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

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

India, Mousy, Mama Chelle, Tina (TT), Deenah, Ebo, Angie (celebrating her birthday), Tracy, Tori, Shawn, Nia, Mo (Slim Goodie), Robin, Maketta, Nakia, Nikia, Archie, and Kali were there. Travia, who recognized me from Familiar Faces shows and said hello to me at lunch at work a while back, was there.

Familiar Faces
First set
1) Alternating Donnell & Sean-led "My baby, DC girls they drive me crazy" / Percussion solo
2) Halima-led Cheri Dennis' I Love You - it cranked
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Halima-led Kelly Rowland's Like This featuring Eve - it cranked / Percussion solo
5) Halima-led The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rock Star - it cranked
6) Donnell-led "Party party, everybody" / Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate it)
7) Beyonce's Freakum Dress - it cranked / Donnell-led DJ Unk's Walk It Out (tease)
8) Alternating Donnell-led "___ is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low" / "That's what it's about"
9) Sean-led Musiq's Teach Me

I introduced myself to Aisha (spelling? She was there 2 weeks ago as well).

Renee, Slick Rick, and Mia were there.

Second set
1) Sean-led Robin Thicke's Lost Without U / Percussion solo - it cranked
2) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
3) Alternating Donnell & Sean-led Time to Party / Donnell-led "Familiar Faces is for the grown & sexy"
4) Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Hey Smoke, oh!", it cranked, Donnell chanted, "Eya eya", Donnell said, "Oh my my my"
5) Alternating Donnell & Sean-led Tattoo - it cranked / Percussion solo
6) Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') - it cranked
7) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style - it cranked
8) Halima-led Rihanna's Umbrella - it cranked / Percussion solo
9) Donnell-ld Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome / Smoke conga solo - it really cranked, Donnell said, "Wave to 'em, Smoke!"
10) Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me?

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

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

Because a new club, Ibiza, opened on First Street, it took me a lot longer to park then previously at Mirrors.

Tracy S. and LA were outside, directly in front of me in line. Darrell was just inside.

Pinkey said hello, she was with Tia (whom I haven't seen in a while). Tracy (whom I met at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame trip) said hello.

Rachelle, Tim (LJ), RE Angie, Nakia, Khalissa, Sharon, Juanita, Tata, Skaci, and Peg Leg were there.

The Band
A different female singer was sitting in for Allison. Zach Cutler and Duane Face were back.
Jay sang something I didn't recognize, and then closed with Gnarls Barkley's Crazy.
I talked with Zach and Duane.

Familiar Faces
First set
1) Sean-led Musiq's Buddy
2) Donnell asked Smoke to play a "Birthday Beat" - it cranked
3) Donnell-led "Unh Unh Unh" - it cranked
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
5) Donnell-led "Can we do it for the ladies, Oh my God!"
6) Alternating Donnell & Sean-led Time to Party / Donnell-led "Familiar Faces is for the grown & sexy"
7) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
8) Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Hey Smoke, oh!"
9) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
10) Sean-led Omarion's Entourage - it cranked, the frontline danced in synch
11) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style - it cranked / Labelle's Lady Marmalade (tease) - Halima was hyper and danced and jumped around
12) Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me? - Donnell said, "Bass line" and Doc soloed, "Dwayne Lee" and Dwayne soloed, "Horny Horns" and DP & Mike soloed
Deenah, Kia, Candi, Sabrina, Michon, Gary, Delano, and Stacy (Pretty Smile) were there.
Danielle (Wellfhed) was there, the first time I've seen her in a long while.

Chevy of Faze 2, Jackie & Angela, Roosevelt, Shadonna, and Tony were there.

Second set
1) Donnell was teasing a couple and their displays of affection, he sang lines from John Legend's So High "I wanna go to a place where lovers go"
Donnell said all of Brandywine was here, he joked, "This is the only club that will let them through the door."
2) Donnell-led "Brandywine, friends of mine" chant
3) Halima-led Kelly Rowland's Like This featuring Eve - Chevy sat in, it cranked
4) Alternating Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') - it cranked, Donnell chanted, "Hey Smoke oh!" / Percussion solo
5) Percussion solo - it cranked and was long, Donnell chanted repeatedly, "Eya eya"
5) Halima-led Rihanna's Umbrella - it cranked
6) Sean-led The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rock Star - it cranked
7) Donnell-led Reggae / Sean-led "We're taking over"
8) Beyonce's Freakum Dress - it cranked / Donnell-led DJ Unk's Walk It Out (tease)
9) Alternating Donnell-led "___ is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low"
10) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me - it cranked
The house lights came on and most of the crowd left
11) Sean-led R. Kelly's I'm a Flirt
Robin (Natalie's friend) talked with Donnell. She said she was Jermaine's girl. Donnell said, "Osama? He must be cheating because I saw him with another girl. Of course, she wasn't born a woman. He met her on 5th and K. Did she have the operation?"
12) Donnell-led acapella Kindred the Family Soul's Far Away (tease)
Kia J. and Kali were there.
This was a great show: I really liked the set list.

WHAT? Band at the Classics
The Classics 4591 Allentown Rd., Camp Springs, MD 20746

WHAT?'s Saturday show at Classics had changed a lot since last year. I had to park in the alternate parking lot for the first time. I got in line at Midnight, and didn't get in the club for 40 minutes! The cops were joking with each other outside.

I did not even try to take a pen inside, so all of this is off the top of my head.

What? Band
When I got inside, the first set was almost over. All I heard was Michelle singing Happy Birthday.

Unique and Shantel were there. Rod, the manager of the Firm Project, said hello.

Second set
As has been the case in the previous WHAT? Band performances I have attended, they showed an unmatched ability to work the crowd. The audience recited chants along with WHAT?: "Ay ay ay!" and "You will never see my face again, 'cause you don't know me, oh oh".
They performed: Johnny Nash's I Can See Cleary Now, Rah-led "This is the way I live" / Killa Cal-led "Make it Rain" - dollar bills rained on the dance floor (as Unique told me would happen), We're Taking Over, and Hurricane Chris' Ay Bay Bay

Chappy was there.

Third set
Rah led off by asking the DJ, "Who's your favorite band?" repeatedly. He then asked the audience, "Who you came to see? W-H-A-T"
They performed: Michelle-led Rihanna's Umbrella, Jim Jones' We Fly High, Rah-led "My dream is...", and The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rock Star.
I enjoyed the performance, but next time I go, I'll go a lot earlier.

The WHAT? Band has released a PA from this performance.

Mambo Sauce at 301 Bar & Grill
301 Bar & Grill, 5753 Crain Hwy, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772



This was my first time going to this venue. I had trouble finding it because despite its address, it is actually off of Crain Highway. I stopped at the Wendy's close by and they were very helpful in directing me to the 301.

Most of the members of Mambo Sauce were hanging out outside.

Tracie (Model Chick), Trina, DJ Franchise (working), Delano, Sam (Black Heart), That44Dog, Hugg, and Maddchuck were there.

Twink asked me where my camera was.

Mambo Sauce
First set - started at 12:25 AM
1) "This is a Mambo Sauce Sound check" (per Black Boo repeatedly) - it started off as an instrumental, it cranked, then Black Boo and Yendy both adlibbed, Yendy sang, "Ooh ba!", Black Boo sang, "Show me things I've never seen, she dances with me and she shows me things I've never seen, I lose control" / Percussion solo - Black Boo played the cowbell
2) Black Boo-led Things Will Get Better - it cranked
3) Opening to Damn Joe / Alternating Percussion solo - Black Boo played the cowbell, it cranked / Damn Joe
4) Yendy-led Sweet Baby - it worked up to a crank, Yendy said, "I am a sweet baby" / Instrumental (bass & percussion solo)
5) Yendy-led Cool Points - it cranked, Pep played both timbales and congas
The finished the set at 1 AM

Second set - started warming up at 1:39
1) M.A.M.B.O. - it cranked, Pep played both timbales and congas / Percussion solo - Black Boo played the cowbell
Black Boo said, "We have something for you even if you're a regular fan. Here's a new joint. Ah, you people out there chasing dreams might not notice what you're missing"
2) Yendy-led Puttin' in Work - it cranked, Black Boo rapped / Percussion solo - Black Boo played the cowbell
3) Yendy-led Fairweather - it cranked
Black Boo asked the audience to do "Oh oh, I see the light now"
4) Yendy-led Miracles - it cranked, Pep played the toms, the audience recited the lines that Black Boo had asked them to, Mambo Sauce did a reprise of the song
5) Opening to Go / Yendy-led Long Time Comin' - it cranked, Red played a guitar solo / Percussion solo - the crowd shouted, "Go Pep!" repeatedly
Black Boo did the introductory speech to Go
6) Black Boo-led Go - it cranked
Black Boo introduced the band
7) Khari played a solo during his introduction, when Black Boo introduced Red, one of the appellations Black Boo gave him was, "our @sshole" / guitar & bass solo / Chris played / Pep joined in
Women in the audience screamed when Twink was introduced.
8) Instrumental - some music to Go and a percussion solo / Outtro / Chris played an instrumental riff
They stopped, and then resumed the instrumental when they were told there was more time.
They finished at 2:46.

I told Twink this was the kind of show (of theirs) I like, where they really stretch it out and do a lot of solos.

Hey Reef and Jayme were there, but we didn't recognize each other.

I didn't recognize the two women taking email addresses for Mambo Sauce - most shows in the past, they've been TMOTTers I know.

Sam walked out behind me.

4th of July (& Packy's Birthday) Celebration at Zanzibar
Zanzibar on the Waterfront, 700 Water Street SW Washington, DC 20024



I arrived at about 10 PM. I had to wait in line for a bit. Renee was again promoting this. I thought it hadn't started yet because I saw Chi Ali standing outside, but I was wrong. I missed Suttle's performance: when I went inside, EU was already performing on the downstairs stage.

Netty, Renee D., Thomas Sayers Ellis, Sharmba Mitchell, and Nikia were there.

EU
The line up was: Sugar Bear (vocals & bass), Donny Ray (vocals), Junie (vocals & cowbell), Devlin (vocals), Stephanie (vocals), Tony (guitar), keyboards, drummer, Derek (congas).
First set (in progress)
?) Stephanie-led Rihanna's Umbrella
X+1) Sugar Bear-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
X+2) Sugar Bear said, "Hold up wait a minute" / Percussion solo
X+3) Sugar Bear-led Freak A Deak All Night Long
X+4) Sugar Bear-led Funkadelic's Undisco Kidd "Girls are Bad" / Cops Theme "Bad Girls / "Pop the Coochie" / Devlin-led "Beat your Feet" / Ludacris' Number One Spot (tease)
Delano was there.
X+5) Devlin-led "I already know I love you"
X+6) Sugar Bear-led OutKast's The Way You Move (tease) / "Work the middle" - Derek played toms / "Is Southeast the real deal? What's the number spot in the city?"
X+7) Sugar Bear-led Notorious BIG's Crush On You / Um Bop Bop
X+8) Stephanie rapped
X+9) Sugar Bear-led "When do we get to the good part?"
X+10) Stephanie-led Beyonce's Irreplaceable
X+11) Sugar Bear-led "Hey ay ay"
X+12) Sugar Bear-led Rare Essence's One on One / "Southeast, South, Southeast" chant / "Where y'all from?" / Ooh La La / "Got got gotcha"
The whole set cranked. They finished at 10:47

Nikki was there.

Familiar Faces - upstairs stage
Mike was not present. They were all dressed up.
1) Halima-led Mary J. Blige's My Life - Smoke was late and Sharmba Mitchell sat in on congas
Los was there.
Halima said, "I've got to work it, sing for my supper."
2) Halima-led Tamia's Can't Get Enough
3) Halima-led Cheri Dennis' I Love You - it cranked
Yannie and Rasheed were there.
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
5) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies, Oh my God!"
6) Donnell-led Tattoo - it ranked / Percussion solo - the frontline danced in synch -->
Ro'chelle (toosweet) and Danielle (Pink) were there.
7) Alternating Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') - Doc added riffs to the usual music, the frontline danced in synch during the hits / Percussion solo
8) Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me? - it had a light crank, Donnell said, "Scooby Dooby" and Scooby sat in / Donnell did rhymes on people's names
Tiffany was there. I said to Packy, "Happy birthday, Tom Cruise!" He laughed.

EU
Second set
1) Junie-led "I promise I will never, yearning, Heartbreak Hotel" - it cranked
2) Alternating Sugar Bear-led Kanye West's Gold Digger / Percussion solo / Sugar Bear did chants about Donnell and Familiar Faces and other chants / "Shake the booty, break down"
3) Sugar Bear-led "Hey ladies, can we do it for the fellas? Oh my God!"
4) Sugar Bear-led "If you're sexy and you know it, raise your hands!"
5) Sugar Bear-led "When do we get to the good part?"
6) Donny Ray & Devlin-led "You ain't"
7) Devlin-led Fabolous' Make Me Better
8) Donny Ray-led Young Jeezy's Soul Survivor (Remix) - Derek played toms
9) Sugar Bear-led "Tired yet? Ready to quit?" / "Tell Me what you feel like doing y'all?" / "Gimme that beat"
10) Stephanie-led ?
11) Devlin-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')
12) Sugar Bear-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
13) Sugar Bear-led Rare Essence's Lock It / Donnell sat in and led "Put your hands up" / Sugar Bear-led "I'm going to grow up" - the frontline danced in synch
Gary was there.
14) Sugar Bear-led "Shake it like a white girl"
15) Sugar bear-led "Just shake, just rattle and roll" / "I like booty" / "Are you ready to shake?"
16) Sugar Bear-led R. Kelly's Snake
Flo was there.
17) Donny Ray-led ? - the lights went dark
Tamiko was there.
18) Devlin-led The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rock Star
19) ?
Again, they cranked the whole set.

2nd2None, Chevy, Stacy (Pretty Smile), and Gwen were there.

Familiar Faces
Second set
1) JB's Doing It to Death (instrumental tease)
2) Sean-led Musiq's Buddy - it had a light crank / 6 Minutes percussion solo - it cranked
Shante (Stacy's cousin) and Peg Leg were there.
3) Donnell-led "Party party, everybody" - it cranked / Sean-led The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rock Star - Doc & Dwayne added different guitar riffs / Percussion solo
4) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate it) / Donnell-led Gangsta
Stacy introduced me to her friend Dynasty
5) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style - it cranked
6) Halima-led Beyonce's Ring the Alarm - it cranked / Donnell-led DJ Unk's Walk It Out (tease)
7) Halima-led Rihanna's Umbrella - it cranked, Strike a Pose danced onstage
8) Alternating Donnell-led "___ is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Keep it low" / Percussion solo -->
Candi and NeeNee were there.
9) Donnell-led Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome - it cranked / Smoke conga solo - Donnell said, "Wave to 'em, Smoke"
10) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda - it cranked
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence song I didn't recognize (but it was familiar) - it cranked
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time - it cranked
13) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - Smoke played timbales, it cranked / Donnell & Halima-led It Is What It Is
14) Halima-led ? / Jammin' Jeff outtro

Everyone was told to go downstairs, the upstairs was closed. It took a while to get down there due to the crowd.


Little Benny in the VIP room
Picture taken by and Copyright - Thomas Sayers Ellis from the project: The Go-Go Book: People in the Pocket in Washington, D.C.

Chuck's set was in progress. I stayed for a minute, but it was too crowded and I left. I saw Dwayne talking with Ro'chelle and Danielle, talked with them briefly and then headed to my car.

Familiar Faces at Tradewinds
Tradewinds Night Club, 5859 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20748
I drove to Tradewinds (and listened to the Vault on my way) and was just a little late for Familiar Faces' performance.

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

Keisha, Bam of The Barksdale Project (formerly Jigaboo), Julia, Vicki, Ebo, Angie, Kandi, Trea, Archie, Maketta (new hairdo), Stacy (ChooChoo's Cousin), Keisha, Kim, Shawn, Chipster, Dey, Lashan, Mia (celebrating her birthday, with a new hairdo), Nakia, Shameika, Mary (who wasn't the only one whooping tonight), Johanna, Big Don Pimp, Slick Rick, Jimmy Parker, Mo (Slim Goodie), Lachelle, and Shelly were there.

Familiar Faces
Mike was not present tonight.
First set - In progress (I arrived around 12:41 AM)
X?) ? - I only heard the percussion solo with Donnell doing chants and announcements
X+1) Halima-led Cheri Dennis' I Love You
X+2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
X+3) Sean-led The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rock Star
X+4) Donnell-led "Party party, everybody" / Halima-led Shareefa's Cry No More
X+5) Sean-led Usher's Bad Girl
X+6) Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')
X+7) Sean-led Musiq's Teach Me

Second set
Donnell talked about their upcoming trip to Miami. He said, "I don't care who you cheat with, as long as you come back to us when we come back."
1) Sean-led Musiq's Buddy / Percussion solo - it was long and cranked
2) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
3) Sean-led The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rock Star
4) Halima-led Rihanna's Umbrella
5) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style
Donnell did a tease of Nicole the Bartender around here
6) Alternating Donnell-led "___ Is Yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Oh my my my" / "Keep it low"
7) Smoke conga solo - it cranked
8) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate it)
9) Halima-led Beyonce's Ring the Alarm - it cranked
10) Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me?
11) Donnell-led Notorious BIG's Warning (tease)

Trouble Funk in Petersburg
Old Towne Civic Center, 136 River St, Petersburg, VA 23803

I had emailed Big Tony Fisher on myspace about Trouble Funk's planned album "Cold Millennium". He told me their new album "The Vault", would be sold at their show in Petersburg. He gave me the details on the show.

The traffic on 95 South was so bad I nearly turned around.

I bought a copy of The Vault which came with a CD single of their remix of Jay-Z' Show Me What You Got.

This was an outdoor show; most of the audience brought their own lawn chairs.

I forgot to bring paper in so, I took brief notes on the sleeve the CD single came in (I had already moved it to the jewel box with the album).

Soul Logistics
They are a local group that both rapped and sang over tracks.

The MC, a local DJ, said that it had taken 2 years to get Trouble Funk.

Trouble Funk

Dave, Fats, T-Burns, Big Feet, Big Tony, Smitty, Allison
Picture taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
Tee Bone was there, but he worked the monitors instead of performing.
The line up was: Big Tony Fisher (bass & vocals), T-Burns (vocalist/cowbell player), Dave Gussum (guitar player/vocalist), Smitty (keyboards), Allison (keyboards), Big Feet (drummer), Dennis Sterling/Fats (percussion). Big Tony provided the line up for me and added: Denver Wright/The Wiz (producer/engineer).
They started performing around 8:50. They had their performance filmed.
Big Tony called the audience onto the concrete dance floor. Most of the audience was in their 30s and up.
They performed "Lock that thing in the socket", Hey Fellas, "Tastes real good, we like it like that", "Take it to the Bridge", Pump Me Up, The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rock Star - fans sang it, Jay-Z' Show Me What You Got (led by T-Burns), Let's Get Small, Huey's Pop, Lock & Drop It, Rare Essence's Lock It (led by Dave), Trouble Funk Express, Big Tony announced they were going to perform the first song they recorded (in 1979), he called up the guy who was selling the CDs for them and they performed E Flat Boogie, "Where you from" (led by T-Burns), "Where's the party?", "Put your hands up", Don't Touch That Stereo, the MC communicated to Dave who passed it on to Big Tony - "We need to move the party inside" which meant ending Trouble Funk's performance as DJ were playing music inside, "Hello, are you ready to Go?", Drop the Bomb.
They finished around 10:10.
Big Tony was so impressed with the audience reaction that he said, "We're going to have to play in Petersburg at least once a week."

They said they would be performing in Richmond on August 3rd.

I said hello to Tee Bone and Big Tony, then I left and headed for Tradewinds.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.