Crossover Band, L!ssen Da Grew^P, and Proper Utensils at Mirrors
Mirrors, 33 New York Avenue N.E. Washington, DC 20002

I had missed Proper Utensils before, but I wasn't going to miss this: I really wanted to see Mike Muse sing again especially.

Crossover Band
Tony, Ms. Co-Co, Slick Rick
The probable line up was: Slick Rick (lead talker), Tony (vocalist), Ms. Co-Co (vocalist), Joe (guitar & rapper), Battle (bass), Marky (keyboard), Moses (Keyboard), Miles (keyboard), Slim Jim (percussion & vocalist), Rock Steady (congas), and Gerald (drummer).
They weren't on the advertisement, and this was my first time seeing them, so I didn't know who they were until they identified themselves.
When they first started performing, the line up was: Tony, Ms. Co-Co, Battle, 2 keyboard players, and Gerald. I sat at one of the couches on the right side of the dance floor and a woman in another couch next to mine was filming Crossover's performance.
Sashay Shaunte came over and said hello.
1) Tony-led Blackstreet's Before I Let You Go
2) Tony and Ms. Co-Co left the stage and the band jammed.
Slim Jim came over and said hello before he got onstage.
The full band went onstage. They cranked.
Darrell was there. T-Bird was there (working).
They also performed: Mary J. Blige's Enough Cryin', a nice percussion solo, Lil Kim's Lighters Up, Rick James' Mary Jane, Sly & the Family Stone's Family Affair, Jay-Z's Show Me What You Got, Aretha Franklin's Rocksteady, and Busta Rhymes' I Love My Chick featuring Kelis. They were good, but I need to see them again to form a more full opinion.

Delano was there.

L!ssen Da Grew^P

I noticed D and Vincent from Bobby Smoot's sound company were setting up equipment; they must have come here from Zanzibar tonight.
L!ssen performed: Ne-Yo's When You're Mad and Jay-Z's Show Me What You Got - it cranked.
Darrell introduced me to Machelle; she was there with Gwynn, whom I already knew.
Nephew was there.
Tuffy had the towel on his head in his mouth.
They also performed Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - I couldn't hear the lead lyrics, which was an improvement for that song (its lyrics are awful).
Michelle Blackwell got onstage and rapped.
They performed Busta Rhymes' I Love My Chick featuring Kelis, Snoop's Drop It Like It's Hot, 50 Cent's In Da Club, Sunshine, they played a sample of Shawnna's Getting Some, D4L's Laffy Taffy, and Dem Franchize Boyz' Lean With It Rock With It.
This was their best performance I've ever been to - I wasn't bored at all and they did crank.

Buzz, Patrice Bowie's manager, and Ron Moten were there.

Tasha, the promoter, talked with Darrell and me.

Proper Utensils

Donald and Mike (during Eric Benet's The Last Time)


Roy and Donald (during Eric Benet's The Last Time)


Donald, Little Benny, James Funk (during Anthony Hamilton's Change Your World)


Little Benny, James Funk, Mike
James Funk said, "If you're looking for go hard, you're in the wrong place." (I prefer the throw down crank myself).
He did band introductions: Dynamite Mike (Michael Muse) (singer), Little Benny "Been in the business for 30 years" (vocals and trumpet), Donald Tillery (vocals and trumpet), Roy Pitchback (spelling? Sax, flute, cowbell), John "JB" Buchanan (keyboard player), another keyboard player, bass player, Foxy Rob (congas), drummer (to be honest, I can't read all my notes on the line up).
Funk did birthday announcements.
Funk did shout outs to Gwynn and Machelle.
1) Mike-led Eric Benet's The Last Time
2) Donald-led Anthony Hamilton's Change Your World - James Funk was doing the air guitar (a trend he's famous for starting in GoGo, this was the first time I've seen him perform. I went to a Rare Essence show he performed with, but it was dark and I didn't see the band)
3) Percussion solo - it cranked, the crowd shouted, "Wind me up, Funk!" / Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy
4) Percussion solo / Funk-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
5) Mike-led Gerald Levert's How Many Times
6) Percussion solo / Funk-led "Feel alright now?" - the crowd responded, "Hell yeah!" / "Tell me what you feel like doing" - the crowd responded, "Feel like moving that body" / the crowd shouted, "Wind me up Funk" - Funk held his mic to fans
7) Little Benny-led Yung Joc's It's Going Down / Funk-led ?
8) Funk-led 50 Cent's In Da Club - for Scorpios
9) Mike-led "Let me show you"
10) Instrumental
11) Little Benny-led Lil Wayne's Stuntin' Like My Daddy - the houselights came on, Little Benny said, "Randy Watson" (a reference to Coming to America)
12) Instrumental
I enjoyed their performance. They did crank, but not as much as I prefer

I had some of the usual treatment as a white guy, people asking if I owned the club or was a reporter.

On my way out of the club, I asked the cover taker when Saturday's show started. She pointed to a flyer on the opposite wall - it said it started at 10 PM.

Shawn & Nikia's Birthday Celebration
Phish Tea Cafe, 1335 H St NE Washington, DC 20002

There were search lights aimed at the sky in the alley between the Phish Tea Cafe and the Atlas Theatre next door.

Mona, Pee Wee, Nikia (her actual birthday is Monday, but she was celebrating today), Skaci, Yolanda, Sanisse, Shawn, and RE Angie were there.

Halima had a new hairdo.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Omarr said (off the mic), "Whose birthday is it?" Donnell parroted him (on the mic), "Whose birthday is it?" Shawn screamed, "Omarr!" Donnell said, "Who's got the freak me dress on?"
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Mr. Magic - Donnell played his Sax on the dance floor, it cranked
2) The Stylistics' People Make the World (Go Round) (Instrumental) - Lorenzo played a nice solo
Ebony and BY of the Junkyard Band were there.
Donnell did birthday announcements, including for Shawn.
3) Sean-led Burt Bacharach & Hal David's A House Is Not a Home / Happy Birthday (to Shawn) - Sean sang on the dance floor
4) Sean-led Raheem DeVaughn's You
5) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's My Love / JB's Doing it to Death (tease)
6) Halima-led "Never free?" - it cranked
7) Halima-led Cheri Dennis' I Love You - it cranked / Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
8) Alternating Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - it cranked, Donnell said, "We got... sweating up here" / Percussion solo
Peg Leg was there
9) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - it cranked
Mousie and Los were there.

Halima's hairdresser Keisha, Tiffany, Janetta, and Darlene were there.

Second Set
Donnell talked about the upcoming Positive Black Men Coalition's Night of Elegance. He said, "Halima's going to be absolutely naked. We're going to post the pictures on Rearview2.com". Nephew laughed.
1) Alternating Sean-led Omarion's Entourage / Percussion solo - it cranked
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
3) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club - verses for Scorpios, April, Angel, and others
4) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate it though) / Percussion solo / Donnell-led "You make me feel like this... I see... we ain't going to go nowhere. Make a... Smoke, Stomp"
5) Halima-led Christina Milian's Say I featuring Young Jeezy (tease)
6) Alternating Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" - Sanisse was making "Whoo whoo" calls repeatedly / "Keep it low" / Sample "What?"
7) Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon - referring to the heat "Turn on the air conditioning, turn on the air"
8) Alternating Donnell-led "Reggae" - more "Whoo whoo" calls by Sanisse / "But is it really like that, Is it really like that?" / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Must Be Like That (tease)
Slick Rick was there.
Donnell said, "I know what I forgot"
9) Alternating Donnell-led Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome - RE Angie sat in on congas, the crowd shouted, and Donnell responded, "What y'all say? What do you want?" / "RE-Angie" chant / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon (tease) / Percussion solo
10) Halima-led Beyonce's Ring the Alarm - it cranked
11) Sean-led Jay-Z's Show Me What You Got - it cranked
12) Donnell acapella The Supremes' Does Your Mama Know About Me
13) Donnell acapella Tavares' Remember What I Told You to Forget
Donnell said, "Halima wasn't even a concept when these songs were written."
Donnell said, "Halima's so scared because I'm learning"

Trea & Kay's Birthday Celebration
J's Sports Cafe, 12617 Laurel Bowie Rd (Route 197), Laurel, MD 20708

The pool tables all had covers on them.

Natalie, Tanya, Tamara (Ms. GEM_In_I), Sashay Shaunte, Shante (Songbird), Sam (Black Heart), and Audrey (Da Remixx) were there.

Jammin' Jeff & The Band
?) Male rapped
?) Tamara sat in and sang Jill Scott's It's Love
?) Jay-led "Let me be Crazy" - it cranked
Jazzy Layse and Chevy of Fatal Attraction were there.
?) Jay-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back, Packy played the cowbell
?) Allison-led ?
Sanisse and Yolanda were there.
?) Cleophus rapped over Junkyard Band's Sardines - it cranked
?) Cleophus-led Rare Essence's Going to Hollywood - it cranked
Trea (celebrating her birthday), her sister Tamika, and Javonne were there.
?) Allison-led Ashlee Simpson's Pieces of Me

Peg Leg, Dianya, SaVern, Nikia, NeeNee, Kia, and James were there.

Familiar Faces
Sound Check
Donnell acapella "Greatest story never told"

Kay (also celebrating her birthday) was there.

First Set
Donnell said, "Like I said last week, this party isn't for everyone: this isn't the Amazon. That's okay; we can tell you where to go."
1) Sean-led Jay-Z's Show Me What You Got / Percussion solo - it cranked / Donnell-led Nicole the Bartender (tease) / Donnell-led Slick Rick's La Di Da Di (tease)
Donnell did birthday announcements, including for Trea.
Donnell said, "Here comes Halima. I told you she didn't quit."
6'9 was there.
2) Instrumental (tease) of Omarion's Entourage / Alternating Percussion solo / Sean-led Omarion's Entourage
3) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
Ray and Darlene were there.
4) Alternating Donnell-led Nicole the Bartender / Lil Scrappy's Money in the Bank / Donnell said, "Drinks up, whoa, whoa, whoa"
Mousie was there.
5) Halima-led Christina Milian's Say I featuring Young Jeezy / Aaliyah's I Need You Tonight (tease) / Donnell chanted, "Killazoo" repeatedly / Donnell-led "Brandywine, friends of mine" chant / Donnell-led "Hands Free, they're f*cking with me" chant
6) Alternating Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low"
7) Halima-led Mary J. Blige's My Life

Damond, Ron Moten, Tyrell, and L-Boogie were there.

Second Set
1) Alternating Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back / Percussion solo - it cranked
Donnell talked about the Dallas Cowboys and called their quarterback Tony Homo.
2) Sean-led B.G.'s I Know - it cranked
3) Sean-led India Arie's There's Hope
4) Alternating Donnell-led "Party, party, everybody" - it cranked / Percussion solo / Sean-led Ne-Yo's So Sick - Donnell said, "Hey D-O-C", Donnell said, "Get with him, Lee"
Jay Gotti was there.
5) Donnell & Sean-led "On the small of her back, she got a tattoo" - it cranked, Sean held his mic to Jacques playing the cowbell
6) Halima-led Shareefa's Need a Boss - it cranked
7) Alternating Donnell-led "Reggae" - it cranked / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful
Skaci was there.
8) Halima-led Beyonce's Ring the Alarm - it cranked
9) Donnell & Halima-led It Is What It Is - the house lights came on
10) Donnell-led D-I-P / Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Swear to God, you never had a pocket like this", the cowbell was really prominent
11) Stomp drum solo

I planned to go out on Saturday night, but I lost my voice during the day (it didn't help that Maryland's win over Clemson was so close).

T-Bird and Nita's Birthday Celebrations
Tradewinds Night Club, 5859 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20748

The clocks rolled back at 2 AM, so they played extra long.

Simone, Nece, JoJo, Marquita, Tracy, Delano, Tasha, James, Monica (Ms. Mo), Los, Lashan, Keisha, Nita, Boo, Ray, Troy, DeeDee, Sweet Chelle, DJ, and Peanut were there.

Familiar Faces
Sound Check
Donnell acapella Slick Rick's La Di Da Di
I recognized Doc and Dwayne playing a riff from a Weather Report song.

Shawn, NeeNee, Kia, Gwen, and SaVern were there.

First Set
Donnell did birthday announcements
1) Alternating 6 Minutes percussion solo - it cranked / Donnell-led "On the small of her back, she got a tattoo" - Donnell said, "I'm going to give the rules... Grown & Sexy", Donnell said, "Where's Halima? She might have quit. She'll say, 'I had trouble with my car, my outfit, my man..."
Nicole and Peg Leg were there.
2) Alternating Sean-led Omarion's Entourage - it cranked, Donnell saw Halima and said, "I told you she didn't quit" / Percussion solo
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Alternating Donnell & Sean-led Nicole the Bartender - girls sang along / Donnell-led Lil Scrappy's Money in the Bank (tease) / "Whoa whoa whoa" / Percussion solo
5) Alternating Halima-led Christina Milian's Say I featuring Young Jeezy - it cranked / Aaliyah's I Need You Tonight / Donnell chanted, "Killazoo" repeatedly / Donnell-led "Brandywine, friends of mine chant" / Donnell-led "Hands Free, they're f*cking with me"
6) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time (yell)
Tracy S., Angie, Keisha, and Jan were there.
7) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - Halima sang, "Ooh ooh" repeatedly
8) Alternating Donnell-led Notorious BIG's Warning - it cranked, Stomp played the dial tone / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes / Scarface's I Seen a Man Die (tease) / Tupac's Hail Mary (tease)
L-Boogie and Shadonna were there.
9) Donnell-led "Reggae" - it cranked / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful
10) Halima-led Mary J. Blige's My Life

During the break, Doc talked about working a Weather Report tune in.

Stomp had been at Sharmba Mitchell's party, EU was performing and Ivan Goff was with them.

Tasty, Gary, RE Angie, Ebony, Mona, Mousie, Mia, Yolanda, Sanisse, Mary, Slick Rick, Vic, and Nicole (Classics) were there.

Second Set
Donnell did birthday announcements.
Donnell did his "Public Service Announcement"; telling people "that if someone steps on your foot, it's alright", etc.
6'9 and Rece (celebrating her birthday) were there.
1) Percussion solo / Donnell rapped / Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - it cranked
Stacy (Choo Choo's cousin) was there.
2) Sean-led Ne-Yo's Sexy Love - it cranked / Michael Jackson's Human Nature (tease) / Percussion solo
3) Sean-led India Arie's There's Hope - Donnell sang "Michelle my belle", Godfather played the flugelhorn
4) Alternating Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low"
5) Halima-led Shareefa's Need a Boss - it cranked / Percussion solo
6) Alternating Donnell-led Welcome to the Terrordome - RE Angie sat in on congas, it cranked / "RE-Angie" chant
7) Halima-led Beyonce's Ring the Alarm - it cranked -->
8) Donnell & Sean-led "Unh, unh unh"
9) Sean-led Jay-Z's Show Me What You Got - Godfather played the flugelhorn, the house lights came on / Percussion solo
10) Donnell & Halima-led It Is What It Is - it cranked
11) Donnell-led Trina Was Great - it cranked, either Godfather or Lorenzo played different keyboard riffs
12) Donnell-led Hey Tasty (Miss Keta) Do Your Dance for Me - verses for Mona, RE Angie and others, Doc told me "Fire!": Dwayne's amp had smoke coming out of it, Donnell said, "We better get you up here SaVern, what you did last night, we need to enter you in a contest" / Percussion solo

Nita's Birthday Celebration (Part 1)
J's Sports Cafe, 12617 Laurel Bowie Rd (Route 197), Laurel, MD 20708

It was raining real hard (before during and after), but there was still a large crowd - I was really surprised when I got to the parking lot how crowded it was given the rain.

Jammin Jeff & the Band
Set (in progress)
?) Smokey-led Prince's Purple Rain
?) Jay-led ?
Shante (Songbird), Peg Leg, Nita, Lisa of the World, Keta, Tasty, and Pinkie (a friend of Nita's) were there.
Allison talked with me. I told her I noticed on Tuesday that she didn't smile much (which she normally does a lot). She said she's sick and she was really sick on Tuesday. I asked her how long she'd been singing with Patrice Bowie (since she was obviously well rehearsed). She said two weeks. She said it was "something different."
?) Jay-led "Let me be..." - it cranked
Dana, Renee, and Mousie were there.
?) Allison-led ?
June, Britney, Toya, Tasha, Beverly, and SaVern (Nita's sister) were there.

Duane Face introduced me to his friend Dwayne. Duane Face said that Dwayne had gotten him started in an elective music class they took together, Dwayne had it all down. He also had let Duane use an old keyboard as a "starter set". In return, when Duane bought his Motif, he gave his latest keyboard to Dwayne. Dwayne plays for Neo-Soul bands in Philadelphia, but came down to see Duane Face.

Shadonna, Pooh, Skaci, Danielle (I told her I liked the way she contorted her body to the music last night, she smiled), Tiffany, Los, Kim (the one I don't know), 6'9, Tony, DeeDee, and Marvin were there.

Halima had a new hairdo.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Donnell did birthday dedications to Kim and Nita
1) Alternating Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - I really hate that song, Donnell said, "Tasty's back in the building, Frankie Knuckles", it cranked / Percussion solo
Nikiya and RE Angie were there
2) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - verses for DeeDee, Nita, and others
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
5) Halima-led Christina Milian's Say I featuring Young Jeezy / Aaliyah's I Need You Tonight (tease) / Donnell chanted, "Killazoo" repeatedly / Donnell-led "Brandywine, friends of mine" chant / Donnell-led "Hands Free, they're f*cking with me"
6) Alternating Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / sample "What?" / "Keep it low" / Percussion solo - it cranked, the crowd shouted, "GoGo Smoke-ay" and Donnell responded, "Say what? Do what?", Donnell said, "Wave to 'em, Smoke"
Ray was there.
7) Alternating Donnell-led "Party, party, everybody" / Sean-led Ne-Yo's So Sick / Percussion solo - it cranked, Donnell said, "Hey D-O-C", Donnell said, "Get with him, Lee"
L-Boogie was there.
8) Donnell-led Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes / Percussion - it cranked and was long -->
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's How Can I Know?
Donnell said, "Fellas, we're not at the Black Hole, the Metro Club, or the Ice Box. Let the ladies be in front and calm down."
Angie, Lashonda, Rickea, and James were there.

Pinkie, Lisa of the World, DeeDee, Nita, SaVern

Second Set

Nita, Toya (behind Nita), Beverly, SaVern (bottom right)


Danielle (orange shirt in background), Pinkie, Patrick (in background), Tasty, Nita, DP (behind Nita), Dwayne


Packy, DP, Jacques, Nita, Smoke, Tasty, Tony, Kim

Donnell said, "If you don't feel right here, you're probably in the wrong place. Put some (nice) clothes on."
Halima said, "And use a breathe mint".
Boo was there.
1) Sean-led Jay-Z's Show me what you got - Godfather played the flugelhorn / Percussion solo - it cranked, Donnell said, "If it ain't rough enough for you, this might not be your party"
2) Halima-led Shareefa's Need a Boss - it cranked
I was dancing with a woman, so I may have missed a song.
3) Sean-led Busta Rhymes I Love My Chick featuring Kelis - it cranked / Percussion solo
4) Halima-led Beyonce's Ring the Alarm - it cranked
5) Donnell-led Trina Was Great - it cranked
6) Donnell-led "Reggae" - interrupted by an argument / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful
7) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance For Me - verses for Keta, Tasty, Nita, Lashonda, Danielle, Beverly, Tiffany, SaVern

DeeDee's Birthday Celebration at Zanzibar
Zanzibar on the Waterfront, 700 Water Street SW Washington, DC 20024

They took away my pen, so this is off the top of my head.

Little Benny and Bryan Mills greeted me.

Cookie was there, she introduced me to her boyfriend,  Kirby. Sharika, John, Matthew, and DeeDee were there.
Dee introduced me to her sister, and her brother.
DeeDee's cousin Michelle was there.

The crowd was very different from the last time I was here to see Familiar Faces in July.

Cookie, Kirby, DeeDee


DeeDee, Me, DeeDee's Cousin Michelle


Donnell and DeeDee


Sharmba Mitchell, DeeDee, Big Don Pimp


Monica in front, Gaylynn, Nita, DeeDee, Sweet Chelle



Donnell, Sean, Dwayne, Lorenzo


Nicole (used to take covers for Familiar Faces on Fridays)

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Lock It in the Pocket
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know
3) Halima-led Mary J. Blige's Be Without You / (Jamie Foxx's) Mother's Finest's Love Changes
4) Sean-led Peabo Bryson's Feel the Fire
5) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - first song that cranked / bassline to Stevie Wonder's Superstition
6) Sean-led Ne-Yo's When You're Mad
7) Sean-led R. Kelly's Slow Wind
Nicole, the former cover taker for Familiar Faces on Fridays, was there. I asked her how she was doing, she said, "I'm retired."
Ayanna, India, Los, Ro'chelle (Too Sweet), Danielle (Pink), Sherray (Always Showtime!!), Mo (Slim Goodie) and her cousins Toonie, Weenie, and Keisha (celebrating her birthday), Big Don Pimp, Sharmba Mitchell, Danielle, Nita, Michelle, and Monica were there.

Second Set
1) Percussion solo
2) Sean-led Brian McKnight's Find Myself in You / Trey Songz' Gotta Go / 6 Minutes Percussion solo
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "wait a minute" echoes" / Tupac's Hail Mary (tease)
Chris "Rah" of WHAT? Band was there.
5) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time (mostly the yell) - Donnell stopped it because Ayanna was arguing with another woman in the front
6) Halima-led Christina Milian's Say I featuring Young Jeezy
7) Donnell & Sean-led Nicole the Bartender / "Whoa whoa whoa" - Donnell stopped it because Patrice was arguing on the side
Nicole the bartender was there.
8) Donnell rapped / Donnell-led "Party, party, everybody" / Sean-led Ne-Yo's So Sick
9) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
10) Donnell & Sean-led "On the small of her back, she got a tattoo"
11) Halima-led Mary J. Blige's My Life

Tiffany was there.

Third Set
1) Sean-led Jay-Z's Show Me What You Got / Percussion solo
2) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back
3) Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low"
4) Donnell-led "Reggae" - Danielle (in the front0 was contorting her body to the music, DeeDee danced with Donnell onstage / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful
5) Halima-led Beyonce's Ring the Alarm / Percussion solo
6) Halima-led Shareefa's Need a Boss
7) Donnell acapella Nicole the Bartender (tease)
Tiffany smiled the entire third set.
Donnell did a shout out to Rah and told audience to buy WHAT?'s album from legitimate vendors.
Donnell said, "Cookie's off the market"
Donnell said, "Nita invented a man. Has anyone seen him? He's a man that comes with batteries..."

Ayanna and Patrice were having a heated discussion outside - the police told them to move along.

Shadonna's Birthday at Phish Tea Cafe
Once again, there were protesters at the Gallaudet University on my way to the club, however they won they following week: the President Elect was fired.

Phish Tea Cafe, 1335 H St NE Washington, DC 20002
Shadonna was there. She said it was her actual birthday. Sam (Black Heart), Darrell, Tim (LJ), Mary, Yolanda, Sanisse, Renee, June, and Los were there.

Familiar Faces
Sound Check
Donnell acapella Sly & the Family Stone's Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)

First Set
1) Mother's Day - Donnell played his Sax on the dance floor, the various band members played solos
Dana and Darlene were there.
2) Miles Davis' Tutu - the various band members played solos
Nikiya was there.
3) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - Halima sang on the dance floor
4) Halima-led Mary J. Blige's My Life - Sean ad libbed
Pinkey, RE Angie, and Mousie were there.
5) Sean-led Jamie Foxx's Heaven - Sean sang on the dance floor
6) Sean-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You - Yolanda played the "air Sax"
Stacy (Yvette's friend) was there.
7) Halima-led Jill Scott's Whatever - it cranked, the dance floor filled, Donnell did a special dedication to Iceberg Slim, Donnell said, "Happy birthday, Shadonna"
Iceberg Slim was there. I didn't recognize him for sure until he started dancing, there's no mistaking that!

Iceberg Slim
L-Boogie was there.
8) Sean-led India Arie's There's Hope - it cranked / Percussion solo
9) Sean-led Raheem DeVaughn's You
10) Doc played riffs from Trouble Funk's Don't Touch That Stereo - Donnell said, "Do you hear what he's trying to play?"
A young woman named Tasha was really excited and clapped after every song.

Tony and Tasha
All pictures taken by and Copyright - Darrell Foster

Jermaine and then RE Angie played the congas during the break.

Slick Rick was there.

Second Set
1) Alternating Sean-led Jay-Z's Show Me What You Got "Show me what you got... oh baby... just ignore them... hands up and wave" - Godfather played the flugelhorn / Percussion solo - it cranked
2) Alternating Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate the song though) / Percussion solo
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Sean-led B.G.'s I Know
5) Halima-led Shareefa's Need a Boss - the stage went pitch black, Donnell stopped their playing to ask for the lights to be turned back on
6) Alternating Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low" - the house lights came on
7) Donnell-led "Reggae" / 50 Cent's In Da Club "Go Shadonna, it's your birthday!" / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful - Darryl the manager, had them stop
Donnell razzed a guy wearing a Dallas Cowboys jersey, talking about how Bledsoe threw 6 interceptions and is 70 years old... Donnell said, "I know how these cowards became Cowboy fans. If their friends are in a fight and they're winning, they'd join in. If they were losing, they would run to their car."

Patrice Bowie at South Beach
South Beach, 7904 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20810

The Patrice Bowie Project was upstairs again.

Patrice had a new hairdo.

The Patrice Bowie Project
I noticed that Allison of Jammin' Jeff & the Band had replaced Cindy as backup singer.
The complete lineup was: Patrice Bowie (lead singer), Kanika & Allison (backup singers), Stan Cooper (vocals and guitar), Dennis (bass), Dawoud (keyboard), Ricky Wellman (drums), Little Benny (vocals and trumpet, second set only).
First Set
1) Miles Davis' Tutu - nice, but strange without a trumpet player
Buzz asked Stan to do another song. Stan said, "Another one for Ricky"
2) Stan-led William DeVaughn's Be Thankful for What You Got - nice Dawoud solo, Stan changed the lyrics a little (adding lines about metro cards, and "Be thankful for public transportation" / Terror Squad's Lean Back (tease)
3) Patrice-led Alicia Keys' Unbreakable
4) Patrice-led Mary J. Blige's Be Without You
5) Patrice-led Alicia Keys' Diary
6) Patrice-led Butterflies (an original from her album)
7) Patrice-led Letoya Luckett's Torn
8) Patrice-led Give It to Me (an original from her album) - I saw Little Benny was outside / Patrice did band intros and the band did solos - in order: Dawoud, Dennis, Stan, Ricky
9) Ricky outtro

Second Set
1) Guitar intro / Patrice-led Fingalickin (an original from her album) - it cranked, Allison & Kanika rocked and leaned
2) Patrice-led Say Yes (an original from her album) - Patrice said, "This is one of my favorites. Let me tell you why: I don't like to hear the word no when I want something", Patrice held her mic to Holly? (I think she's a relative of Patrice's, she sat across the table from me at the first Patrice show I attended) and another fan, Patrice said, "Give me a little Caribbean music", Kanika and then Allison did vocal solos, the band stopped, but Stan asked for a solo himself, he sang "The ladies say yes", Patrice said, "Stan wants some attention"
3) Patrice-led Heather Headley's In My Mind
4) Patrice-led Amazing (an original from her album)
Mary was there.
5) Patrice-led Beyonce's Deja Vu featuring Jay-Z - Patrice asked for just bass, then hi-hat, Dawoud played horn hits until Little Benny arrived, Little Benny rapped
6) Patrice-led Mary J. Blige's Enough Cryin'
7) Patrice-led Little Benny-led Yung Joc's It's Going Down - it cranked, the frontline did the "ride out" dance
8) Little Benny-led Jeannie's Juice Theme / Little Benny-led "You feel alright?"
9) Patrice-led Close to Me (an original from her album)
10) Patrice-led Shareefa's Need a Boss
11) Patrice-led Lil Kim's Lighters Up - Little Benny said, "If you got some lighters, then light 'em up, put 'em up"
12) Little Benny-led Rare Essence's Lock It - it cranked, Little Benny jumped up at the end note

Allison didn't smile much, which is very different from when she performs with Jammin' Jeff & the Band. She talked with me on Friday; she said she was really sick (on Tuesday).

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

Vic, Julia (with a new hairdo), Los, Delano, Shawn, Tata, Felecia, Nita, Keisha, Lachelle, and James were there.

Familiar Faces
Clarence "Boolah" Roper sat in on guitar.
First Set
1) Cheri Dennis' I Love You (instrumental) - Donnell said, "Special dedication to the Libras", Donnell said, "Gimme a little bit Boolah while we get this thing warmed up" and Boolah played a nice solo / Percussion solo - with modulation and Donnell said, "Guess who's back y'all? (Googie)", Donnell said, "I didn't know she (Halima) was here" / Halima-led Cheri Dennis' I Love You - it cranked, Donnell said, "That the problem, he (Boolah) starts to do his own thing", Boolah smiled
Troy was there.
2) Alternating Halima-led Floetry's Supastar - it cranked / Donnell-led Rare Essence's "Going to Hollywood" - the frontline danced
6'9 was there.
3) Alternating Donnell-led Nicole the Bartender - it cranked / Lil Scrappy's Money in the Bank (tease) / "Whoa who" / Percussion solo
Ray was there.
4) Donnell-led "Party, party, everybody" / Sean-led Ne-Yo's So Sick (tease) - it cranked, Halima chanted, "Eya eya", Donnell chanted "Eya eya" and the crowd responded, "Ho!", Donnell said, "Hey D-O-C", Donnell said, "Come on, Boolah"
5) Donnell & Sean-led "Unh, unh unh" - it cranked
6) Alternating Halima-led Christina Milian's Say I featuring Young Jeezy / Aaliyah's I Need You Tonight (tease) / Donnell chanted, "Killazoo" / Donnell-led "Brandywine, friends of mine" / Donnell-led "Hands Free, they're f*cking with me" / Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Libras, it's your birthday"
7) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate the song though) / Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Hit me one time" repeatedly
8) Donnell & Sean-led "On the small of her back, she got a tattoo" - it cranked / 6 Minutes percussion solo
I danced with Julia.
9) Halima-led Mary J. Blige's My Life
Mama Chelle, March, and TT were there. TT introduced me to her cousin Lia, here for her bachelorette party. Nicole, Renee, Ariel, MeChelle, and Shannon, NeeNee, Kia, Mara, April "JuJu", Alexis, Keisha, Jan, Tanya & Ashante (whom I met at the Labor Day show), Choo Choo, Matthew, Shaunte (Stacey's cousin), Boo, Kelly, and Peg Leg were there.

Second Set
Donnell gave a speech about, "If someone steps on your toes, it's alright... If someone is drunk and touches your girlfriend's @ss, it's alright..."
1) Percussion solo
The "Familiar face" was there again.
2) Sean-led Ne-Yo's Sexy Love / Michael Jackson's Human Nature (tease) / Percussion solo - it cranked
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Sean-led B.G.'s I Know / Percussion solo
Kiana was there.
5) Halima-led Shareefa's Need a Boss / Percussion solo
6) Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low"
7) Donnell-led "Reggae" - it cranked / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful / Donnell-led "But is it like that, is it really like that?"
8) Halima-led "Been doing it so long" - it cranked
Big Don Pimp and Shameika were there.
9) Halima-led Beyonce's Deja Vu featuring Jay-Z - the houselights came on, it cranked / Percussion solo
Bam was there.
10) Donnell-led Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda - it cranked, John stopped it
Donnell announced they were going to Miami for the Super Bowl and they had a ski trip in January.
Stacy (Choo Choo's Cousin) was there.
Donnell said hello to Kiana and her friend "Trouble (Nicole)".

RE Angie, Ray, Shadonna, and Britney's Birthday Celebration
J's Sports Cafe, 12617 Laurel Bowie Rd (Route 197), Laurel, MD 20708

It's starting to get really crowded at J's: I had to wait in line to get in.

There were sales reps (beautiful women) there hawking an energy drink called Sum Poosie.

The promter Tomeaki on the left, Sum Poosie sales girls in the background

Reynetta (spelling?) stopped me and said, "Don't walk past me without saying hello." She said she sees me at Phish Tea every week. I introduced myself to her. She's friends with Skaci.

Darrell, Pinkey, Tia, Kim, Rachelle, Tony, Skaci, and Ray were there.

Familiar Faces
Sound Check
Donnell-led Rare Essence's I'm Getting Ready (tease)

"Original" Nikki, Shawn, Sam (Black Heart). Shameika, Netty, Britney, June, Chevy of Fatal Attraction, Dianya, NeeNee, and Kia were there.

A girl called me over said, "Don't you recognize me?" I said your face is familiar, she said, "A familiar face."

Steve was working the PA tonight.

Jammin' Jeff Warren sat in on drums.
First Set
1) Instrumental / Percussion solo - it cranked, Donnell said, "I'm in love with the pocket", Donnell did a birthday shout out to RE Angie
Val "Tina Turner" was there.
2) Sean-led Brian McKnight's Find Myself in You - Jammin' Jeff tossed a drumstick in the air, it cranked, the congas sounded really crisp / Percussion solo - with modulation, Jammin' Jeff again threw a drumstick in the air
RE Angie was there
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Halima-led Floetry's Supastar (instrumental) / Percussion solo - it cranked, the frontline danced / Donnell-led Rare Essence's "Going to Hollywood" - Doc was on backup vocals
5) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - verses for Libras, RE Angie, and others
6) Donnell-led "Party, party, everybody" / Percussion solo - it cranked / Donnell chanted, "Langston Lane love" / Sean-led Ne-Yo's So Sick - Sean held his mic to a fan
7) Halima-led Christina Milian's Say I featuring Young Jeezy / Aaliyah's I Need You Tonight (tease) / Donnell chanted, "Killazoo" / Donnell-led "Brandywine, friends of mine" chant / Donnell chanted, "Hands Free, they're f*cking with me"
8) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate the song though) / Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Happy Birthday, Ray!"
Angie W., 6'9, and Peg Leg were there.
9) Sean-led Chingy's Pulling Me Back featuring Tyrese
Jay Gotti, Tracy S. (new hairdo), Janetta, Shadonna, Damond, Boo, Kay, and Nikiya were there.

A guy came up to me and said, "What do you know that I don't? You're always smiling as if you know something I don't, what do you know?"

Second Set
Darrell took pictures, and was onstage doing so for most of the set.

Me, Tracy, Pinkey, (don't know the other guy), Angie, and RE Angie
1) Halima-led Cheri Dennis' I Love You - Sean held his mic to fans, Stephanie (formerly? of EU) took the mic and went onstage, she continued the song, Donnell said, "Not yet, Stephanie" / 6 Minutes Percussion solo
Archie was there.
2) Sean-led India Arie's There's Hope - Godfather played the flugelhorn
3) Donnell-led Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome - RE Angie sat in on the congas / Rare Essence's Body Snatchers riffs / DP-led "RE-Angie" chant - it cranked

Packy, Jacques, RE Ange, Smoke
4) Alternating Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low"
Tata was there.
5) Donnell-led "Reggae" / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful / Donnell-led "But is it like that, is it really like that?"
6) Sean-led Busta Rhymes' I Love My Chick featuring Kelis / Percussion solo
7) Donnell & Sean-led Nicole the Bartender - Donnell said, "Libras in the house"
8) Stephanie-led 50 Cent's In Da Club / Stephanie rapped / Percussion solo
Double D of Submission Band was there.
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda - it cranked, Halima sang, "Uh oh" repeatedly, Packy played the Cowbell
10) Alternating Percussion solo - it cranked / Donnell-led "On the small of her back, she got a tattoo" / 6 Minutes Percussion solo - Halima held her mic to Jacques playing the cowbell / Donnell-led "This is how we party in my neighborhood" - RE Angie sat in on vocals
James and Ian were there.
Donnell said, "When you party with us on your birthday, that's special to me"
11) Donnell acapella Rare Essence's How Can I Know (tease) / "Come back, baby come back" / "Here we go again"
Donnell said, "My baby Tracy got the new 'fro, ready to go"
We called Donnell over for a group picture, "He said, "You know I need to talk. Halima don't let me sing, this the only time I can sing"
12) Donnell acapella "The greatest story never told"

Front: Donnell, Angie, Tia, Kim Back: Sean, Nephew, Pinkey, RE Angie, Jacques, Me, Rachelle, DP
All pictures taken by and Copyright - Darrell Foster

June's Birthday Celebration
Once again, there were protesters at the Gallaudet University on my way to the club.

Phish Tea Cafe, 1335 H St NE Washington, DC 20002

June, "original" Nikki, Darrell F., Tamara, Kimberly, Darrell, and Shawn were there.

Tamara told me she is now singing and rapping (which I've never heard her do) for the Firm Project.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Blueprint (instrumental) - Donnell did his speech on how they started from elementary school, Donnell played his Sax on the dance floor / Sean improved, "We are Familiar Faces, we are doing our thing for you tonight" - it cranked
2) Sean-led Brian McKnight's Anytime - Sean sang on the dance floor
3) Sean-led Jamie Foxx's Heaven
4) Halima-led Sade's Pearls
5) Sean-led Peabo Bryson's Feel the Fire - Sean & Halima sang on the dance floor
6) Halima-led Sade's No Ordinary Love - it cranked, either Godfather or Lorenzo played different keyboard riffs / Percussion solo - it cranked, Donnell did a shout out to Little Benny in the audience: "We got Little Benny in the house, this is where the stars be partyin'" -->
Peg Leg and Mousie were there.
7) Sean-led Ne-Yo's Sexy Love - it cranked / Percussion solo - it cranked / Michael Jackson's Human Nature (tease)
Los was there.
8) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - verses for June and Rico -->
Yaquim was there.
9) Halima-led Shareefa's Need a Boss - Tamara sat in / Percussion solo
10) Halima-led Mary J. Blige's My Life - Halima said, "Thank you, Tamara"

Sharmba Mitchell was there.

Tomeaki gave me a flyer for their Halloween costume party. She said, "You're everywhere."

A guy talked to me about seeing me at so many shows.

Second Set
A woman was filming the second set with a camcorder. I talked with her after the show. Her name is Natalie Hopkinson and she is doing a doctoral thesis on GoGo. Donnell said, "The Washington Post is in the building, keep rolling, just no fights". Natalie does write for the Washington Post, and is a visiting professor at my alma mater, the University of Maryland.
1) Sean-led Brian McKnight's Find Myself in You / Trey Songz' Gotta Go (tease) / Percussion solo
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
3) Sean-led B.G.'s I Know
4) Halima-led Christina Milian's Say I featuring Young Jeezy / Aaliyah's I Need You Tonight (tease) / Donnell chanted, "Killazoo" repeatedly / "Brandywine, friends of mine" chant
6'9 was there.
5) Donnell-led "Party, Party, everybody" - Donnell stopped their playing to watch a guy's dancing, Donnell said, "He's been with us since the Market Lounge. I love you, but now we gotten buttons on our shirts and sh*t." / Sean-led Ne-Yo's So Sick / Percussion solo, Donnell said, "Hey D-O-C, Get with him Lee"
6) Halima-led "I've been doing it so long"
7) Donnell-led "Reggae" - it cranked /Percussion solo / Donnell-led "___ Is in the house" / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful
8) Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low"
9) Donnell-led acapella Rare Essence's Hey Tamika (tease)
10) Donnell-led acapella Sade the Bartender (re-wording of Nicole the Bartender) (tease)
11) Donnell-led acapella "On the small of her back, she got a tattoo" (tease) - Shawn was covering her ears, for some reason she doesn't like that song
12) Donnell-led acapella Vinnie D's Porno Star? (tease) - Donnell said, "He (Googie) pressed the Halima button. He's just jealous from back in the day when I tried to have him fired"
I introduced myself to the promoters Tomeaki and Teresa, both of whom danced with me in the second set.

I talked for a while with Natalie and Nico, one of her two colleagues. He asked me a number of questions about my blog saying, "GoGo is really fragile right now (which I know and is a shame) and I've known a lot of whites who have said they were trying to help GoGo and have hurt it". I found some of his questions a little strange like, "Why did you decide to write the blog in first person?" I understand his concern, it's a damned shame that authorities are trying to eliminate GoGo.

Patrick's Birthday Celebration
Tradewinds Night Club, 5859 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20748

Vic, Tracy, MeCelle, Shameika, Shonda, Shauny, Britney, Sanisse, Mary, Los, Nita, Keshia, Ariel, Gwen, and Shawn were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Donnell did a special dedication to Reggie.
1) Instrumental / Alternating Percussion solo / Sean-led Brian McKnight's Find Myself in You / Trey Songz' Gotta Go - fans sang along
Donnell said, "We're doing this for all the Libras".
2) Sean-led Omarion's Entourage / Percussion solo - Donnell sang the words "Nicole the Bartender"
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house" / 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
5) Donnell & Sean-led Nicole the Bartender / Percussion solo / Lil' Scrappy's Money in the Bank (tease) / "Whoa" chant
Ray was there.
6) Halima-led Christina Milian's Say I featuring Young Jeezy - it cranked / Aaliyah's I Need You Tonight (tease) - Donnell chanted, "Killazoo" / Donnell-led "Brandywine, friends of mine" chant / Donnell-led "Hands Free, they're f*cking with me"
Mona, "original" Nikki, Renee, and Ebony were there.
7) Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low" / sample "What?" / Percussion solo - the crowd said, "Wind me up, Smoke!" and Donnell responded, "Say what? Do what?"
8) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
Simone was there.
9) Donnell-led "Reggae" / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful
10) Sean-led R. Kelly's Slow Wind - Donnell said "Happy Birthday Nicole (the Nicole I met at Classics)"
11) Sean-led Chingy's Pulling Me Back featuring Tyrese - Sean held his mic to fans to sing and Donnell said of one, "She really can sing", Halima said, "When she's not smoking", they called her onstage to sing, her name is Ianna (spelling?)
Ian was there.

Patrick, of band security, was celebrating his birthday; he had a cake in the kitchen.

Julie, NeeNee, Kia, Yolanda, Tiffany F., Keisha, and Jan were there.

Second Set
1) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back / Percussion solo
2) Sean-led India Arie's There's Hope - Godfather played the flugelhorn / Percussion solo - with modulation
3) Alternating Donnell-led "Party, party, everybody" / Percussion solo / Sean-led Ne-Yo's So Sick - Donnell said, "Hey D-O-C", Donnell said, "Get with him, Lee"
4) Halima rapped "I've been doing it so long, I'll be damned... What you think of this song?"
5) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - it cranked, Charlie was on backup vocals, Halima played on a conga
6) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What? - Doc was on backup vocals
7) Alternating Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time / "Southeast, South, Southeast" chant / Shawnna's Getting Some (tease, same music) / Halima sang Kanye West's Gold Digger
Janetta was there.
8) Donnell-led D-I-P
9) Donnell-led Trina Was Great - the houselights came on
Jackie was there.
10) Donnell & Halima-led It Is What It Is
11) Donnell-led "Go back to me... Unh unh (not to be confused with Unh Unh Unh also known as We Get It In or We Put it In)"
12) Alternating Donnell & Sean-led "On the small of her back, she got a tattoo" / Donnell-led "Brandywine, friends of mine" / Percussion solo / Donnell said of Mia, "Mama Mia, it's so good to see ya" repeatedly / Rap "Superfly Snooka..." / Rap "Get me started..."
13) Halima-led Beyonce's Deja Vu featuring Jay-Z (literal tease)
14) Instrumental - Halima sang, "I am..." repeatedly
Kiana was there.

RIP Scotty Beats
Today I was saddened to hear of the death of Raymond Scott "Scotty Beats" Brown II in an attempted carjacking.  I met Scotty when I sat in on some recording sessions for Familiar Faces' album Evolution in July 2004 at Night Flight Studio.  He was a very nice, personable guy who had a love for music.  Here is an article on his death.

Scotty's Funeral

Friday October 20, 2006
Viewing 9 AM
Funeral 11 AM
Reid Temple A.M.E Church
11400 Glendale Blvd
Glendale, MD 20769
Here is an article on his funeral.


Scotty Beats with Donnell Floyd at Night Flight Studio on July 25, 2004
Picture taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich

Mambo Sauce at the State Theatre
Mambo Sauce was interviewed on the TMOTT radio show on GoGoRadio.com. You can listen to the interview here.

The State Theatre, 220 N. Washington Falls Church, VA 22046

I bought my ticket in advance, but it unfortunately turned out it wasn't necessary, as it didn't sell out. Mambo Sauce was opening up for the Skatalites.

I said hello to Red up front.

All the tables were reserved for eating; I picked a table front and center. This venue has a really nice stage; I've never been here before.

Most of the members of Mambo Sauce came out a little after 9 PM. The house lights dimmed and the stage lights came on.

Mambo Sauce
Kevin "Kali" Kalifornia was sitting in for Drew on guitar.
Their performance was being filmed by 2 cameras - one hand-held on stage and on the dance floor, another on a tripod next to the PA.
1) Instrumental
Black Boo and Yendy came out. Black Boo said, "Anyone got chicken wings? I we're about to put some Mambo Sauce on that". I gave a further intro speech.
There outfits the various members wore varied in formality: Barry had a shirt and tie.
2) Black Boo-led Things Will Get Better
3) Black Boo-led Sweet Baby - Yendy said, "This is my personal favorite", it cranked
Black Boo said, "If you feel like dancing like the beautiful woman I just saw, do what your body tells you to do. That's what this music is all about."
Black Boo did a shout out to Moe, "the other Moe".
4) Black Boo-led sung intro - Black Boo pulled out the cowbell, it cranked
5) Yendy-led No - it cranked -->
6) Yendy-led Fairweather - Black Boo played the cowbell, it cranked -->
7) Black Boo-led Damn Joe - Black Boo played the cowbell, it cranked
Black Boo said, "We got one more for you, we got to get out of here a little earlier than we expected."
8) Black Boo-led Long Time Comin' - Kali played grinding riffs, Kali had a really nice solo, the song went to being laid back, Black Boo introduced the band, then Yendy introduced Black Boo saying, "Sexual Chocolate!"
The set was about an hour.
Pep just played congas the whole set, no toms (fine by me).
Left to right: backline: Chris, Pep, Kali, Barry (on a riser in the back middle), Khari, frontline: Black Boo, Yendy
The audience was mostly white. They applauded after every song. A number of people danced.
Red was on the dance floor at the end. He said Drew was in Atlanta. Red introduced me to another fan who attends most of their shows.

Up front, Ro'chelle (toosweet) was minding Mambo Sauce's t-shirts for sale. Disco Earl (formerly Spearchucker) introduced himself to me, a fellow Whitman graduate. He said he mostly posts on TMOTT between classes (he's a teacher), he takes out his frustrations on TMOTT, which explains his sarcastic posting style. He asked me why I wasn't at Familiar Faces' show; I said they don't play until after midnight.

Familiar Faces at J's
J's Sports Cafe, 12617 Laurel Bowie Rd (Route 197), Laurel, MD 20708

Jazzy Layse and Chevy of Fatal Attraction were right ahead of me in line to get in.
Val "Tina Turner", Danielle (Wellfhed), Simone (Stallion), and Sashay Shaunte were there. Danielle introduced me to Chris from L!ssen Da Grew^P who had played for Jammin' Jeff & Da Band tonight.
Nikki, Lashonda, Big Don Pimp, and Ytee (celebrating his birthday, which was October 6th, this was the first time I've seen him in a long time) were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Donnell said, "We lost a family member last night." He asked for a moment of silence for Scotty Beats. Afterwards, he said, "Rest in peace, Scotty Beats"
1) Instrumental / Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Give me a pocket just to get warmed up" / Donnell did special birthday dedications to me, Alicia, and Libras / Sean-led Brian McKnight's Find Myself in You
Tim (LJ), 6'9, Shawn, Dana, and Kim were there.
2) Sean-led Trey Songz' Gotta Go / Percussion solo - with modulation, Donnell said, "Go Ytee, it's your birthday! Go Libras, it's your birthday!"
Donnell Jr. was there.
3) Sean-led Omarion's Entourage / Percussion solo
Audrey (Da Remixx) was there.
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
5) Alternating Donnell-led "Party, Party, everybody" / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya, eya" / Sean-led Ne-Yo's So Sick - Donnell said, "Hey D-O-C"
Candylady and John were there.
6) Donnell & Sean-led "Unh, unh unh"
Mousie was there.
Donnell said, "I'd like to wish all the Libras a happy birthday"
7) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
Damond, "original" Nikki, and Ebony were there.
8) Halima-led Mary J. Blige's My Life

Rickea, Derek Floyd, Renee (a friend of Ebo's), Peg Leg, Suri, Sharmba Mitchell, Janetta, Kiana, and Tiffany F. were there.

Second Set
1) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back
RE Angie and Angie W. were there.
2) Donnell-led Nicole the Bartender - Donnell chanted, "Whoa, whoa" / Lil' Scrappy's Money in the Bank (tease) - Donnell stopped it chastise a fan
3) Sean-led India Arie's There's Hope - it cranked / Percussion solo - Donnell stopped the song and said, "This ain't the Metro Club. We done grown up. We got shirts with buttons on and sh*t."
Darlene was there.
4) Alternating Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / Sample "What?" / "Keep it low"
Tyrell was there.
5) Halima rapped "I've been doing it so long, I'll be damned..."
Big Buck of Publicity Band was there.
6) Alternating Donnell-led "Reggae" / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful - Jazzy Layse danced onstage / Donnell-led "But is it like that, is it really like that?"
7) Alternating Donnell-led Rare Essence's Lock It - the house lights came on, Packy played the cowbell, Ytee danced onstage (and did until the end of the set), Donnell said, "Hey Ytee, it's your birthday" / "Brandywine, friends of mine" chant / Rare Essence's How Can I Know? (tease, music to Lock It)
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine (tease)
9) Donnell-led What Would You Do? (For the Money) - RE Angie sat in on congas
Skaci was there.
Peg Leg saw I was wearing an Orioles jacket, he said, "You need to get a Yankees jacket" - no way!
10) Donnell sang, "Chevy to the levy and the levy was gone"
11) Donnell-led Slick Rick's La Di Da Di (tease)
Donnell was still talking when I left.

V's Mix Tape Release Party
Sky Club, Zanzibar on the Waterfront, 700 Water Street SW Washington, DC 20024

Patrice Bowie's brother, Vernon "V", invited me to his mix tape "I'm Here" release party. He's a rapper. I saw Bryan Mills out front, he said, "See you inside". This was my first time at the Sky Club. They took my pen, the same one I had just bought at 7-11 Friday. Jade, the event organizer, took me up. I was one of the first guests to arrive - I watched the VT-BC game for a bit. I was a little disappointed Maya wasn't bartending up in here. I went into the VIP area, where you could see into the stage below. Dali was there, taking pictures.

I had a long conversation with Buzz, Patrice's manager. He talked about DC's "secret" conspiracy against GoGo - it's really not secret, just not written as it is illegal. He said that PG County's government and police forces have close ties to DC, and that they will get rid of GoGo too. He believes that when Chuck Brown dies, GoGo will be exterminated unless they become national and don't just play in one place. I told him about Mambo Sauce and how I think they have the best business model to go national. He said Chuck is the only GoGo artist allowed to perform at a lot of DC venues, including the Lincoln Theatre. He said the city owns Zanzibar and H2O and they will soon become condos. He said the city gets rid of GoGo from venues through not allowing renewal of liquor licenses. He also said the service at these clubs is terrible, including having to be frisked. I think frisking people is a necessity.

He said he intentionally is having Patrice's performances be outside the city (Bethesda). He talked about his plans for her - the current band is just a few months old, as he fired a number of band members, keeping Ricky Wellman. He said that Patrice is very successful hair stylist (she owns her own salon), so she can afford to be patient about signing a record deal. He called her his 100 million dollar baby. I said I wished she didn't sing covers, but he said they are a necessity, since she isn't known and that people wonder if she can sing in such a such manner... He said they will be careful about signing: he talked about how at Raheem DeVaughn's release party in DC, no one from Sony was there, he said that was a punk move. He made a point of Patrice being able to perform live and in the studio: he said that track singers' careers don't last long. He said she is a fully packaged product. He said that had Patrice told him earlier about my birthday, he would have razzed me on the mic on Tuesday. He said he wants to put Little Benny and Sugar Bear in a group together and make it GoGo Rock. He also talked about putting Little Benny together with other artists like: "What if I put you together with a 19-year old white rapper?" He said that Da Butt is played at a lot of clubs across the county, but that if Sugar Bear walked in that club, he wouldn't be recognized. We were watching Soul Spnge, he also talked about Bryan and Brad since he's a horn player. Buzz said he hasn't played in 18 years. We talked about Rich Harrison and Scotty Beats, who ironically was killed that night. Buzz talked about hooking me up with a woman who has worked in public relations with Arista who wants to do a documentary on GoGo.

A woman named Dawn who had sat next to me at Patrice's show 2 weeks ago introduced herself to me. She introduced me to her sister Jenny; they are cousins of Vernon & Patrice.

I saw Familiar Faces take the stage; it was weird watching them and not being able to hear them. I haven't seen them perform at Zanzibar's on a Thursday in three months. During the break after their first set, Dwayne and Sean came upstairs. Dwayne said of Vernon, "This is my little brother". I was going to leave around then (due to the lateness), but Vernon asked me to stay longer. He said he really liked my writing, and he wanted me to do some writing for/on him. He gave me a copy of the album - some of which was being played. The party had a DJ and an MC.

Patrice pointed out family members to me; she said she has 5 sisters. She said it's (the party) really a family affair. She said a cousin she hadn't seen in years was there, she didn't know he was in the NFL. Patrice asked me if her brother had contacted me on myspace. She said he's always going through her friends on myspace, but she said to him, this is someone you should look up.

Buzz introduced me to Mustafa. 

I saw Omarr and Stomp briefly before I left, Stomp asked me who the party was for.

Vernon had treated me very well. When I walked out, Renee was outside. She asked me when FF had started. I told her and said I was actually at a different show, she said, "I'm telling! I'm putting it in the paper."

Tony's Birthday Celebration
I passed by the Gallaudet University protesters on my way to the club. 

Phish Tea Cafe, 1335 H St NE Washington, DC 20002

Tonight was a celebration for Tony of Familiar Faces' band security.

Halima had a new hairdo.

Skaci, Angie, and Chanel were there. I introduced myself to Rita. "Original" Nikki, Ebony, Renee, India, and Shawn were there.

Familiar Faces
Dwayne Lee was back.
First Set
1) Alternating Sean-led Bernard Ighner's Everything Must Change - Donnell played on the dance floor, Sean sang on the dance floor, Halima sang along in the second go round / Halima-led Rodgers & Hart's My Funny Valentine (same music) - Halima sang on the dance floor, her movements were quirky
Tracy S. was there.
2) Halima-led Mary J. Blige's My Life - Halima took her mic stand on the dance floor, later she went back on stage / Instrumental - Godfather came in, Halima said, "Sometimes he's on time"
Los and Ras Lidj were there.
3) Sean-led Brian McKnight's Find Myself In You - Donnell did a birthday shout out to Tony, it cranked, Donnell did a special dedication to Pee Wee (dancing onstage): Donnell said, "That's how Lock It got started", Donnell said, "They fixed the air conditioning, it was a little warm when we was celebrating my man Jordan's birthday"
4) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club - verses for Tony and Libras
5) Halima-led "ah ah, I need you... Drive me crazy"
6) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
7) Donnell-led "Party, party, everybody" / Sean-led Ne-Yo's So Sick - Sean sang on the dance floor, Donnell chanted, "Eya, eya" / Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Hey D-O-C"
8) Halima rapped "I've been doing it so long, I'll be damned..." - it cranked
Donnell said, "Something new right off the radio"
Mike Smith, Mousie, Yaquim, and Tasha (T-Bird) with Cory (spelling?) were there.

Sound Check
Donnell acapella Yung Joc's I Know You See It

Donnell joned about Los and the Dallas Cowboys, saying, "We'll watch the Redskins game at Carlos' house.
What did TO say, "What the f*ck am I here for? He got it started already..."

Second Set
Donnell said, "Something new"
1) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - I really hate that song, it's not FF's performance of it, the song is just awful
2) Halima-led Cheri Dennis' I Love You - it cranked / Percussion solo -->
3) Alternating Donnell & Sean-led "On the small of her back, she got a tattoo"
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
5) Alternating Donnell-led "__ Is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low" / sample "What?" / Percussion solo - it cranked, Jacques played the cowbell
6) Halima-led Christina Milian's Say I featuring Young Jeezy - it cranked / Percussion solo
7) Alternating Donnell-led "Reggae" - Donnell said, "For real?" about India's dancing / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful
8) Donnell & Sean-led "Unh, unh unh" - Donnell added "unh unh" grunts and there was heavy percussion, it cranked
9) Halima-led Beyonce's Deja Vu featuring Jay-Z - it cranked, the house lights came on
10) Instrumental - false start, Donnell asked Googie to turn the bass drum back on, Donnell said, "Something new right as you leave"
Donnell said, "Happy birthday Kiana, Happy Birthday Tony"
Shante (Songbird) was there.

LiveNLearn said she was there, but I didn't notice her.

Patrice Bowie Project at South Beach
South Beach, 7904 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20810

This performance was downstairs unlike the last one I attended.

Dali again took pictures.

Kanika and Cindy had new hairdos.

Patrice Bowie Project
They had an additional keyboard player, Dawoud.
First Set
1) Stan-led "Until you're using me, I'd rather... You're trying to tell me... If you were only in my shoes" (music sounded like Herbie Hancock) - the singers did not perform yet, Stand said that Ricky had made fun of him, dared him to sing
2) Stan-led William Devaughn's Be Thankful for What You Got - Kanika and Cindy joined in during the song
Buzz introduced the band. He talked about how you may not recognize Patrice's face, but you've heard her, she sang the theme song to Jeannie's Juice and is on the Barbershop 2 soundtrack.
3) Patrice-led Alicia Keys' Unbreakable
4) Patrice-led Mary J. Blige's Be Without You
5) Patrice-led Alicia Keys' Diary
6) Patrice-led Butterflies (an original from her album) - Patrice made a speech, Patrice did a shout out to Jeannie Jones in the audience
7) Patrice-led Letoya Luckett's Torn
8) Alternating Patrice-led Give It to Me (an original from her album) - I saw Little Benny was outside / Patrice did band intros and the band did solos - in order: Randy, Stan, Dennis, Dawoud, Ricky / Another Ricky solo

I told Stan I didn't know he could sing.

Buzz said that my blog is "intense."

Buzz went around and introduced entertainers in the audience: Stephan Thompson (spelling?), Jeannie Jones, Mustafa, a woman named Charlene on the Essence of Fire calendar, and another couple of people whose names I didn't catch.

Second Set
Jeannie Jones went up to the stage and said, "Women rule the DC area", she talked about "Elevate the DC Music".
1) Patrice-led Fingalickin (an original from her album)
2) Patrice-led Say Yes (an original from her album)
3) Patrice-led Heather Headley's In My Mind
4) Patrice-led Amazing (an original from her album)
Lenny Benny went onstage
5) Little Benny-led Jeannie's Juice Theme - Kanika and Cindy sang "meow"
6) Patrice-led Beyonce's Deja Vu featuring Jay-Z - Patrice said, "I don't want nothing but the bass, high hat", Little Benny and Buzz played the trumpet, Randy played different keyboard riffs
Pooh was there.
7) Little Benny-led Yung Joc's It's Going Down - the frontline danced in synch, it cranked
8) Little Benny-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Libras, it's your birthday"
9) Patrice-led Close to Me (an original from her album) - Little Benny rapped, Patrice had a hand symbol for Close to Me, Buzz played on Randy's keyboard
10) Little Benny-led B.G.'s I Know
11) Patrice-led Lil Kim's Lighters Up - Randy was back
12) Little Benny-led Rare Essence's Lock It - it cranked

Familiar Faces' Columbus Day Show
Baystreet Nightclub, Best Western Capital Beltway, 5910 Princess Garden Pwy, Lanham, MD 20706

I saw RE Angie in the parking lot on my way in.

Sherray (Always Showtime!!), Danielle (Pink), Ro'chelle (toosweet), Danielle (Wellfhed), Suri, Ron Moten, and Darlene were there.

There was a film crew shooting a documentary called "Curfew" for ARD German TV in the hallway (I later talked with one of the cameramen, Tom Wegner).

"Original" Nikki, Mona, Ebony, Kim, Marquita, Tracy S., Angie W., 6'9, Damond, Jay113, Yolanda, Chevy of Fatal Attraction, Jazzy Layse, Darrell, Simone, and Jackie were there.

Junior was working the sound as Googie was doing the sound for Chuck Brown.

Familiar Faces

Tanya (security) in front, Onstage: Flo, Doc, Lorenzo, Boolah, Donnell


Jacques, Smoke, Sean, DP, Los
Clarence "Boolah" Roper again was again sitting in for Dwayne Lee (off for his birthday)
Set
1) Halima-led Mary J. Blige's My Life - nice Boolah solo
Delano and Mama Chelle were there.
2) Halima-led Cheri Dennis' I Love You - it cranked, Sean held his mic to fans / Percussion solo
Gary and Los were there.
3) Alternating Sean-led Ne-Yo's When You're Mad - Packy played a tambourine, Halima stood on the left speaker, Sean stood on the right speaker, the film crew went up front and Darrell said of their camera, "I need to get one of those", Donnell chanted, "Eya, eya" / 6 Minutes percussion solo - the film crew went onstage
Candal was there.
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
5) Sean-led B.G.'s I Know
6) Donnell-led "Party, party, everybody" / Alternating Sean-led Ne-Yo's So Sick, Donnell said, "Hey D-O-C", Donnell said, "Come on Boolah" / Percussion solo - it cranked, Donnell chanted, "Eya, eya"
7) Donnell-led D-O-C (D-I-P re-done)
8) Halima-led Christina Milian's Say I featuring Young Jeezy - it cranked, Halima held her mic to fans / Aaliyah's I Need You Tonight (tease) / Donnell chanted, "Killazoo" / Donnell-led "Brandywine, friends of mine" chant / Donnell said, "Langston Lane love"
Nikiya, Ray, and Shawn were there.
9) Donnell-led All Da Time (tease) (basically the yell) - Sean went back onstage, Donnell said, "Dance with me y'all"
10) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (literal tease) - Donnell started to go to break, saying "Ten for ten, nine for nine, eight for breaks", but then retracted that saying Sean wanted to sing another song
11) Alternating Sean-led Raheem DeVaughn's You
Lilone, Sashay Shaunte, and Mousie were there.
Donnell said they were going to play straight through.
12) Sean-led Busta Rhyme's I Love My Chick featuring Kelis - either Godfather or Lorenzo was playing different keyboard riffs, Halima went back onstage, Sean went on the left speaker / Percussion solo - Sean said, "Don't nobody say nothing"
13) Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / sample "What?" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low" -->
14) Alternating Donnell-led "Reggae" - Jazzy Layse danced onstage, Donnell went on the right speaker / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful / Donnell-led "But is it like that, is it really like that?"

Jazzy Layse dancing onstage
All pictures taken by and Copyright - Darrell Foster
Donnell went back onstage
15) Halima-led Beyonce's Deja Vu featuring Jay-Z - it cranked, the house lights came on, Sean switched to the right speaker, Yolanda said of a guy wearing a shirt with a tuxedo print, "That guy looks like Dave Chappelle"
Donnell said, "We need to stop, one more"
16) Donnell-led Trina Was Great - Halima went on the left speaker
17) Donnell-led "On the small of her back, she got a tattoo" - Sean went back onstage, Donnell said, "Chicken noodle soup"
18) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Kiana, it's your birthday"
19) Donnell acapella Rare Essence's Hey Tamika (tease)
Archie and Ariel were there. Donnell had done a shout out to 02, but I didn't see him.
Donnell said, "Omarr's got some 'splaining to do, she's furious!"
Donnell joned on Sheid and L!ssen Da Grew^p about their bowling match.

Bobbie's Birthday Celebration
J's Sports Cafe, 12617 Laurel Bowie Rd (Route 197), Laurel, MD 20708

I went to this show planning to see at least Fatal Attraction, and then go to the Best Western. I noticed when I got to J's that I didn't have a pen (it had fallen out of my pocket at home). I was one of the first fans there. Sweet AKA and Sweettyra were there.

I said hello to Teago.

I talked with Supa Dan about Safari Steakhouse. He said that their entertainment license wasn't pulled, but they were getting push back on having Rare Essence. He said the county called Rare Essence "a menace to society". He said they wouldn't re-open until they had dealt with the situation.

Jazzy Layse was there.

I noticed Fatal Attractions keyboard players putting away their keyboards. I asked Kato, "You're not playing?" He said, "The drummer didn't make it".

One of the bartenders, whom I've never talked with, came over and said, "Not that I don't want you to be here, but why aren't you at the" Best Western? I told her I would be there later, I just find L!ssen Da Grew^p boring.

Duce7 of What? Band came by, he was disappointed Fatal wasn't playing; he had come early just to see them.

Publicity Band warmed up, the one vocalist was joning on Bobbie.


I talked with Bobbie, and we wished each other happy birthday. I then left - no slight on Publicity Band, but I wanted to be on time for Familiar Faces.

Simone (Stallion), Danielle (Wellfhed), and Tameka (Ms. Minnie Me) were in Danielle's car in the parking lot. I talked with them briefly, and then headed out.

I stopped at a 7-11 on my way to the Best Western to buy a pen.