Friday at Mirrors
Mirrors, 33 New York Avenue N.E. Washington, DC 20002

I did not bring a pen in, so this is all off the top of my head.

Sanisse was in front of me in line, with Donnell and Darrell standing nearby.

The Band
Clarence "Boolah" Roper filled in on guitar.
X?) Shante (Songbird) sat in and led Beyonce's Irreplaceable
X+1) Allison-led Rufus' Sweet Thang
Allison asked people if their allergies bothered them. She said it was her birthday and they didn't bother her last year.
Jay said they were going to church with the next song. Allison sat on the edge of the left side of the stage.
X+2) Jay-led Happy Birthday - at the end, they played pumped up music reminiscent of the music in the James Brown church scene in Blues Brothers, at that point, Allison got up like she was embarrassed
Allison later said to her band members that all she wanted for her birthday was a puppy.

I talked with Shante; I asked her what she's up to. She said she will be singing with a band soon, but wouldn't say who.

Nakia, Los, Skaci, Peg Leg, Gary, Lisa of the World, NeeNee, Kia, TJ of ASAP, Mo (Slim Goodie), Sabrina, Deenah (celebrating her birthday), 6'9, and Tiffany were there.

Familiar Faces
Mike was not present tonight.
Donnell said, "Jammin' Jeff, trying to slick it up. Jeffrey Warren, that's what we called him when he was delivering pizzas. He delivered for both Pizza Hut and Dominos, just like he's playing for The Band and Familiar Faces." Jammin' Jeff laughed and made raised his arms as Donnell said this.
1) Sean-led Gerald Levert's Funny
2) Halima-led Sade's No Ordinary Love - it cranked
3) Donnell-led Time to Party (tease) - Donnell used phrases from it together with audience members' names "____ it's time to party! Familiar Faces come on" / "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Donnell & Halima-led Ludacris' Runaway Love featuring Mary J. Blige
5) Donnell-led "Party party, everybody" - it cranked / Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - I still hate it
6) Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')
7) Halima-led Tamia's Can't Get Enough

Second set
1) Sean-led Musiq's Buddy
2) Donnell-led Brown & White - it cranked / Halima sang, "Who's that girl?" / Donnell-led Ride Out - Los danced onstage
3) Halima-led Rihanna's Umbrella - really cranked hard
4) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style - it cranked
5) Alternating Donnell-led "___ Is Yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low" / Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Oh my my my" / 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) / "Haters come out, come out wherever you are"
6) Halima-led Beyonce's Ring the Alarm - it cranked / Donnell-led DJ Unk's Walk It Out (tease)
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda - Halima played timbales at first as Smoke laughed, then he took over, it cranked
8) Alternating Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me - Sean briefly left the stage to watch two women pose for a GoGo pic, Donnell said, "Black dress, you and white dress really took the picture" / Donnell-led "Unh unh unh" (tease) / Sly & the Family Stone's If You Want Me to Stay (tease)

Chappy was handing out flyers outside.

Two women asked me if I had a good time, I told them yes and I was there every week.

As I walked to my car, a woman yelled from across the street, "Where's your wife?" I have no idea why she thinks I have a wife.

The prostitutes were at the same corner as before as I walked to my car.

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

I couldn't bring in a pen, so all of this is off the top of my head.

Halima, like at some previous shows, held burning incense in her mouth.

Shawn, Mike Smith, Archie, Ro'chelle (toosweet), Tamiko, Kia, Renee, Nakia, Bianca, Mama Chelle, March, Lilone, Tina (TT), Mall, Tasha (T-Bird), Byrd, Shanti, Keisha, Jan, Slick Rick, and Troy were there.

Familiar Faces
First set
1) Alternating Donnell-led "Haters" - a new song Donnell came up with "Why haters be faking to my front..." / Percussion solo
2) 6 Minutes percussion solo
3) Donnell-led "Familiar Faces is for the Grown & Sexy" (tease)
4) Sean-led Omarion's Entourage - Donnell sang, "Nicole the Bartender" and warned people to be careful when ordering drinks from her
5) Donnell-led "___ Is in the House"
6) Halima-led Kelly Rowland's Like This featuring Eve - additional lyrics
7) Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')
8) Donnell-led Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome / Smoke wicked conga solo - Donnell said, "Wave to 'em, Smoke!"
9) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
10) Donnell-led "Party, party everybody" / Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate it)
11) Halima-led Tamia's Can't Get Enough - ladies sang along

Second set
Donnell was doing announcements. He said they were playing at the Legend on Wednesday. He said, "There are strippers. We don't strip, but Kal-el said he was thinking of doing it this Wednesday." Sean smiled, and the band played a stripper riff behind Donnell.
GoGo Mickey was onstage, playing a tambourine.
1) Sean-led Musiq's Buddy
2) Sean-led The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rock Star - they played music from a 70s song (familiar but couldn't place it)
3) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style
4) Halima-led Rihanna's Umbrella
5) Alternating Donnell-led "Reggae" - GoGo Mickey took over on timbales / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful / "We're taking over" / Donnell-led Shawnna's Getting Some (tease)
6) Halima-led Beyonce's Ring the Alarm / Donnell-led DJ Unk's Walk It Out (tease)
7) Alternating Donnell-led "___ Is Yes!" / "Keep it low, nobody got to know"
8) Donnell-led Trina Was Great
9) Alternating Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time - at one point GoGo Mickey was playing timbales, Smoke was playing toms on the sampler, and Halima was playing congas / "Throw your hands up" / Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up) (tease, no Onyx sample)
10) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (tease)
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Work the Walls - Jacques took over on timbales
12) Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me? - cut off by John (the manager of Tradewinds)
Donnell again called Mike & DP the "Horny Horns" when he wanted them to do horn hits.

Friday at Mirrors
Mirrors, 33 New York Avenue N.E. Washington, DC 20002

Familiar Faces
My memory wasn't as good this night. I remember most of what was performed, but not the order, especially for the second set. I am fairly sure of most the first set: Sean opened the first set with Luther Vandross' Promise Me "Don't You Love Me?" - Donnell joked that Jammin' Jeff needed some Gatorade because he was tired, followed by a percussion solo. Halima-led Sade's No Ordinary Love, Donnell did announcements. Donnell led call and response, "Hey ay, Ho oh". Donnell and Sean led Tattoo, which was followed by a percussion solo. Sean led a performance of T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin'), in the midst, Donnell said, "I can do it alone", Sean put his hands up and Donnell sang. Then Sean resumed singing. This was followed by a percussion solo. Donnell led a performance of Gangsta, and Peg Leg danced onstage. There was a medley of Donnell-led Reggae, Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful, and Sean sang "We're taking over". I am sure the last two songs were: Halima-led Tamia's Can't Get Enough and Sean-led Raheem DeVaughn's You. I also clearly remember that Sean led the second set with a performance of R. Kelly's I'm a Flirt. Other songs performed that I'm unsure of when they were performed were: a short tease of Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back led by Sean, Sean-led Omarion's Entourage, Halima-led Rihanna's Umbrella, Halima-led Shareefa's Cry No More, Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style, a medley led by Donnell of "___ Is Yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low", Donnell led a tease of 50 Cent's In Da Club, Donnell chanted, "Party, party everybody". Donnell led a performance of Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome with Smoke playing a conga solo in which Donnell said, "Wave to 'em, Smoke!" I think the show ended with Donnell and Sean leading Do You Think About Me? Donnell called Mike & DP "the Horny Horns" when he wanted them to hit... Donnell said, "I guess Jeff didn't need that Gatorade after all."

Nita, Lisa of the World, SaVern, Bianca, Gary, Nakia, Renee, Mama Chelle (celebrating her birthday), Tina (TT), Jessica, Kia, NeeNee, Ian, Peg Leg, Nicole, Tiffany, Machelle, Gwynn, Kim (don't know), Nikia, Ebony, Mo (Slim Goodie), Tyrell, Pinkey, Rachelle, and TJ of ASAP were there.

Last Friday, when I walked to my car, south of the Greyhound bus station, I saw a woman wearing shorts about as short as possible. I was parked in a similar place tonight, and I saw more ladies similarly dressed. I got in my car to write down my notes. As I was writing my notes, a woman pulled up and parked her car in front of mine. When she got out, she was wearing a top that looked like it was just a bra, and barely covered her breasts. She had a sh*t-eating grin on her face. These women were obviously prostitutes as they stood in the spot and only walked around and then to the same spot. Unlike what I've read, these actually were physically attractive women, not that I would ever consider patronizing one. I continued to write and guys would yell at the prostitutes, the woman who had parked in front of me joined the others, then came over and stood a little behind my car and solicited offers. Fortunately, she was out of the way before I pulled out of my parking spot. This was only the second time I've seen prostitutes as far as I know, the first being when I saw a woman when I was on a school bus returning from a school field trip in DC, which happened to be same day as the Redskins victory parade after winning the 1987 Super Bowl. She was wearing a bikini and spiked heels and nothing else.

Marcus Johnson Project at 21st Amendment
21st Amendment Bar & Grill, Holiday Inn Capitol, 550 C Street S.W. Washington, DC 2002

Stan Cooper had asked me to come out and see them a while ago, and I finally have improved my sleep to the point where I could. He had told me that it was Smooth Jazz, but Funky. For the most part, it wasn't that smooth, which I am glad for (I really don't like much Smooth Jazz).

I had trouble finding a seat at first - I had to wait for 2 guys to leave. As soon as I sat down, a guy named Elvin asked if he could also sit down. He was a regular there. He later had 2 lady friends: Tinda and Jamese join us.

Marcus Johnson Project

Marcus, Phillip, Stan, David
Picture taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
Started around 6:15 PM.
The line up was: Marcus Johnson (keyboard), Stan Cooper (guitar), David Dyson (bass), Phillip Martin (Sax), Jason "Super Star" Holt? (drummer), Kenny Markham? (percussionist).
In my opinion, they were defined as Smooth Jazz based on the play of Phillip and to a lesser extent, Marcus. However, neither Phillip nor Marcus only played smooth. Outside, it was raining hard and was windy. There were a lot of nice solos by the different band members. Marcus mentioned how David had his own line of basses. Phillip walked around during one song during both sets. Marcus introduced a couple of the songs: 18th & M and Maxin (he said was his first song, from Lessons in Love). The first set ended around 7:12.

Elvin purchased CDs for both the ladies. When Marcus came over and autographed them, he said to me, "I hear you like GoGo."

The second set started around 7:45. Some of the songs had a Caribbean feel to them. Marcus introduced My Caddy from his upcoming album Phoenix, due out on July 17th; Marcus talked about his single on XM Radio. Elvin talked about Tinda and Jamese. He said Black women are the best, that "they will change your religion." He said I needed to get in by getting a shrimp from Jamese's cocktail. I said, "Only if she hand feeds me." He liked that; and then she did it. Marcus did a shout out to police officers at the 21st Amendment; then he said, "I still need to get mine in". When Kenny did a solo, Phillip moved a mic stand over the congas. They were done around 9:13.  I definitely enjoyed it.

Peace in the Streets
Peace in the Streets, Holy Christian Missionary Baptist Church for All People, 5110 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE Washington, DC 20019

I knew I had to go to this as soon as I saw the flyer.

Perhaps because of the woman who drove through Unifest, there was a tow truck parked so that it blocked the road in.

They had free meals. I ate and then waited for the GoGo bands; I think I missed one, because a band was carrying timbales off the stage as I arrived. The stage was a portable one that belonged to the DC parks department.

Davonte (spelling?) - 3 PM
a kid, singing his single, "Puppy Love"

LadeeJay79 was there.

Jahaur, Ron Moten, and Kim were there.

Billy The Kid had kids do a talent competition, including singing, rapping, and dancing.

A couple of rappers performed, but I wasn't really paying attention as I was waiting for the GoGo bands to perform.

ASAP - started around 4:32 PM

1) Female-led Fantasia's When I See U
2) TJ-led Gnarls Barkley's Crazy / Percussion solo
3) Male rapped / Percussion solo
4) Female-led The Pussycat Dolls' Buttons?
Shameika was there.
5) Male-led 50 Cent's P.I.M.P.
The congas were behind the rest of the band in the PA.

I talked with TJ after the set.

Pastor Steve Young and Mayor Adrian Fenty talked to the crowd.

Dirty Columbians
Rap group - they were pretty good. They performed 2 songs.

Front Line Soldiers
Rap group - they performed one song, it was really cliché.

ABM (All Bout Money) - 5:23 PM

1) Male-led Lil Wayne & Juelz Santana's I Can't Feel My Face - the crowd loved it, it was hard to make out the lyrics over the music
Billy the Kid came out and told the crowd to back up and calm down
2) ? / Male-led "Let's talk about making love" / DJ Unk's Walk It Out
3) Male-led "Oh killa"
4) Male-led "Where ya been" - interrupted by Billy the Kid
5) ? / Male-led "Playa..."
They were done at 5:40. This was my first time seeing them perform. They are a young GoGo band and their music, banging toms the whole set, was basically noise to me, but the mostly young crowd loved it.

Backyard Band - 5:55 PM


I put this picture up to show the keyboard player in back playing with his son on his shoulders
Ralph "Big G" Glover was not present.
Billy the Kid told the audience they needed to act right or they would shut it down.
Antonio "The Cuban Cigar Smoker" came onstage.
1) Weensy-led Musiq's Teach Me
2) Weensy-led "Keep it gangsta" / Los-led Unabomber - it cranked, the crowd loved it, they played both congas and toms
Monique G. was there, she said hello.
3) Weensy-led Rodgers & Hammerstein's My Favorite Things / Los-led "Ain't no place I'd rather be"
4) Los-led "Be low" - the crowd chanted / Los-led Hurricane Chris' Ay Bay Bay
5) Weensy-led Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Want to Have Fun / Los-led Choppa
6) Weensy-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')
The set list is just what I could make out since it was hard to distinguish songs from each other because of the lack of identifiable transitions.
They finished at 6:30.

Unseen Band came onstage, but Billy The Kid said there was a mix up and Unseen left the stage and Mission Band came onstage.

Mission Band


I could not make out much of their set, except "I want to praise God". This was my first time seeing them perform. They are a young Gospel GoGo band and their music, banging toms the whole set, was basically noise to me just like ABM, but again the mostly young crowd loved it. The Holy Christian Missionary Baptist Church for All People is their church.

Raw Image Band


Big Sixx said, "Been a long time, but we back and we about to get something started." Big Sixx said, "It's been a year since I've been onstage."
They did a group huddle before they performed.
They started at 7:07 PM.
1) Kay-led Rihanna's Umbrella - it had a light crank, the crowd sang along, Big Sixx stopped it due to a technical problem - the PA was not picking up the bass drum, once it was fixed, they resumed and it cranked more afterwards, people in the crowd held up umbrellas
2) Devlin-led "I'm thinking about you girl... I want you all night long... get to know you
3) Big Sixx-led "All my gangsta" - Billy the Kid stopped them due to time issues, but Sixx yelled to Marty (their manager?) for more time and got it, they resumed, it cranked, Love played the toms
4) Devlin-led "Been so lovely" / Trey Songz' Gotta Go
5) Big Sixx-led "Y'all tell me you running"
6) Big Sixx-led The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rock Star - lots of reverb
7) Big Sixx-led "Shake it out baby, shake it" / "Oh oh oh oh"
Big Sixx announced they would have a real reunion in a month with Big G of Backyard Band.
This was my first time seeing them perform, but of course I've seen Love, Stomp, and Chris perform lots of times.

Packy and Boo were there.

I talked with BJ before the set.

My eyes hurt, I think I got sunscreen in them, but I recovered before they started performing.

Rare Essence - they started at 7:59

Mike, GoGo Mickey, 32, Antonio, Shorty Dud, Shorty Corleone, Blue Eye, Whiteboy, BJ


GoGo Mickey, 32, Shorty Corleone, Whiteboy, BJ
All pictures taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
The line up was: Andre "Whiteboy" Johnson (vocals & guitar), Charles "Shorty Corleone" Garris (vocals), Dave "32" Ellis (vocals), Mike Baker (bass), Byron "BJ" Jackson (Keyboards), Darryl "Blue Eye" Arrington (drummer), Milton "GoGo Mickey" Freeman (congas), Quentin "Shorty Dud" Ivey (percussion).
1) 32-led The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rock Star - it cranked
2) Whiteboy-led Welcome to this RE Party - it cranked
3) Shorty Corleone-led "You ain't ready for this right here"
4) Shorty Corleone-led What It Do - it cranked
5) Shorty Corleone-led Work the Walls - it cranked
6) Shorty Corleone-led Overnight Scenario - the crowd sang along, it cranked / outtro
7) 32-led All Da Time - it cranked, it was ended by people in the audience running
Whiteboy said, "I hope running to catch the bus, we don't need no trouble."
Whiteboy said, "Please be careful walking out of here."
They were done at 8:30 PM.

While Backyard Band and Rare Essence played toms almost their entire sets, I really much preferred the way they sounded to the way ABM and Mission Band sounded. Personally, I prefer the toms to be an accent to the congas. In addition, I really wished Rare Essence would play the toms less because I'd love to hear GoGo Mickey stretch out more. I hear GoGo Mickey stretch out more often in his guest appearances than when I go see Rare Essence. If he stretched out on the congas more during Rare Essence performances that I attended, I would go them more often.

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

Tori, Tracy, Melanie, Mary, Yolanda, Skaci, Nikia, Janetta, Sam (Black Heart), Dana "Double D" (celebrating his birthday), Shawn, Ebony, Gwen, Mimi, Keisha (ChooChoo's friend), Keisha, Jan, Sharon, Nakia, Weenie, Los, and Tiffany were there.

Familiar Faces
There was a delay, but Stomp arrived and played drums as scheduled, his first appearance with Familiar Faces since leaving the group in January.
First set
1) Sean-led Brian McKnight's Used to Be My Girl
Trea, Charmayne, Sabrina, and 6'9 were there.
2) Instrumental / 6 Minutes percussion solo - it cranked
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" - it cranked
5) Donnell-led "Familiar Faces is for the grown & sexy"
6) Halima-led Shareefa's Cry No More - it cranked, Jacques played timbales
7) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - it cranked
8) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate it) / Donnell-led Gangsta - Los danced onstage / Percussion solo - Donnell said, "You never heard a pocket like this I swear, we ain't going nowhere" -->
Netty was there.
9) Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') - it cranked -->
Donnell said, "This ain't Work the Walls". Halima responded, "I ain't going to work no walls, what does that mean anyway, work the walls?" (The answer is here).
10) Halima-led Nelly Furtado's Say It Right
Lashaun was there.

Big Don Pimp, Mousy, Quay (Shorty Q), and Troy were there.

Second set
1) Sean-led Musiq's Buddy - it cranked / Percussion solo - the crowd shouted, "Wind me up, Smoke!" and Donnell responded, "What y'all say?" / Smoke conga solo -->
Candi was there.
2) Halima-led Rihanna's Umbrella - it cranked, there was lots of crowd response
3) Donnell-led Reggae / Halima sang something / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Percussion solo - Mary whooped / Sean-led "We're taking over" - Jacques played timbales
4) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (tease)
5) Donnell-led "Party party, everybody" - it cranked / Alternating Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya" / Sean-led Ne-Yo's So Sick
6) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style - it cranked, the house lights came on
Delano was there.
7) Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me? - Mary whooped and yelled, it had a light crank
8) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me - it cranked, Quay danced on the stage floor, Mary yelled
9) Donnell-led Trina Was Great
10) Donnell & Halima-led It Is What It Is / Stomp outtro
11) Instrumental - Donnell said, "I told them to stop, they're so disrespectful."
Donnell said, "This is the last time I'm going to say Happy Birthday to Kal-el for 364 days. On Thursday, the women gathered around Kal-el like dogs around a fire hydrant."
Stacy (ChooChoo's Cousin), and ChooChoo were there.

Friday at Mirrors
Mirrors, 33 New York Avenue N.E. Washington, DC 20002

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

Tamara (Ms Gem_In_I) posted pics from this event here.

DeeDee, Darrell, Pinkey, Rachelle, Toya, Tasha, Ayisha, India, Jackie, Angie, Tamara, Sharon, Nakia, 6'9, Mo (Slim Goodie), Lashonda, Deenah, Hilary, Maketta, Kim (don't know), and Los were there.

The Band
?) Allison-led Rihanna's Umbrella
?) Jay-led Gnarls Barkley's Crazy
?) Allison-led Toni Braxton's Take This Ring

Familiar Faces
Dwayne Lee was not present tonight.
First set
1) Sean-led Gerald Levert's Funny
2) 3 Minutes Percussion solo
3) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
4) Donnell & Sean-led Tattoo - I'm not sure if this was here or a little later in the set
5) Halima-led Shareefa's Cry No More
6) Donnell-led "Party, party everybody" / Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate it) / Donnell-led Gangsta - Los danced onstage
7) Alternating Donnell-led Reggae / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful / Donnell-led Shawnna's Getting Some (tease) / Sean sang, "We're taking over"
8) Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me?
9) Sean-led "I'm in love with..."
10) Sean-led "It's not about what we're doing"

Second set
1) Sean-led Brian McKnight's Used to Be My Girl
2) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club - for Geminis
3) Halima-led Rihanna's Umbrella
4) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style
5) Halima-led Beyonce's Ring the Alarm / Donnell-led DJ Unk's Walk It Out (tease)
6) Donnell-led Trina Was Great
7) Donnell-led 911
8) Alternating Donnell-led Rare Essence's Lock It - Donnell made a speech / Rare Essence's Marinda

I saw Theos as I walked from the club to my car.

Mambo Sauce at Capitol Heights Day
Capitol Heights Elementary, 601 Suffolk Ave, Capitol Heights, MD 20743



I did not attend this event, I was asleep. However, Thomas Sayers Ellis did, and sent me these photos.

Mambo Sauce

Yendy


Chris


Twink


Yendy, Red, Twink, Khari, Pep


Khari, Twink, Yendy


Red, Twink, Khari, Black Boo, Yendy, Pep


Khari, Twink, Black Boo, Red


Yendy


All pictures (except flyer) taken by and Copyright - Thomas Sayers Ellis from the project: The Go-Go Book: People in the Pocket in Washington, D.C.

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

Lachelle, Sharon, Juanita, Nakia, Candi, Kia, Khallisa (celebrating her birthday), Shawn, Nikia, and Val "Tina Turner" were there.

Familiar Faces
First set
1) Sean-led Omarion's Entourage - it cranked / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted "Eya eya", he did a number of shout outs including one to me -->
Netty and Tiffany were there.
2) Halima-led Shareefa's Cry No More - it cranked, Sean played guitar
3) Alternating Donnell & Sean-led Tattoo - it cranked, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Smoke played a conga solo
4) Donnell-led "Reggae" - it cranked, Sean played guitar / Percussion solo
Archie was there.
Donnell said, "Something new."
5) Alternating Halima-led Rihanna's Umbrella - it cranked, Sean played guitar / Percussion solo - Donnell sang, "You never heard a pocket like this I swear, we ain't going nowhere", the crowd shouted, "Wind me up, Smoke!" and Donnell responded, "Do what? Say what?" / Smoke conga solo
6) Sean-led "I'm in live... to be in love... I'm so ready for you" - it cranked
Mary, Yolanda, Gwen, Tasha (T-Bird), Vicki, Kia, and Tasha (L) were there. I introduced myself to Sabrina.

Second set
1) Sean-led Musiq's Buddy - it had a light crank, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Percussion solo -->
Keisha, Jan, Matthew, Pocahontas, and 6'9 were there.
2) Sean-led "Party Like a Rock Star" (tease) - it cranked -->
3) Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin') - it cranked, it was ended by a fight
Deenah was there
4) Donnell-led "Party, party everybody" - it cranked / Sean-led Ne-Yo's So Sick
Rhonda was there.
5) Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" - Sean played guitar, it cranked / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low" / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya" / "Gangsta"
6) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style - it cranked, Jacques played timbales, Packy played the cowbell, Sean played guitar / Percussion solo
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda - Smoke played timbales, it cranked, Sean played guitar / Rare Essence's Overnight Scenario (tease) / Alternating Rare Essence's All Da Time / "Throw your hands up" / 911 - the crowd sang the lyrics, Packy was on backup vocals
8) Sean-led R. Kelly's I'm a Flirt - it cranked

Familiar Faces at Mirrors
Mirrors, 33 New York Avenue N.E. Washington, DC 20002

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

I arrived shortly before the start of their second set.

Tasha and Tamara said hello. Tasha and Toya said hello. Nakia, Ayisha, 6'9 (hadn't seen him in a while), Darrell, Oshayley, Shawn, Kim (don't know), Gary, Skaci, Dog, Ron Moten, and Donnell Jr. were there.

Chi Ali was onstage with Familiar Faces, but did not perform.

Familiar Faces
The line up was: Sean "Kal-el" (vocals, guitar), Halima Peru (vocals), Donnell (lead talker, Sax), DP (vocals, trumpet), Mike (vocals, trombone), Doc (vocals, bass), Dwayne (guitar), Lorenzo (keyboard), Jammin' Jeff (drum kit), Smoke (percussion), Jacques (percussion), Packy (cowbell).
The stage is wide enough that Doc, Sean, Halima, Donnell, DP, and Mike all had their mic stands lined up in front (at Tradewinds, Mike stands behind DP).
Second set
1) Sean-led Omarion's Entourage - it cranked / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya"
2) Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') - it cranked
3) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style - it cranked
4) Halima-led Beyonce's Ring the Alarm - it cranked
5) Donnell-led "___ Is Yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low"
6) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate it) / Donnell-led Gangsta - Dog danced onstage
7) Donnell-led Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes
8) Halima-led Nelly Furtado's Say It Right - Dwayne played a guitar solo, Jammin' Jeff played a drum solo

Chappy handed out flyers outside afterwards.

Mambo Sauce at the Icon
The Icon, 2106 Crain Hwy, Waldorf, MD 20601



I drove through a massive storm to get to the Icon - I saw a lot of lightning, but heard no thunder.

Junior, the sound man, was outside and said hello.

A hot woman was in line in front of me, it turned out she was one of the Glamour Girls, a group of calendar models.

I talked with Twink.

II Face was the MC for the evening.

Duchess Nicole
She rapped over a track, performing her originals: You Miss Me, Hey Mister, Calling in Sick Today.
She didn't move me: partly because she performed over a track which came out of different speakers than her vocals, but her vocal style as well.

The Glamour Girls went onstage

The woman on the far right is the one I walked in behind


Anorther picture from this evening not taken by me

J Rome
His music was what Red called "Contemporary R&B", but too me, it was awful pansy music. After he started performing, he was 2 male dancers wearing matching outfits - blue jeans, white shirts with black vests, they danced in synch (one of them was Vernell Benton). Later, they were joined by 3 female (very beautiful with nice abs) dancers - I believe they were: Amina, Jazz, and Crystal.

Mambo Sauce

Chris, Khari, Black Boo, Twink, Yendy, Pep, Red


Chris, Black Boo, Khari, Yendy


Black Boo, Twink, Yendy


Khari, Twink, Yendy, Pep
All pictures (other than flyer and second Glamour Girls picture) taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
1) Introductory jam - it cranked, Red played a nice solo
2) Black Boo-led M.A.M.B.O. - it cranked, Pep played timbales
3) Yendy-led Things Will Get Better "I put food on my table" - Black Boo said, "I know y'all can relate to this" -->
4) Yendy-led Damn Joe - it cranked, Black Boo played the cowbell
Black Boo did birthday shout outs for Doug & Tim
Yendy made an introductory speech
5) Yendy-led Sweet Baby - it built up to a crank / Percussion solo
6) Yendy-led Fairweather - it cranked, Black Boo played cowbell -->
7) Black Boo-led Long Time Comin' - it alternated between crank and laid back, Pep played both timbales and congas
8) Yendy-led Miracles - the intro was laid back and then it cranked, Pep played timbales
II Face came onstage and asked, "Can they give one more?" and the audience responded, "One more time!"
9) Yendy-led Miracles (reprise)
Black Boo gave an introductory speech
10) Black Boo-led Go - it cranked, Black Boo played the cowbell / Percussion solo - band introductions / Outtro - Pep continued toe play
A full set, but I wish they could have had more time to stretch it out - more solos.

Shortly after the set, I drove to Mirrors. The weather was fine.

Saturday at Unifest
2007 Unifest
1225 W St SE, Washington, DC 20020

Jammin' Jeff said hello to me. Khari, Pep, and Ron Moten were there.

WKYS Stage
Most of the audience was high school aged.

Cold Hearted Band

2:15 - 2:30 PM
This was my first time seeing them.
1) ? (a love song)
2) "Booty"
3) T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')
4) Brian McKnight's Find Myself in You
This was my first time seeing them. They cranked, but I didn't get their identity, other than they are oriented toward young GoGo fans ' tastes.

Rock Paper Scissors



3:08 - 3:22 PM
They cranked - I liked their performance, albeit brief. They announced that what they were performing was all originals. It was interesting seeing the lead talker conduct the band while the female singer sang. I talked with them on myspace later in the day; they said this was their debut performance. I will check them out again. Click here for a clip of their performance.

Tom Cat, Sashay Shaunte, and Walker Mill were there.

Mambo Sauce

Chris, Khari, Twink, Pep, Red, Thomas Sayers Ellis, Black Boo, Yendy


Black Boo, Chris, Khari, Twink, Yendy, Red
All pictures above taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
All pictures below taken by and Copyright - Thomas Sayers Ellis from the project: The Go-Go Book: People in the Pocket in Washington, D.C.

Khari, Chris, Twink, Pep



Red


Chris


Khari


Twink


Yendy
1) Intro jam - it cranked
Black Boo said, "We haven't played in Southeast before..." He chanted, "Oy" repeatedly.
2) Black Boo-led M.A.M.B.O. - it cranked
Black Boo said, "That was just a warm up."
3) Yendy-led Things Will Get Better - I filmed this clip
Black Boo said, "We're hoping to take GoGo national by next week..."
4) Yendy-led Miracles - it cranked, Pep played timbales
Michelle Blackwell stood in front of the stage.
5) Chris played a tease of a cover, too brief for me to identify, the other band members laughed and he smiled.
6) Black Boo-led Long Time Comin' - Black Boo and Yendy dance in synch, it cranked, Black Boo chanted, "Right, left"
Black Boo an introductory speech.
7) Black Boo-led Go - it cranked

Fatz Da Big Fella
A rap group. I left the stage area to get something to eat.

MomMilan&JR was there.

Pawn Da Package
They announced they were part of Major District Records. They were another rap group. I left during their performance because I was bored, even though WHAT? Band was coming up (three clips from their performance: one, two, three). I wish that the performances were complete sets instead of less than a handful of songs.

I saw Dianya as I walked to my car.

Unfortunately, a few hours after I left, a woman drove through Unifest and injured over 40 people.

OP Tribe/UCB/L!ssen iHD at Mirrors
Mirrors, 33 New York Avenue N.E. Washington, DC 20002

I had considered going to see WHAT? Band, but was not anxious to go back to the Classics so soon after the shooting there. When the night was done, I was glad I decided to go here instead (and that's not a knock on the WHAT? Band).

I was the first customer there. The cover taker asked me why I hadn't been to Bud's in a while.

I enjoyed Tee Bone's conga playing during set up.

Preston Blue, Delano, Kelasia, and 2nd2None were there.

E put up an OP Tribe banner behind the stage.

OP Tribe
The line up was: E, 4 other vocalists, 2 keyboard players, guitar player, bass player, Sax player, trumpet player, percussionist, drummer.
They all had matching Avail shirts. They had a group huddle/prayer - E said they were praying for the victims of the driver at Unifest. E said that she just missed him and his 2 keyboard players. Their performance was filmed.
They started around Midnight and performed for about 40 minutes.
They cranked. I didn't recognize hardly any of their set list, they performed T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin'), "I put my hands up on her hips". E introduced the band, with accompanying drum hits. He introduced himself as "Mr. Uh oh uh uh oh". They did an instrumental outtro
Chappy and India were there.

UCB
The line up was: Tre (vocalist), Mikey (vocalist), Myra (vocalist), 2 or 3 other vocalists, guitar player, bass player, 2 keyboard players, drummer, percussionist.
They replaced OP Tribe's banner with one of their own, advertising their upcoming EP. This was my first time seeing them since last year's Super Bowl party. I was really impressed - they not only cranked, but their vocals were awesome. They performed, "We'll always be together, got each other", "Sex appeal, so fly, so addicted", Tre-led Sexy Lady, "Ain't what you got to do", "Move to the left, move to the right, pop lock it, drop it".
Their set ended a little before 2 AM.

L!ssen iHD
Their line up was: Michael Thompson (vocalist), lead talker, Stan Cooper (guitar), bass player, Sax player, trumpet player, 2 keyboard players, drummer, percussionist.
I was really surprised, they really cranked! Although I was disappointed Yannie wasn't there. They performed: Prince's Purple Rain, T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin'), "Hey Ladies", "Sexy, make money money", "Tired yet, ready to quit?", Fat Joe featuring Lil Wayne's Make It Rain? "I make it rain like", Kelly Rowland's Like This featuring Eve, Busta Rhymes' I Love My Chick - the house lights came on, "Bite me in the back, I need you", "Oh no".
Both E and Mikey sat in briefly during their set.
Walker Mill was there.
I said good bye to Stan. I later emailed him on myspace:
I said "You were crankin' - is this typical of L!ssen now? My complaint with L!ssen usually is too often playing what some call R&B instead of GoGo."

Stan's said: To answer your query, the crank has always been typical of L!ssen iHD. There are a great many folks who pass judgement on the band without ever hearing the band live. The haters out there seem to be much more active than the advocates, hence the bullsh*t regarding L!ssen iHD's crank. With the Peany/Kwick one-two punch combination alone, the crank is inevitable. As to your complaint, what you and a great many folks don't realize, is that L!ssen iHD, in a great many instances is hired specifically for our R&B. A good many promoters, to mask their intention of throwin' a straight go-go (violence outside the clubs, club closings, etc. got folks trippin') will hire us n' press us out to do more R&B. If we're the opening act, then it'll be mostly R&B (by the promoter's request) with some go-go tucked underneath (to satiate our go-go fans). We're givin' the promoter what he wants, you don't know that though, so you think that we're sellin' out. If we come later in the show, then it's just a li'l R&B up front, with the crank close to follow. Now, when it's just us (typically two sets), then the first set is mostly R&B (for the folks who love our R&B vibe), steadily building to the crank by the last few tunes of that set. The second set is all crank. We have one of the better/best straight R&B presentations of any go-go band in the city; go-go is the only musical genre where one can be villified for being proficient. Anyway, I feel like I'm up on my soapbox right now, lemme' just pull up.

White Linen Affair at Zanzibar
Zanzibar on the Waterfront, 700 Water Street SW Washington, DC 20024

I met Darrell out front.

Renee was there, I think she was a promoter of the event.

Crossover Band (in progress) on the downstairs stage
The line up was: lead talker, female singer, 2 male singers, bass player, guitar player, 2 keyboards, drummer, percussionist
They performed Mim's This Is Why I'm Hot - it cranked.
Tiffany & Janetta were there.
They performed Musiq's Buddy, T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin'), The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rock Star, "Holding on you lady, living it up on you baby". Each song they performed flowed into the next one, the smooth transitions made it hard to pick out individual songs, but it was interesting.
TaTa was there.

Sashay Shaunte, Ro'chelle (toosweet), Danielle (Pink), and Britney were there.

Rasheed said hello. He wasn't wearing white; he said he was a rebel.

L!ssen Da Grew^p - also on the downstairs stage


The line up was: Scooby (lead talker, guitar), Tuffy (vocalist), O (vocalist, cowbell), bass player, 2 keyboard players, 2 trumpet players, trombone player, Sax player, percussionist, drummer.
First set?
1) Instrumental (familiar to me) - it cranked
2) Instrumental
3) "A love song from Scooby to his girlfriend"
4) Bobby Caldwell's What You Won't Do For Love - it cranked
NeeNee, Dog, Skaci, Alisa, and Kay were there.
I had trouble picking out individual songs after this. They did a percussion solo, Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back (without the primary lyrics thankfully), and unfortunately had sound problems - the PA went out in the middle of a song.
Tanya, Kim (don't know), White Girl (I now know who this is), Gary, Keisha, and Nita were there.
They performed Rare Essence's Lock It, Freak A Deak All Night Long, Rare Essence's One on One.
Chappy and Jay113 were there.
They cranked.

EU (in progress) on the upstairs stage

Tony, Sugar Bear, Demi Doc, Stephanie
The line up was: Sugar Bear (lead talker, bass), Donny Ray (vocalist), Devlin (vocalist), Stephanie (vocalist), Tony (guitar), drummer, Demi Doc (keyboard), Derek (percussion), Packy (cowbell).
They performed the entire set more in medley style (even more than usual): Kanye West's Gold Digger, "Do it for the fellas, Oh my God!", "If you're sexy and you know it, raise your hands", Freak A Deak All Night Long, Funkadelic's Undisco Kidd "Girls are Bad" / Cops Theme "Bad Girls", "Pop the Coochie", OutKast's The Way You Move, Hues Corporation's Rock the Boat, "Hey ay, Ho oh", Stephanie rapped, "Tired yet, ready to quit?", "Tell Me what you feel like doing y'all?", T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin'), 50 Cent's In Da Club, Donny Ray-led Musiq's Buddy, Sugar Bear-led "It's Hard to Contain Myself", "Shake it, shake it", R. Kelly's Snake - Sugar Bear had a female fan dance on the stage floor right in front of him, Sugar Bear-led "Get your freak on (is that my chick)", "Sexual Chocolate" (from Coming to America).

I introduced myself to Maketta, she recognized me from myspace.

I talked with Maya, the bartender.

Peg Leg, Michon, and Kelly (Keisha's Cousin) were there.

I think L!ssen performed a second set, but I stayed upstairs because I didn't want to miss the start of Familiar Faces' set.

Familiar Faces - on the upstairs stage

Dwayne, Donnell, Lorenzo, DP, Mike


Shameika, Chevy of Faze2


Sean "Kal-el"


Sean, Donnell, Jammin' Jeff, DP, Jacques, Mike
All pictures (other than the flyer) taken by and Copyright - Darrell Foster
Jammin' Jeff was on drums.
First Set
Tasha (T-Bird) was there.
Donnell said, "As soon as Sugar Bear gets the hell off my stage, we'll be ready to go." Sugar Bear responded, "That's why I love you, Donnell."
1) Halima-led Tamia's Can't Get Enough - it had a light crank
Halima said, "Good morning y'all"
2) Alternating Sean-led Musiq's Buddy? (can't read my notes well) - it cranked / Percussion solo
Trina (Selena's sister) was there.
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Donnell-led "Can we do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
5) Alternating Sean-led Omarion's Entourage - it cranked / Percussion solo - the frontline danced in synch
6) Halima-led Christina Milian's Say I - it cranked / Aaliyah's I Need You Tonight (tease) / Donnell chanted "Killazoo!" / Donnell-led "Brandywine, friends of mine" chant / "Hands Free, they're f*cking with me" chant
7) Donnell-led "Familiar Faces only" rap / "Party, party everybody" - it cranked / Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back (I still hate it) / Donnell-led "Gangsta" - Dog danced on the stage floor
8) Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me? - Donnell said, "Dwayne Lee, fly sh*t", they performed different music than usual for this song
9) Sean-led "I feel it... in love" / Dwayne guitar solo
A girl asked me about my taking notes, I told her who I was, she said, "I know you, I'm Pretty Smile"

E of OP Tribe, Nena, and Bianca were there.

Second set
1) Sean-led Robin Thicke's Lost Without U
Tom Cat was there.
2) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - it cranked
3) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style - it cranked / Percussion solo -->
Keta was there.
4) Halima-led Beyonce's Ring the Alarm - it cranked / Donnell-led DJ Unk's Walk It Out (tease)
5) Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') - it had a light crank
6) Alternating Donnell-led "___ Is Yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low"
7) Alternating Donnell-led Notorious BIG's Warning - the frontline, Doc, and Dwayne did the bowing dance, it cranked / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda - Smoke played timbales, it cranked, Halima chanted, "Uh oh uh uh oh"
9) Donnell-led 911 - it cranked / another song? (unfamiliar lyrics)
10) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time - it cranked, they played different riffs than usual for this song, Donnell held his mic stand up, Packy played the cowbell
11) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / "Unh unh unh" - it cranked / Dwayne played a guitar solo / Mike played a trombone solo - Donnell joked, "I told them to stop playing, they're so disrespectful"
12) Donnell-led It Is What It Is (tease)
They were done before 3 AM.

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

Sanisse, Mary, Ebo, Natalie, Tanya, Skaci, Val "Tina Turner", Shawn, and Nia were there.

Familiar Faces
Donnell talked about the violence at the CFE Events Center and the Classics. He said we are so closing to losing this.
They had technical difficulties which delayed the start, there was static in the PA.
First set
1) Sean-led Dave Hollister's One Woman Man - it cranked, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute, Smoke!" / Percussion solo -->
Nakia, Lachelle, Weenie, and Ebony were there.
2) Halima-led Sade's No Ordinary Love - it cranked / Smoke played a nice conga solo
Tracy Smoot and Nikia were there.
3) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
Keisha and Jan were there.
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
Kay was there.
5) Halima-led Kelly Rowland's Like This featuring Eve - it cranked
Shaunte (Stacey's Cousin) was there.
6) Alternating Donnell-led "Party, party everybody" - it cranked / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya", Donnell said, "We can rock like this" / Sean-led Ne-Yo's So Sick
7) Halima-led Shareefa's Cry No More - it cranked / Percussion solo
8) Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me? - it had a light crank, Sanisse whooped, it was long with more lyrics than usual
Kim (don't know) was there.
Donnell said, "Brand new"
9) Sean-led Take 5's To Make You Love Me
10) Halima-led Tamia's Can't Get Enough - ladies in the audience sang the lyrics

Mona, Tony, Ray, Boo, Quay (Shorty Q), Angie, and China were there.

Second set
1) Sean-led Omarion's Entourage - it cranked
2) Alternating Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate it) / Donnell-led Gangsta -->
3) Alternating Halima-led Beyonce's Ring the Alarm - it cranked / DJ Unk's Walk It Out (tease)
Shameika was there.
4) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - it cranked
5) Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') - it cranked / Percussion solo
6) Donnell & Sean-led Tattoo - it cranked / Percussion solo
7) Donnell-led Hey Halima (Miss Keta) Do You Dance for Me - it cranked, -->
8) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style - it cranked, Packy played the cowbell, Jacques played timbales, it was interrupted by a fight, Donnell gave a speech "If you bring your girlfriend out and guy does something, let her handle it. If she doesn't handle it, she isn't your girl."
9) Donnell-led Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome - it cranked / Conga solo - Donnell said, "Wave to 'em, Smoke"
10) Alternating Donnell-led "___ Is Yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" - the house lights came on / "Keep it low, nobody got to know" / Percussion solo - Donnell sang, "You never heard a pocket like this I swear, We ain't going nowhere", it cranked
Slick Rick was there.
Donnell did announcements.
11) Donnell-led "Reggae" - it cranked / Halima sang something / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful

Rare Essence at the Classics
The Classics 4591 Allentown Rd., Camp Springs, MD 20746

As I walked from my car to the club, a woman honked the horn on her car and called for me to come over and talk her. Her name is Ebony. She wanted to know why a white guy wanted to see RE.

Inside, I faced the same from another woman. They threw away my pen, so all of my notes are off the top of my head. Jay113 was there.

Rare Essence
The line up was: Andre "Whiteboy" Johnson (vocals & guitar), Charles "Shorty Corleone" Garris (vocals), Dave "32" Ellis (vocals), Kimberly "Ms. Kim" Graham (vocals & roto-toms, second set only), Mike Baker (bass), Byron "BJ" Jackson (Keyboards), Scooter (keyboards), Darryl "Blue Eye" Arrington (drummer), Milton "GoGo Mickey" Freeman (congas), Quentin "Shorty Dud" Ivey (percussion). I said hello to GoGo Mickey and BJ. Chris "Rah" Black of WHAT? Band greeted me. Tracie (Model Chick) and Slick Rick were there. For the first set, I watched from the right side standing at the rail to get the best view of GoGo Mickey performing I could. They had a very loose song structure. The first song was, "We got your bad ass on tape", then came "Welcome to the RE Party", later was Geraldine, and "Get Your Freak On". I was paying more attention to the crank than the vocals. They still played more toms than I like, but it was a nice GoGo Mickey performance. I noticed he played more on the smaller drums. There was a guy who held a flash light on the congas for GoGo Mickey. A woman freaked me from behind a few times.

I walked around during the break. Tasha (with Tamara) and I teased each other about being there. Tasty was there. Julia was there, celebrating her birthday. I hung out with her for most of the rest of the performance. She introduced me to her niece.  Kelly, Keshia's cousin, was there.

When I heard a female voice singing at the start of the second set, I walked over to see. I had never seen Ms. Kim perform before, she sang Rihanna's Umbrella. A woman asked me to dance with her and I did for a while. Later I danced with Julia. Michelle Blackwell of the WHAT? Band was there. Then I moved around again. Later Ms. Kim played on the roto-toms with huge drum sticks. Shannon was there. The second to last song was the Shop Boyz' Party Like A Rock Star.

Unfortunately, the most memorable part of the night was in the parking lot after the performance: a shooting.

Tamara's Birthday Celebration
Takoma Station, 6914 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20012



My friend Tamara (Ms. Gem In I) was celebrating her birthday at Takoma Station, which is where I first met her two years ago. I was the first guest to arrive. I saw three poems performed: one about the difference between a woman and a girl, another on precipitation, and by Tamara over a track, a poem spoken and sung about domestic violence. Tomcat was the only other guest I knew, we talked for a bit. Next Alorious (Tamara and 2 other women: Aluv and Ms. V) sang over a track. I had to leave after that as it was a week night.


This picture was taken after I had left. The two women crouched in front were left to right, the two poets who performed before Tamara.

My friend Nena also had a birthday celebration that night; you can see what I missed there by clicking here.

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

Ebo (again with a shaved head), Darrell, Tony, Nakia, Troy, and Shawn were there.

Familiar Faces
Godfather was not present.
1) Sean-led Brian McKnight's Used to Be My Girl / Percussion solo - it cranked -->
Tiffany was there.
2) Halima-led Cheri Dennis' I Love You - it cranked
Jay Floyd was there.
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Donnell-led "Can we do it for the ladies/fellas? Oh my God!" - it cranked
Mimi was there.
5) Donnell & Halima-led Ludacris' Runaway Love featuring Mary J. Blige - it cranked / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya", Donnell sang, "Oh my my my"
6) Alternating Halima-led Kelly Rowland's Like This featuring Eve - it cranked / Smoke conga solo - the crowd shouted, "Wind me up, Smoke!" and Donnell responded, "Do what? Say what?"
7) Sean-led Omarion's Entourage - it cranked, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute, Smoke!" / Smoke conga solo / Donnell chanted, "Hands Free, they're f*cking with me" / "You never heard a pocket like this I swear..", Donnell said, "Sice it up Doc, Hey Lee"
Archie, Tijuana, and Nikia were there.
8) Alternating Donnell-led "Reggae" - Jacques played timbales, it cranked / Halima sang something / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful / Percussion solo
9) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
10) Donnell-led "Party, party everybody" - it cranked / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya" / Sean-led Ne-Yo's So Sick
Keshia & Stacy (ChooChoo's Cousin) were there.
11) Halima-led Nelly Furtado's Say It Right - cranked at the end
Tasha (T-Bird), Sashay Shaunte, Shameika, Nece, Chevy of Faze2, and Twink of Mambo Sauce were there.
12) Sean-led Tank's Please Don't Go - Sean walked off the stage as Donnell finished up with a Sax solo

Val "Tina Turner", NeeNee and Kia were there.

Second set
1) James Brown's Doing It to Death? (Instrumental)
Quay (Shorty Q), Rasheed, L!ssen Da Grew^p's manager, and Britney were there.
2) Sean-led R. Kelly's I'm a Flirt - it cranked
3) Alternating Donnell & Sean-led Tattoo - it cranked / Percussion solo
4) Halima-led Shareefa's Cry No More - it cranked
5) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style - it cranked, Donnell sang, "Uh oh oh oh", Sean sang, "Yeah yeah yeah"
Rhonda was there.
6) Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') - it cranked
7) Alternating Donnell-led Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome - it cranked / Smoke conga solo - the crowd shouted, "Wind me up, Smoke!" and Donnell responded, "Say what? Do what?", Donnell said, "Dance with me, y'all"
L-Boogie and Mall were there.
8) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate it) / Donnell-led "Gangsta" - the house lights came on
Pocahontas was there.
9) Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me?
Joanna?, Nikki, Slick Rick, and Gary were there.
10) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - Jacques played timbales, it cranked / "Familiar Faces only" rap / Rare Essence's All Da Time (tease) / 911 (tease) / It Is What It Is
11) Donnell-led "Unh Unh Unh"
Mousie was there.
12) Donnell-led Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Back in the day, when I was young and not a kid anymore..."
It was so packed and hot with body heat that I sweated through my shirt.

Rasheed talked with me in the parking lot. He introduced me to his brother Snells. He said Snells' two best friends are Smoke and GoGo Mickey. He said that Snells was hanging out with Smoke at his house around the corner during the break between sets. Rasheed talked about how they (Third Eye) had been involved with GoGo since they were kids. He said that L!ssen Da Grew^p did a lot of R&B (as opposed to GoGo) because of the market for it, and how some fans prefer Da Grew^p's R&B to their GoGo. He talked about this in regard to their album, Da Music Da Story, which has Donnell and Deuce on it. This was in response to my own taste - I prefer throw down crank (crank meaning rhythmic intensity, not simply "good" like some define it) and don't like slow songs. Rasheed said that Scooby was in the Dominican Republic and so they came out to show their support. It was a very friendly conversation.

Non-GoGo: Mike Stern Band at Blues Alley
Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW Washington, DC 20007

On the Miles Davis List last week, I got a post that said that Victor Wooten, Stanley Clarke, and Marcus Miller were touring together in 2008. I checked Victor Wooten's tour schedule and I saw that he was playing at Blues Alley Tuesday to Thursday of this week with Mike Stern. I decided to attend the early show tonight. The line up I saw last year, the same as this performance except with Richard Bona instead of Victor Wooten, followed up at Blues Alley on Friday through Sunday.

Mike Stern Band
The line up was: Mike Stern (guitar), Victor Wooten (bass), Bob Franceschini (Sax) (for some reason he wasn't advertised on the bill), and Dennis Chambers (drums).
I arrived at 7:30. I sat at the table on the left side all the way up front. Victor was the first one I saw, he warmed up.

Victor warming up
Picture taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich

Mike Stern walked around and talked to a number of people in the audience.

They started at 8:15 PM. I had a good view of everyone but Victor. It was interesting to see their movements - Mike Stern and Dennis Chambers were pretty mellow most of the time, and Bob Franceschini moved his body up and down. When Bob Franceschini didn't have parts to play, he would stand in front of the piano on the left side of the stage - in front of me and a little to the left. He also occasionally walked to the bar. Mike Stern stood over by him, directly in front of me during both Dennis Chambers' drum solo and later during Victor Wooten's bass solo. I didn't recognize much of the set, but Victor did a lot of quoting songs during his play. They definitely played KT off Mike's latest album, "Who Let the Cats Out", a Richard Bona song, and Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time. They played for 90 minutes. I enjoyed it!

Mother's Day Celebration at Tradewinds
Tradewinds Night Club, 5859 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20748

Tyrell, Dog, Skaci, Britney, Troy, Shawn, Nia, and Shanti were there.

Familiar Faces
Mike and Godfather were not present.
First set
Donnell gave a special dedication "To all the mothers in the building"
1) Sean-led Robin Thicke's Lost Without U - it had a light crank, Donnell thanked people for coming out in the rain / Percussion solo / Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
2) Alternating Halima-led Floetry's Supastar - it cranked, Sean, Donnell, and DP danced in synch, Packy played the cowbell / Donnell-led Rare Essence's "Going to Hollywood"
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Alternating Sean-led Omarion's Entourage - it cranked / Percussion solo - Sean, Donnell, and DP danced in synch
Jan, Keisha, Peg Leg, and Nikia were there.
5) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate it) / Donnell-led "Gangsta" - Dog danced on the stage floor
6) Alternating Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me? - Sean sang to a girl in the front / Percussion solo

Darryl "Blue Eye" of Rare Essence was there.

Kia and NeeNee were there.

Second set
Donnell called all the mothers onto the dance floor, he and others passed out Champagne to them. Donnell said it was a thank you for raising kids.
1) Donnell-led Nicole the Bartender (tease) - it cranked / Brown & White - Halima sang "Who's that girl?" / Ride Out
2) Alternating Halima-led Shareefa's Cry No More - it cranked, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Percussion solo - Packy played the cowbell
3) Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') - it cranked
4) Donnell-led "___ Is Yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low" / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya"
5) Donnell-led "Reggae" - it cranked / Halima sang something / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful
Jackie was there.
6) Alternating Donnell-led Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome / Smoke conga solo - it cranked, Donnell did a shout out to GoGo Mickey in the audience / Rare Essence's Body Snatchers (instrumental tease)
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda - it cranked, Smoke played timbales, Jacques played congas with sticks, Packy played the cowbell, Mickey took over from Smoke on timbales
8) Donnell-led Geraldine - it cranked / GoGo Mickey conga solo - Donnell sang, "You never heard a pocket like this I swear", the crowd shouted, "GoGo Mick-ay"
9) Donnell & Sean-led Tattoo - it cranked, Smoke took over congas again during the song / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya", Donnell said, "This is where the stars be partyin'", Donnell said, "Thank you to all the mothers for coming out", the house lights came on
10) Sean-led R. Kelly's I'm a Flirt - it had a light crank