanted "Swing your body, girl (directed specifically at Nikki)" with Mike chanting "Swing", Mike said, "You need to stop doing that, if you won't do it with me"

RE Angie was there.

I was talking with Slim Goodie and Mama Michelle. I was telling them about the Northeast Groovers reunion. Slim Goodie introduced me to Jessica, but Jessica said we already know each other. Slim Goodie said I needed to put all the details in. I told her no one criticized my blog like her. She said, "There's only one Mo". That's right, Monique is unique.

Donnell started joning. He said, "Be careful of the bartenders at Tradewinds they will roll you out on a dolly. I'll have a Bacardi and a barf bag. Googie, can I have one of those t-shirts that says I survived Bobby Smoot."
Vic said of Bobby Smoot (who was standing next to Googie), "He looks like a crackhead Jamaican."
Bobby Smoot responded, "Your hair will soon be gone. You'll be shaving your head like Donnell."
He also claimed his own hair was 12 inches long.
Vic responded, "All I see is forehead."
Bobby Smoot replied, "My forehead has been like this since the 6th grade."
They continued to go back and forth.

I thought I spotted Chris Wright from Suttle Thoughts talking to Omar. Omar asked me if I had had a good time last night. I told him, "Yes."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Land-ova said:

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

Two other rappers performed during the break.

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

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

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

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

Supa Dan came by and said hello.

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

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

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

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

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

Ray, Angie, Tracy, Tim (LJ), Tamara, Darrell, Mara, 6'9, June and his wife Shadonna, and Stacey were there.

A guy sitting next to me asked me what my affiliation was with the band.

Familiar Faces
First Set
The line up was: Mike Muse, Halima, Donnell, DP, Dwayne Lee, Bobby Smoot (Bass), Lorenzo, Godfather, Stomp, Smoke and Jacques.
Bobby stood in a different spot than Doc would normally stand - on the right, in front of Godfather so he could hear better.
1) Instrumental
2) Grover Washington Jr.'s Mr. Magic
Donnell said, "Give a second for the bass player to get it together."
Tracy (Bobby's younger sister) said, "Don't do that."
Donnell replied, "What you say, little sis?"
Halima said, "Good Evening. Hey Mike. Y'all right?"
3) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - she did some nice improving. Donnell said to Halima, "Just a little more." So she did.
Halima said, "Happy Birthday Charles"
4) Halima-led Rodgers & Hart's My Funny Valentine - excellent as usual
Mike used the same mic as Halima had
5) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People
The dance floor filled during
6) Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy
7) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You - long percussion solo
8) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima used some very different nonverbal arm & hand gestures
9) Mike-led Prince's Purple Rain

Cherone, Cookie, Sharika, Yaquim, RE Angie, Go-Go Mickey, and DeeDee were there.

The DJ said that Mike would wear a speedo to the pool party and that Donnell would wear a halter top.

Rah and Nikiya were there.

Second Set
Donnell did announcements including the one for the pool party.
He said, "We're going to lie, it is at Oxon Hill Country Club."
Donnell said something about Cherone tolerating Mike
Mike said, "Can you say professional 'Bama?"
1) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
Jazz was there, he took pictures
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
3) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
4) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - the frontline danced during it
5) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
6) Donnell-led Hold the Note
Donnell did a shout out to someone from L!ssen (possibly E who I saw later on) and to Blue from Y2K in the audience
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
8) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning - Go-Go Mickey sat in on congas (and stayed there) / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes
9) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Go-Go Mickey played timbales / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
10) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That
11) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease) - with Donnell doing the keyboard sounds vocally / Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
12) Donnell-led Vinnie D's Porno Star?
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine - Donnell initially did the keyboard sounds vocally
14) Go-Go Mickey solo - the crowd shouted "Go-Go Mickey" - Jacques played cowbell
15) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Twenty Minute Workout - Mickey played congas and timbales at the same time - a female fan rapped
16) Donnell acapella Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane
17) Godfather played something I didn't recognize - I asked him later what it was, he said "Slap that bitch, whip that trick" - Djayz' Whoop That Trick
18) Donnell-led 911 (tease)
19) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up) (tease)
Donnell joked, "Go-Go Mickey's not playing well. That's it give him a drink".
Despite what Donnell said, Mickey kept playing.
20) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - there was a guest male rapper - it might have been Whitie, but I'm not sure
21) Donnell & Halima-led Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp
Many of my favorite Familiar Faces shows are the ones Go-Go Mickey sits in on and this was no exception.

I went over and talked with Dwayne and Blue. Blue asked me my real name, she only knows me as FunkMasterJ. I told her - Jordan. She then asked Dwayne his name, she only knew him as DL. He said it stands for Dwayne Lee.

Los and Chi Ali were there.

Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private location

Familiar Faces
I walked in behind Godfather and his son. Donnell was there.

DP and his sons Derek Jr. and Darrell, Doc, Bobby Smoot, Stomp (who only stayed for a short time, wearing his Raw Image Under Construction shirt), Mike Smith, Dwayne Lee, Duane Face, Nephew, Mike Muse and his son Michael, Halima, Smoke and much later, Lorenzo all arrived.

At one point Bobby had Nephew hold his bass while he left the room. When he came back, he said, "You didn't touch the keys, did you?" Nephew said, "It would sound better if I had."

The younger Michael Muse had photos from the Miami trip. I gave up my seat for Halima - I realize I'm only a guest. She spent some time cutting up a pair of jeans. Mike Muse said his son could take that and make it into a Volkswagen.

The older Michael Muse wore a green lantern shirt. I asked him where the ring was. He said to Doc, "Did you know the original Green Lantern was black?" Doc said, "I only knew the white one I grew up with."

Bobby Smoot asked about the song from the video. Donnell said that was actually a remix of Lap Dance. They joked about how it is different, changes in every performance.

The rehearsal was spent going over songs already in their repertoire for Bobby Smoot and Mike Smith (who was going to be subbing for Stomp on Friday). Donnell asked Bobby what he knew how to play and they went over what he didn't. He said he knew the Stylistics' People Make the World (Go Round) really well even though he hadn't played it. They went over: Erkyah Badu's Didn't Cha Know and On & On, and Bobby Valentino's Slow Down. Next they went over Toto's Georgy Porgy. When Godfather brought his son the week before, his son didn't say a word the whole time. This time he talked a lot.

They next went over Faith Evans' Mesmerized and Again. They laughed that I knew all the song titles. Donnell said she could go straight to the verse, didn't need an intro. Halima said, "I'm waiting for you to stop talking (during performances)." Nephew said, "You'll be waiting all night." They next went over Gwen Stefani's (Donnell said Gloria Estafan) Hollaback Girl.

Bobby said they hadn't gone over Mariah Carey's It's Like That. I said, "Oh, yes you have". I especially remembered that since Nephew asked me the title of the song while they were working on it last week. Halima called me "the GoGo stenographer". Mike Muse laughed. I told him that Donnell had called me that before she did. He called me that when he asked me to take down as he told the people at Tradewinds that if they went to Miami and didn't use their package, that they would have to pay to attend the events. Mike said they should get me a stenography machine.

Doc re-iterated that they should make a website about me. He left early because he was going from rehearsal to the airport for his vacation. I am not sure when chronologically in the rehearsal he left.

Donnell told Smoke that he could leave since he wouldn't be at the performance that Mike Smith was sitting in at (because he and Stomp would be at the Northeast Groovers reunion). They next worked on Fantasia's Free Yourself. Donnell said that they kept getting slower and slower with the performances of it. Donnell said that Halima needs to indicate the temp to Godfather, who starts off the song. I don't know if she is supposed to indicate the tempo in performances as well - I haven't noticed it, but I haven't been watching for it either. She uses hand motions and snaps her fingers to indicate the tempo. They went over the method so that she can indicate the one. I then asked her the name of the Floetry song. She didn't know. Mike Muse said was Say Yes. They discussed the vocal methods in it. Mike said he used to be able to sing that high when he was ten years old, but it would kill him now. He said that Tamara (whose name he couldn't recall) could do that. Since they were done with Halima's songs, Donnell said she could leave. Halima asked me to walk her to her car so she wouldn't get jumped. I did so.

I went back in. I told Donnell that they had gone over My Funny Valentine with Halima last week. Duane Face wore a thin bandana - perhaps emulating Donnell? When Lorenzo arrived, Godfather left and allowed him to take his place. They went over: Marvin Gaye's I Want You, Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You - They did one of the changes like Bobby Caldwell's What You Won't Do for Love - the actual change was similar, but still different, Bobby Caldwell's What You Won't Do for Love, and The Stylistics' People Make The World (Go Round). Bobby already knows John Legend's Ordinary People. Lorenzo suggested Ruff Endz' Someone to Love You and I Dreamed You. Duane Face went and played the congas.

Bobby said he knows Prince's Take Me With You. Lorenzo said he knows Prince's Purple Rain. Donnell said he didn't know Lorenzo knew that, that's why he hasn't called it lately. They decided to go over Ordinary People anyway. Finally, they went over Rare Essence songs - Marinda, One on One, Take Me Out to the Go-Go, and Lock It. I told Donnell I had emailed him the lyrics to Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp. He said it was hard to reply in emails. I talked with him about the two emails I forwarded to him. He said he played in Petworth with Sayers. They said if necessary, they would have another rehearsal on Thursday.

When Duane Face went to leave, I talked with him about us both going to the Northeast Groovers reunion. He said he went to the HOBO shop to get one of the old iron-on shirts to wear to the occasion. He said they had to look in the back and dust off the shirt. I asked if he could help me with track titles. He said yes, but he'd be partying and that was his first priority.

DJ Rico's Birthday Party at Tradewinds
Tradewinds Night Club, 5859 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20748

There were camera men using still and moving cameras throughout the show.

Spur of the Moment consisted of Bryan Mills on Sax, a guitar player, a bass player, a drummer, a percussionist and FF's Lorenzo on keyboard.
In the middle of their set, they called up a guest vocalist Stoney Ellis. Prior to that, all their songs (none of which I recognized) were instrumentals. One of the songs Stoney sang was familiar to me as a song that Mike sings, but I didn't recognize it. Stoney went to break. Next they performed Earth, Wind & Fire's Shining Star. Donnell was the only one dancing on the dance floor until close to the end. Stoney came back for a final song.

I said, "Double dipping" to Lorenzo.

Los, Angie, Shawn, Tim (LJ), Tracy, Felecia, Tyrell, and Salih "E" Williams of the L!ssen Band were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Charlie played again tonight.
A woman named Kim Nightingale danced in front of Mike for the entire set
1) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - the first time this has started a set, excellent as usual
2) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You
3) Percussion solo
4) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva / Stevie Wonder's Superstition bassline - the frontline danced
Donnell called Angie "FF Angelica"
Mike said "This is for Rico on his 47th birthday"
5) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
Mike said something to Kim and then said, "That's what Sugar Bear would say"
6) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot
Donnell called E up to the stage
7) E rapped a free flowing medley - 4 Bones/Balls, Dayz' Whoop That Trick, DIP, Common's The Corner, DC Crankin', Tradewinds Swerve with D-Floyd, 50 Cent's In Da Club, D-Floyd always making new toys, Hold it"
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
DJ Rico went on stage - Donnell called him "Rico Suave"
DJ Rico got on the mic and talked for most of the break - I was in the kitchen so I didn't hear what he said, but Doc said he was telling stories.

L-Boogie was there.

E was also in the kitchen with FF (James was there - the first time I saw him tonight). There was a lot of woofing between and about E. They teased him about his sandals. Donnell told him to stay in the kitchen to keep them honest.

I talked about Lorenzo douple dipping, they didn't all know he had played for Spur of the Moment tonight. Godfather asked him if he had played for a woman on flyers in the kitchen, he had. Doc talked about how he would get confused playing that many gigs. Dwayne said he had played in another gig earlier that night. He had played with Heaven Sent; Ayre Rayde and Prophecy had also performed. Ayre Rayde has most of the original members, but Prophecy doesn't have Kevin, who hasn't performed since he founded Night Flight. Kiggo had performed with Prophecy because his cousin is in the band.

Doc said they should put more about me on the website. I told him Halima had said she should interview me and have me put that on my website. He asked how I got into GoGo. I told him it was a bit of a long story (you can read it here). He said it must have been a while ago, since he knew of my website years ago. I said I became a GoGo fan in 1995. I started my website in Fall 1998, when I learned HTML in a class at the University of Miami. He said he had thought I was black based on my website. I told him that a lot of people have thought that. Even one of the grad schools I applied to in 2002 thought I was even thought I checked the Caucasian box on my application.

They talked a little more about my dancing the night before. Packy said I thought I was at a rock concert, I didn't let go. Lorenzo asked me if I had asked her to dance. I told him that she had actually just come up and started dancing with me.

RE Angie was there.

A girl asked me if the guitar player was single, I told her he has a steady girlfriend. He later thanked me for that.

Second Set
Kim again danced in front of or behind Mike most of the set
Donnell said Rico we're going to play your song.
1) Mike-led Tony Terry's Freaky Little Game
Donnell called DJ Rico onstage - he acted as a back up talker/singer throughout the set
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
3) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Rico, It's Your Birthday"
4) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Halima did heavy breathing / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
5) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
6) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That
7) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You (tease)
8) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease) / Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
9) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
10) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
11) Donnell-led Vinnie D's Porno Star?
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine (tease) - Donnell did the effects vocally at the beginning
13) Rare Essence's Lock It - instrumental tease
Donnell said, "Let's see how old Rico is"
14) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Roll Call
Donnell said, "He's not old enough..."
Halima laughed
15) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25..." / Rare Essence's Work the Walls
16) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
17) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time
18) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up)
19) Percussion solo
20) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - Rico danced and the crowd shouted, "Go Rico" / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes
21) Donnell-led Tupac's Hail Mary
Donnell called up Los to dance
22) Percussion solo - Mike called Los "Rubberband Man" (I don't know if this was a referrence to the Spinners song?)
23) Mike-led Lap Dance - Donnell chanted "Swing your body, girl"
A girl grinded with me from behind, and another girl danced with me in front - but rebuffed me from freaking her
Donnell said to the girl who had grinded with me, when she danced by herself, "I like how you're doing it girl"
24) Donnell acapella Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp (tease) - Halima completed it, she knew more of the lyrics than he did
Donnell said of E, he's really Ezekial Bartholomew
The rest of FF said, No, his name is Salih
Donnell said to some girl, "Don't go listen to L!ssen, come see us please"
Donnell said, "Their talking about your sandals E, they're saying they're "Passion of the Christ" sandals."

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

I talked with Packy and Godfather outside.

Ray, Diva and JoJo were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Charlie was there from the start.
Packy played a tambourine.
1) Halima-led Jill Scott's Golden
Mike said, "This is dedicated to all the beautiful ladies at the Tradewinds. Special shout out to Sweet Tanya".
The dance floor filled during:
2) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You
3) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - the frontline danced during it
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 - Donnell said to someone, we will play this all night if you want. A girl started dancing with me - Donnell said, "Be careful Jordan." Then as I freaked her, he said, "Don't let go, Jordan".
7) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
8) Doc-led Snoop's Drop It Like It's Hot - they hadn't peformed this in a while and it showed
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Body Moves
10) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U

Stacey and Tracy were there.

During the break, I noticed a bunch of sparkles from the girl's dress on my hand. The guys kidded me about dancing with the girl. Doc talked about how he and Halima had said I needed a new nickname. Dwayne suggested, "Fancy Dancer".

Mike suggested that Donnell's bandana was made out of the part of the curtain that holds it together.

We talked about how the young bands imitate a certain effect from Rare Essence - the DJ played the original. I talked with them about the thread about the "real RE" on TMOTT. They talked about how everyone in the band sang back then. They said that Funk wasn't expected there in the show pictured on the thread, he wore a plain outfit, completely different from the rest. They said people were already dancing, but Funk got everyone dancing harder. They talked about Gary Clark from the Peacemakers. Mike said he had only seen Rare Essence perform twice before he joined them: outside and at Friendly High School.

They talked about The Time still being tight musically, even though Jesse Johnson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are not in the band. They said that EU used to dress like the Time. Mike said that Chuck Brown wouldn't know who he was.

KD was there.

Second Set
Donnell did announcements.
He said, "Tata, stop distracting me."
He talked about how there were going to play at Tradewinds again on Sunday for DJ Rico's Birthday Party.
He said Spur of the Moment would be opening for them.
He said of them: "One of my favorite bands, they go back to TJ."
02 was there, he said, "Keep writing, I'm going to read that".
1) Donnell acapella Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp - He said I keep trying to get him to learn the lyrics, a female fan finished the lines
Donnell said, "Mike wants to go back to the Coliseum, Harlem Theatre days with an old time love song."
Mike said, "This is to the fellas, got to treat the ladies right."
Halima said, "I know that's right!"
Mike said, "Even if you can't sing, give her the roses you bought from Jose on the corner."
Halima laughed
2) Mike-led O'Bryan's Lady I Love You
3) Mike-led Tony Terry's Freaky Little Game
4) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - it was interrupted by a girl pasing out right behind me, she laid in a fetal position on her side, her friends tried to talk to her or wake her, when the band noticed, they stop playing and called security, Donnell didn't realize it was a woman until I and others said, "Her!", Donnell said that's different, Halima and Donnell did heavy breathing during it - intentionlly, but I hadn't noticed it in prior performances / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
Donnell kept referring to someone with white shorts
5) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That
6) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
7) Donnell-led Hold the Note
8) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25, Don't be a fool with your money"
9) Rare Essence's Lock It - just the keyboard intro
10) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine - Donnell did the effects vocally at the beginning - it was a short performance
11) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease) / Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
12) Donnell-led Rick James' Mary Jane (tease) - Donnell went up close to the audience
13) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
14) Donnell-led Vinnie D's Porno Star?
15) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel - very rare in that it was a full performance, not the tease, Donnell faced/addressed Halima during it
6'9 held my hands up.
16) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes - with different sounds
17) Mike-led Lap Dance - Donnell chanted, "Swing your body", Mike chanted, "Swing"
Mike said, "I am Tony Montana, Frank, you f*cked up"
18) Donnell-led Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp (tease)
19) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin' (tease)
Donnell said, "What you have to say tonight? We don't know if they're scared, but Whiteboy said he will (I am fairly sure I heard him say will rather than will not) play with us this year."
20) Donnell acapella Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp (tease)
21) Donnell vocally did the music to the Odd Couple theme

Tasty, Nita, 6'9, Yolanda, Sanisse, Pinky, Los, Tyrell, and Tijuana were there.

Danielle's and Tiffany's Birthday at Safari Steakhouse
Safari Steakhouse, 9430 Annapolis Road Lanham MD 20706

I talked with a regular who said he's been there every Friday for five years. He said he must have spent $5,000. He talked about what GoGo is. He said it's not given the proper respect (I completely agree). He said that it's not about violence, it's about having fun. He said it is our music. He also said it is about dancing. I was already talking to him when Packy told me he's someone I should talk to. I will have to interview him. He had a lot to say.

Mara, Donnell Floyd Jr., Yolanda, and Kato (with a hot woman) were there. Kato tells me she is Chevy, female singer for Fatal Attraction, which he co-manages. He was taking her on a field trip, the way he did with Wayne.

Halima sang James Brown's Gonna Have a Funky Good Time (Doing It to Death) during the sound check and the band played it behind her.

Halima asked me to post that she almost had her hair burned by a friend.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Miles Davis' Tutu
Mike had a monologue with the audience
2) Mike-led Bobby Caldwell's What You Won't Do for Love
3) Mike-led I Dreamed You
Halima said Happy Birthday, a Familiar Faces special request that comes with love
4) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know
Mike thanked the audience for coming to Safari Steakhouse
5) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's As
6) Halima-led Erykah Badu's On & On
A guy took pictures.
Donnell talked with him, he said I have spies, you don't play any of my sh*t at Barry Farms.
Halima said, "That's ain't right"
Donnell did a shout out to TMOTT

Day Day (the conga player) and Kelvin Robinson of Y2K were there.

During the break, I sat by Smoke and Doc. Smoke said the NEG reunion on August 19th was just a one time thing.

Shawn and Sanisse were there.

Second Set
1) The percussion section played while Donnell did announcements - Halima played on the congas while Smoke played.
2) Mike-led Ruff Endz' Someone to Love You
3) The percussion section played while Donnell did birthday shout outs
4) 6 Minutes percussion solo
Mike chanted announcements
5) Mike-led Tony Terry's Freaky Little Game
6) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva / Stevie Wonder's Superstition bassline
7) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
8) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
9) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
10) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Tiffany, It's Your Birthday"
11) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot
12) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
13) Percussion solo - the crowd shouted "Go-Go Smoke-ay"
14) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
15) Mike-led Rare Essence's Lock It
16) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, she was really into it
Donnell said something about Kay Kay, but I never saw her
17) Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes (debut) - I didn't realize they were going to perform another song, so I went to wash my hands at that time (Danielle (Wellfhed) said she had a cake and asked me to stop by)
They were still performing when I got back. I didn't recognize it, Halima and Mike said they were having fun, fooling around. I asked Halima what it was, she said Floetry. Mike identified the track for me at the rehearsal following this.

Angie, Preston Blue, 6'9, China, Cookie, Nikiya, Sharmba Mitchell, and Tyrell were there.

I talked with Danielle. She was not happy about her birthday. She finally, with my and other's support (including her sister), went over to the cake. All the candles had burned out already, she pretended to blow them out. It was strawberry shortcake, the best cake I'd had in a long while.

Doc said not to make a big deal of the fact that he was talking with a beautiful young woman. He said he's known her since she was seventeen. He told her I was their communication manager. She danced with me during the second set. Her name is Mona. I also briefly danced with another girl.

RE Angie and Los were there.
Third Set
1) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
2) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That
3) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me
4) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" - the crowd finished the rest / Rare Essence's Work the Walls
5) Donnell-led DIP
6) Donnell-led Geraldine - with effects initially vocally
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time
Donnell said that's all the time we have, but here is something to step to while you get out of here
9) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - they just played the sample and everyone danced, they also had many guest rappers on the song - Tony, Jay Gotti, Peg Leg, Nut, and another guy whose name I didn't get.
10) Donnell acapella Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp "You know it's hard out here for a pimp/when you tryin' to get this money for the rent./For the Cadillacs and gas money spent/will have a whole lotta bitches jumpin' ship."
Donnell also referred to Djayz's Whoop That Trick

Rah was there.

Outside, Peg Leg told me he hopes to do more guest rapping.

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

Cookie, Tracy, and Angie were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Instrumental
Mike said on Wednesdays my Verizon family is here, I love to see you here, but hate to see you at work.
2) Mike-led Bernard Ighner's Everything Must Change - Mike said, "It takes a lot more energy to hate than to love." / Halima said, "Good evening.", she used the same mic that Mike had used / Halima-led Rogers & Hart's My Funny Valentine
They both were nice performances and complemented each other
The crank started with
3) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Golden Lady
4) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You
5) Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You
Halima had a monologue with the women in the audience.
6) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - excellent as usual
7) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People

Stacey, Shawn, Tim (LJ), Ray, Sanisse, Tasty, Robin, Tamara, RE Angie, and Darrell were there.

I went outside, Doc, Dwayne, Lorenzo, and Mike went to "the store" (the convenience store at the gas station at the corner). I talked with Stomp. He introduced me to his friend Chris Wright, the 19-year old keyboard player for Suttle Thoughts. Chris knew who I was already and recognized me from attending his performance as a member of Mambo Sauce. Tony, the security guard, told a couple of guys about my website and asked me how long I had been doing the blog. The other guys came back from "the store". Doc asked me about the Bootsy meditation CD I emailed him about. They joked about what the CD would consist of. They talked about the Showplace show that Duane Face had posted about on the TMOTT board, that he had said was the GoGo he saw the most white people at ever. I told them about some of the posts and what Godfather's Korean co-worker said about haters. They talked about 70% of the purchasers of Rap being white, that you need the white audience to go national.

Doc talked about someone seeing rats. He said there was a family of rats that lived behind the dumpster across the street. Lorenzo talked about seeing one that was as big as a cat at the Ibex.

Before the second set started, Mike said the DJ music should be more old school: Black Ivory, Mandrill, and Ray, Goodman & Brown.

Keta and Nita were there.

Second Set
Donnell said they were really going to put on a show at the Fur on September 4th. "Halima already has already bought her gown and Mike his tuxedo."
Mike said his tuxedo had a matching bandana and that he may wear prom shoes.
Donnell then talked about the three sopranos show on August 31st - Kimese from Suttle Thoughts, Yannie from the L!ssen Band and Halima.
Donnell said, "Me and Mike will just sit down and shut up."
The crank started right away
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima bounced up and down
2) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
3) Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Don't nobody say nothing", the crowd shouted "Wind me up, Smoke!"
4) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
5) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
6) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - the best performance she's ever done of it / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
7) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That
8) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
9) Donnell-led Hold the Note
10) Donnell-led DIP
11) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes
12) Donnell-led Tupac's Hail Mary
13) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
14) Mike-led Michael Jackson's I Can't Help It - Ant sat in on congas
I got Ant's name, his friend said, "That's the website guy (of me)."
Donnell did a shout out to Curtis Malone (coach of the DC Assault AAU basketball team).
15) Donnell acapella Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane
16) Donnell acapella Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me

Nikiya, L-Boogie, Val "Tina Turner", Tata, and Pinky were there.

Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private location

Familiar Faces
I arrived shortly after Donnell and walked in with him. I brought my custom jacket to show Doc and Halima. Duane Face came in a little after. Donnell played a CD of requested songs for a wedding they will perform at next month. Duane showed his teeth - to show that his braces were off. He said he had to learn to eat again all over. He will be getting a retainer in two weeks. I discussed how after I would get my braces tightened, I could not eat solid foods for two days. I talked about the kiddie cabaret I was at the night before, Donnell said that's not a real kiddie cabaret - where you bring your kids. Duane said he had recently played in a jam session with BJ, Jammin' Jeff and a white guitarist from the DC Funk Squad. I identified the guitarist as Zachary Cutler, who is on a funk listserv I am on and who recently moved here from Oberlin in Ohio.

Doc, Bobby Smoot, and Halima arrived shortly afterward. Halima had changed her hairdo: the color was tan, and the size and shape were different. Donnell re-played the wedding CD for Halima since all three songs were female vocals. Jacques and Mike arrived. Donnell called Mike and Halima into a front line meeting. The rest of the band members went over their standard songs with Bobby Smoot. Godfather and his son arrived during this time and joined in. Later, Dwayne arrived. Still later DP came in, but went into the front line meeting. Nephew also came in. Finally, Lorenzo arrived: Duane put away his own keyboard and switched to playing congas (Jacques had long since moved to the drum kit). The standards they went over are as follows: Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know, Trillville's Some Cut, Faith Evans' Mesmerized, Ludacris' Number one Spot, Rare Essence's Geraldine, Rare Essence's Marinda, Fantasia's Free Yourself, Erykah Badu's Cleva, Mariah Carey's It's Like That, Prince's Take Me With You, Jill Scott's Whatever. They briefly called Halima out of the front line meeting to go over My Funny Valentine. Then everyone not in the front line meeting packed up. Cherone was there and said hello.

Monday at Le Pearl (Mad Chef Cafe)
Mad Chef Cafe, 7929 Central Ave, Capitol Heights, MD 20743

Spanky recommended I attend this show so I could write about it. Unfortunately, do to the traffic being slowed by the rain, I was a little late. I went to the front of the Mad Chef, which is where I had entered it when I had previously attended - I could hear music playing inside. I knocked and a guy reminded me it was underage and that the entrance was through the back. I went around back. Spanky introduced me to Antwon. He handed me a flyer for tonight's event, which was only $5. I went in around 10:15 PM.

I had just missed Undisputed Band's performance unfortunately. I noticed Tee Bone was working the monitors. He came over and talked to me briefly about how Trouble Funk would be playing again soon. Between thirty and fifty people were in the audience when I arrived. The Mad Chef is designed as a dance studio. A number of copies of two posters which prominently displayed TCB and UCB lined the walls.

Mad Collision was the second band to perform. They had a group huddle before they performed. The music was very loud, louder than most other GoGo I've been to. The keyboards were loudest. There was not a lot of dancing - this is probably because of Mad Collision's greater use of congas instead of roto-toms. As the music got more intense, so did the distortion. The percussion, vocals (mostly chanting and rapping) and keyboards were the most distinct. The more intense it got, the more the crowd liked it and the more they danced. More girls danced than boys. The lighting was dim during the performances, but not dark. The crowd responded to the band when addressed. They performed a thirty minute set.

During the break, a number of people sat along the walls (there are no chairs for fans in the dance floor area). Break time was also the time that the audience members socialized with each other. They didn't pay much attention to the pre-recorded DJ music played during the break. The fashion worn was casual - virtually everyone wore jeans, with t-shirts, especially plain ones, worn by most of the boys. Boys also wore collared shirts and basketball jerseys. Another thing I noticed that is different from older aged GoGo fashions was that very few people outside of band members wore outfits from DC fashion lines - I did see one person with an All Dayz shirt. This break was long, the longest during the night - I don't know why. The DJ asked people in the audience to sign one of the two cards (one by the DJ, one by the door) for Tinko (spelling?) of M.O.B., who had been shot.

Pitch Black was up next, although for some reason their lead talker referred to M.O.B. a few times. The DJ started in on fashions - saying that a short sleeved shirt needs to reach your elbow, etc. He made fun of me wearing khakis - he specifically said, "Who is that wearing Dockers to the GoGo?", but obviously I was not part of the regular audience and wasn't trying to blend in. Pitch Black had a long sound check. By the time they had started performing, the audience had grown. The women in front exchanged hand signals with the band, holding their arms up with their index fingers and thumbs like an L. They played the roto-toms more prominently (only congas on the first song) and the band responded appreciatively and danced harder. The lead talker asked where "you all are from" and the crowd responded.

M.O.B. was up next. By the time they started performing, the crowd had grown to over a hundred people. They also had a group huddle, but concluded it with a chant/yell. They went straight to the roto-toms. Their sound was a little less rough than the previous bands' sound. They also sang a little more. They opened with a tease of Bobby Valentino's Slow Down. The percussionist did briefly play congas in the middle of their set. A lot of the audience up front held their hands during the set. The lead talker did a lot of beat boxing. They did a cover of Junkyard Band’s Ruff It Off.

TCB was next, the headliner (I don't know why CCB didn't perform tonight). This was my first time seeing TCB (in a real performance, I did attend, not see, a two song performance last year), the leading band in the young circuit. Their sound was so much cleaner than the other bands that it was like night and day. They started out without much percussion, and had more singing than the other groups and even harmony. Then the percussionist started playing congas. During the second song, he switched to roto-toms - that's when the audience really started to dance. Throughout the show, the audience seemed to respond more to the level of intensity of the bands' music, rather than hooks and beats. Among the songs TCB performed was one about "P*ssy feels good", Destiny's Child's Soldier, "Where the gangster's at", "Bring 'em out", and a song referring to "Beating your feet". They also performed a song with videogame sound effects. Their set was about ninety minutes. They finished about 2:50 AM. TCB was clearly the best band and the fans responded accordingly.

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

When I walked in, Doc and Halima were already there. A conga player from Ayre Rayde came up and talked with Halima and I in the lounge. Doc came over and went over the setlist with Halima because with Donnell not being there yet (and expected to be late), he wanted things straight. They said I should come up with a new nickname. I told them a friend came up with mine. They asked if he was white, I said, "Yes." I told Halima about Funkmaster Flex, she knew who he was, but thought he was named Funkmaster Flash. I said that I have a custom jersey and a jacket, that I wore in the picture with Dolemite. I said it says Jordan A Rich, CPA.

Donnell and Stomp were stuck in traffic.
June and his wife Shadonna, Kato, and Peanut were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Doc introduced them, "We are Familiar Faces; we are waiting on some of the familiar"
Halima said, "Some of the faces are familiar because we love you"
1) Halima-led Rodgers & Hart's My Funny Valentine - Packy played the rriangle
Halima introduced Dwayne as he played
Doc called Mike Muse up to the stage
2) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People - really weird without the drums, Halima played around on the drums during the song
3) Halima-led Alicia Keys' Diary - the first time Halima really added something to the song, she really added a lot, easily the best performance of this song she's ever done
Mike said, "We've had a few problems with unfortunate mishaps, but we'll get it together"
He went on to complain about the politicians on Capitol Hill and talked about the return of Jesus, this led into:
4) Mike-led The Stylistics' People Make the World (Go Round) - Halima went back to the drums
Mike said there was good news: there was a plane crash in Canada and nobody was killed
Dwayne switched from guitar to drums and played drums for the rest of the set - it would have been better if he had done that from the start, but hindsight is always 20-20
The singing by Halima and Mike was excellent, but it sure was weird with no drums for the first four songs, even if the congas did help with the beat
Stomp arrived shortly afterward, but it didn't make sense to switch drummers until the set was over
Mike said that Dwayne was multi-talented (Dwayne also plays keyboards)
There was a conversation on the mic between Mike and Halima, but I couldn't hear what they said
5) Halima-led Erykah Badu's On & On
Doc did crowd shout outs
6) Mike-led Glenn Lewis' Don't You Forget It
Mike announced the break as per usual, "ten for ten, nine for nine, eight for break"

6'9, Teago, Danielle (Wellfhed), China (wearing earrings with her name on them), Renee, Tasty, Nita, Keta, and Ras Lidj were there.

I told Halima the story about a show at Xcalibur. I filmed a movie and Donnell said, "Take the picture, I don't know how much more of this I can take", I looked up and Pooh & BJ had switched instruments. She laughed. Renee walked in and sat next to me. I told her I hadn't recognized her immediately on Wednesday since she had dyed her hair and changed the hairstyle.

Later during the break, Danielle called me over to sit by her and Kato. She told me she really was going to start a website based on my advice. I asked her what she really did, she said she's a vet aide. I told her I have a friend who is a vet, she went to veterinary school at Kansas State. She also had told me that vet school is harder to get into than medical school. Danielle said she's trying to get into veterinary school. She said her undergrad degree is in radiology. She said a cat expressed itself on her.

Donnell arrived during the break.

The woman next to me told me it was her birthday, she wanted me to buy her a $6 drink. She even offered to show me her driver's license. I told her I was unemployed, she asked me what I did in the meantime. I told her I was a grad student in folklore. Her friend asked me when GoGo started, I said about 1976. She asked me where it came from - I said Smokey Robinson's song, Going to the Go Go. She disagreed saying that it came from the DJ saying you always have to Go Go and Chuck competed with that with the nonstop percussion. I told her how I had heard that Go Go was originally the place where dances occured, rather than a genre of music. She asked what my undergrad degree was, I told her - accounting. 6'9 came over and talked with me, then went back to his seat several feet away. The birthday girl asked me if we were friends, I said yes. She asked me who he was, and he was giving me the hand across the throat sign. So she pretended to tell me things just to tease him. He later came over and held her spot while she went to the bathroom. China sat to my left and talked with him.

When I talked into the stage area, Tasty said hello. I said, two shows in row for Tasty, Nita and Keta. Nita said not to get used to it. Tasty asked where my pad was, when I brought it out, she laughed.

Second Set
Donnell announced it was Big Ray's birthday.
He also said Tyrell was dressed up for her birthday.
1) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down (tease)
2) 6 Minutes percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Brandywine"
Donnell did a shout out to Stinky Dink
3) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
4) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
5) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
Donnell said, "Halima, do you feel good?"
Halima said, "I feel good!"
6) Stevie Wonder's Superstition bassline, percussion solo with lad 4 Donnell saying something about $ Bill, it's alright
7) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease) / Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
8) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
9) Donnell-led Rick James' Mary Jane (tease)
Kevin Miller, a sax player for Ayre Rayde and Petworth (and until recently Backyard Band), apologized for looking over my shoulder to see what I was doing.
I talked with him for a little bit. He had played at the Blast from the Past Ayre Rayde show I attended. I told him I was surprised that Petworth was performing. I may have missed a song while we were talking. He introduced me to the one security guy and his (the security guy's) wife on the other side of the door
10) Mike-led Rare Essence's Take Me Out to the Go-Go
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Roll Call - the frontline danced
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's One on One (Footz version)
13) Mike-led Rare Essence's Lock It - Donnell said, "Smoke lock it", which led into a percussion solo, a woman next to me was screaming in appreciation
14) Mike-led Rare Essence's? "Ooh yeah..."
Donnell said something about "putting your hands up" and the Black Hole
The same woman started screaming again
15) Mike-led Rare Essence's Oprah Winfrey - it was familiar, but I didn't recognize it, I asked Godfather what the song was after the third set
16) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
17) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa

Sixx, Love, James, Sanisse, Big Tree, and Dey were there.

I sat in about the same seat as the first break, DP sat over by me. He talked to the guy sitting next to him, who said, "You went way back..." DP responded, "Too far back!" Later, he got up and Stomp sat next to me. Sanisse came by. Stomp said that Charlie wants a copy of the Bike Week DVDs.

When I walked into the stage area, Stomp was sitting on the floor next to the drum kit.

Third Set
Stinky Dink, Whop, and Marky Mark went on stage
1) Donnell, Stinky Dink, and Whop-led Common's The Corner
2) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
3) Donnell-led Hold the Note
4) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club - "Go Tyrell, it's your birthday"
5) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me - Keta came to the side of the stage just before the song started and Nita teased her about it
6) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That
7) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25..." / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - Marky Mark sat in on congas
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hey Tamika
9) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
10) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Work the Walls reprise
11) Donnell-led DIP, adding "Yes"
12) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes
13) Donnell-led Tupac's Hail Mary (tease) (Nita stared over my shoulder as I wrote this)
14) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What? - Donnell stood by the right side of the stage, facing the side when performing this
15) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time
16) Donnell-led "If you look and you see, you'll recognize me, if you're from DC, these faces are familiar"
17) Donnell chant "Southeast, South, Southeast, Southwest, South, Southwest..."
Donnell said, "I'm getting scared, that's it"
18) Sixx rapped
19) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads up)
20) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
I asked Godfather the title of the song (Oprah Winfrey song he said), with me making the keyboard sounds he opens the song with.
I don't don't if Donnell conferred with the other band members about what they performed in the first set, but I noticed they did not repeat any of the songs they performed in the first set in the remaining two sets.
Nikiya was there.

I went to Seven Eleven, Mike arrived after me and said, "Hello Mr. Jordan." Nita pulled in as I pulled out.

Thursday WKYS 93.9 Free Show
Union Temple Baptist Church parking lot, 1225 W ST SE, Washington, DC 20020

I arrived at about 5:40 PM. The WKYS people were setting up. Most of the crowd was young and a number of the people turned out to be performers. Packy was the first person I knew there; he rode over on his bike. He was impressed that I knew where Union Temple was. I told him they have a website. He said he wasn't surprised, since they are involved in so many community activities. I asked him if he lived nearby, he said he used to. He said he had biked over to the BBQ Battle show. He told me that Mike Smith had been stabbed on Saturday. He said he's okay however and might come to that show. I said first your brother, than him. He said, "It's not a good time for Rare Essence drummers." He said Donnell would be there shortly and there was an opening act. DJ Flava (aka GoGo Rudy) was the second person I knew there. They had Coke Zero for free for people. Some people were shooting hoops.

Antonio "The Cuban Cigar Smoker" called everyone up to the performance area, he was the MC for the evening.

The first act was singer named Angelo Redman (he was introduced only as Angelo, but on the free CDs they passed on it has his full name). They referred to his mix "tape" Checking In... (that's what they passed out).
He addressed the young people in the crowd, telling them to be aware and cautious of AIDS.
1) The song he sang addressed that issue - Live Life Introduced as his single
2) He performed with Whitie of Commission (the same guest rapper as with FF the night before) - Tonight - They referred to the Chocolate City Regulars (not sure who they are) and this night was the Block is Hot

The next group was a male vocal group - five singers called New Era - they were all high school age
1) I didn't recognize the first song
2) The Temptations' Since I Lost My Baby?
3) The Temptations' Ol' Man River
4) The Temptations' My Girl
Their last song they performed together with a 3 man rap group called Brothers Trilogy and four girl dancers called Isis (again all high school age)
5) ?
Antonio joked that he taught them how to sing

Familiar Faces closed the show
The line up was: Donnell, Doc (together they were the front line), Dwayne, Lorenzo, Stomp, Smoke, and Jacques

Tasty, Nita, Keta, RE Angie and Tracy (the regular who was around a lot last Summer) were there.

Antonio jokingly introduced them as being out of Crofton, with the drummer from Annapolis
Donnell referred to Tasty as Frankie Knuckles
Coke Zero tastes as bad as any other diet soda.
1) Donnell acapella Rare Essence's I'm Getting Ready
2) Donnell-led Brandywine Chant / "Where Y'all From"
3) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine
The crank started with
4) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot - he called up Whitie to sit in
5) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - he said, "Brandywine, Simple City" / Notorious BIG's Warning - he self-censored it, changing "who the f*ck, to who the heck" / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes
Donnell kept telling Keta not to make him jealous by dancing with guys
6) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25..." he left out the word ass / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - some lines weren't familiar to me including "Fly like an eagle"
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
Donnell did a shout out to Slick Rick
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Lock It - he left out Mike's lines
Donnell referred to people coming from Barry Farms
9) Antonio sang Sam Cooke's Chain Gang, but sang it as "train gang" - he didn't perform it seriously and it was pretty awful
Donnell said Slick Rick doesnt' come out anymore
Ras Lidj arrived and came on stage
10) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - no sample - Ras and a male rapper I didn't recognize sat in Ras performed, "I'm from DC"
Val "Tina Turner" was there in her postal uniform. It was so hot that even wearing a hat, my head hurt from the heat.