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

In Da Cut (in progress)
The line up was: female vocalist, saxophone, bass, guitar, drummer, keyboard.
They performed: Candi Staton's You Got the Love, "Dream on, dreamer", Rufus' Sweet Thang, Earth, Wind & Fire's Can't Hide Love (instrumental), and a couple of familiar songs I couldn't recognize.
She introduced them, I think: Whitney? (female vocalist), Rick (saxophone), Larry (bass), guitar, Joe (drummer), Clay (keyboard).
This was my first time seeing them, they sounded good. They are not a GoGo band.

Robin, DeeDee, Rachelle, Los, Kali, Khallissa, and Tyrell (celebrating her birthday) were there.

Familiar Faces
First set
1) Sean-led Sean Kingston's Beautiful Girls - they performed the music to Musiq's Buddy / Musiq's Buddy - it cranked, Donnell said, "Wait a minute, Smoke!" / Percussion solo - girls whooped
Ayesha was there (not the same one as at Tradewinds).
2) Halima-led Cheri Dennis' I Love You - it cranked
Rhonda was there.
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Halima-led Shareefa's Cry No More - it cranked -->
5) Sean-led Usher's Bad Girl - it cranked, Halima danced / Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Oh my my my"
6) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - it cranked
Shadonna was there.
7) Donnell-led "Party party, everybody" - it cranked / Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back (I still hate it) / Gangsta - Mike and Los danced onstage
NeeNee and Kia were there.
8) Donnell-led Miss Keta Do Your Dance for Me - it cranked, Tyrell, Latisha and others danced onstage
9) Halima-led Tamia's Can't Get Enough - it had a light crank
Neta, Nicole, Dana, Gary, Muffin, Stacy (Pretty Smile), 6'9, and Sherray (Always Showtime!!) were there.

Second set
1) Sean-led T-Pain's Bartender - it had a light crank / Percussion solo
2) Sean-led Ne-Yo's Do You - it had a light crank / instrumental - Donnell settled down some people in the crowd
3) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style - it cranked, Smoke played timbales, Chi Ali of Suttle played congas, Halima held her mic to the crowd
4) Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') - Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Percussion solo - it cranked
5) Halima-led Rihanna's Umbrella - it cranked / Percussion solo
6) Alternating 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"
7) Donnell-led Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome (tease) - it cranked / Smoke conga solo / Donnell-led "I gave my whole life, DC I love you, I'm going nowhere, I've tasted daylight"
8) Donnell-led Reggae - it cranked / Chi Ali sat in and rapped, "Make the booty go up and down, to the left, to the right" - Tyrell and another woman danced onstage / Sean-led "We're taking over" - the house lights came on

Unidentified fan, Chi Ali
Picture taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
Donnell said, "Thank you Tyrell, that was quite a show you put on"
9) Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me? - it had a light crank

Theos and Chappy handed out flyers outside.

Nicole, in a car driving by me, said, "Put me in your book."

Tribute to Boolah
Vegas Lounge, 1415 P St NW, Washington, DC 20005
All proceeds went to Boolah's family.


Boolah at Xcalibur on July 22, 2004

I was one of the first people there. Boolah's family sat at a table together. They had 2 framed pictures of him. Kali stressed that all musicians present were encouraged to play.

The performances started around 9 PM.

Jam group1

Unk (bass), Kali (guitar) on the mic, Justin? (drummer), Sixx Playa (guitar)


unknown singer, unknown other guitarist
Among what they performed were: Sixx Playa-led Jimi Hendrix's (Billy Roberts') Hey Joe (instrumental) - it cranked, but was brief; ?-led B.B. King's Rock Me Baby - he sang and danced, "You make me feel", Sixx Playa-led Aaron Walker's Stormy Monday - nice solo by him.

Doc, former member of Ayre Rayde got up and talked about Boolah.

Doc on the mic

KO and Stan (Strumfunky) were there.


Kali came over and talked with me. I told him I had seen him play with Mambo Sauce at the State Theatre.

Jam group2
The one guitar player, who said he worked in Reggae, talked before they played.

Dsjando Smith is the guitar player on the far right




All pictures taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
Among what they performed were: George Benson's Breezin', Bob Marley's Jammin'.

I left at 10:30 as it was a weeknight.

Lady Rhythm at Fort Dupont Park
Fort Dupont Park Summer Theatre, 1900 Anacostia Dr SE, Washington, DC 20020

I was a little late unfortunately. I stood a fair distance away from the stage, but I enjoyed myself.

Lady Rhythm (in progress) around 8:07 PM
X) Miriamm-led Rufus' Sweet Thang - it cranked, she said, "Some things only a guitar can sing" and Genny soloed
X+1) Let Your Mind Go (an original by Miriamm) - it cranked
X+2) Steph Jones-led James Brown's Sex Machine - it cranked, Miriamm said, "Give it up for James Brown", she went on to talk about the places in DC he played
X+3) Teena Marie's Portuguese Love - it cranked, nice conga solo
X+4) They did band intros and each woman soloed as she was introduced: Genny (guitar), Candra (bass), Steph (keyboard), Denise (drums), Karis (percussion)
X+5) Chic's I Want Your Love - it cranked
They were done at about 8:40. I enjoyed their performance, the only complaint I had was that I wish it were longer. I'm not a fan because they are an all-female group, but simply because they crank.

I actually walked out behind most of the members of Lady Rhythm.

Da Mixx Band and FF at Mirrors

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

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

Da Mixx Band

This was my first time seeing them. They were performing Jill Scott's He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat) as I walked in. I also recognized: T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin'), Fabolous' Make Me Better, and Rihanna's Umbrella. They performed an instrumental James Brown cover at the end.
They sounded good.

Sharon, Juanita, Darrell, Tracy, James, Tracie (Model Chick), Trina, Toya, Tasha, Danielle (Wellfhed, celebrating her birthday) and her sister Che're, Eye Candy, That44dog, Nakia, Big Bossman Ian of Brandywine (celebrating his birthday), Rachelle, Gary, Peg Leg, NeeNee, Kia, Marquita, Tricia, Angie, and Skaci were there.


Danielle


Suri

Familiar Faces

Doc, Lorenzo, Dwayne, Sean "Kal-el", Jammin' Jeff


Halima, Donnell, Packy, Smoke, DP, Mike
All pictures taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
I found out subsequently that Jacques Vaughan has left Familiar Faces.
First set
1) Musiq's Buddy (instrumental) / Alternating Percussion solo / Sean-led Musiq's Buddy
2) 6 Minutes Percussion solo
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Halima-led Kelly Rowland's Like This featuring Eve - it cranked
5) Donnell-led "Party party, everybody" - it cranked / Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back (I still hate it) / Donnell-led Gangsta - Mike, then Ian danced onstage
6) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style - it cranked
7) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
8) Alternating Donnell & Sean-led Tattoo / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya" / Donnell-led "I gave my whole life"
9) Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') (tease)
10) Sean-led Musiq's Teach Me

Tia and Rhonda were there.

Second set
1) Halima-led ? (It was a new cover; I really couldn't make out what she was singing)
2) Instrumental - Donnell led chants, "Brandywine, friends of mine" and "Hands Free, are you f*cking with me?"
3) Sean-led Ne-Yo's Do You
4) Halima-led Shareefa's Cry No More - it cranked --> (true fade)
5) Sean-led Usher's Bad Girl
6) Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') - it cranked
7) Alternating Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Oh my my my" / "Keep it low"
8) Halima-led Rihanna's Umbrella - it cranked
9) Sean-led The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rockstar - it cranked
10) Donnell-led Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome (tease) - it cranked / Smoke played a long conga solo
11) Alternating Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me? / Donnell-led "Unh unh unh"
12) Donnell-led Vinnie D's Porno Star
The band packed up, but Donnell was still performing, he joked, "They packed up! The rumor is true, they quit on me! Jauhar, give everyone a refund!"

Chappy, Theos, and Delano were handing out flyers outside.

Pure Perfection at the Market Lounge
Market Lounge, 1309 5th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

I went to the Market Lounge to see Unity Band, but they ended up not performing there yet.

Sounds of Pure Perfection
The line up (all male) was:
Frontline: talker/lead singer, backup singer, trumpet player (white dude), cowbell player
Backline: 2 keyboard players, drummer, percussionist
The lead talker keep chanting, "Let the beat work." I recognized from their set: Jill Scott's He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat), Opening to Richard Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra (also known as the 2001 Theme), Men Without Hats' Safety Dance, and Lil Boosie & Webbie's Wipe Me Down
They were pretty raw, but entertaining - they cranked and played primarily congas.
They had a crowd of about 15 or so people.

I left for Mirrors at about 11:15

RIP Boolah
I first read on TMOTT that Clarence "Boolah" Roper, former guitar player for 911/Familiar Faces and other groups, was in critical condition on July 24th on TMOTT. I was shocked; I had seen him perform with The Band on June 29th. I followed the news on his condition until his unfortunate death on August 6th of Cancer at age 46.

I feel fortunate that I was able to experience his incredible talent first hand. He was a nice guy and he will be missed.

Here is a link to a tribute page on him.

His funeral information:
Friday, August 10, 2007 Caroline County Community Service Building, 17202 Richmond Turnpike, Milford, VA 22514

You can view or sign his guestbook.


Boolah on September 21st 2005 at Takoma Station
Picture taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich

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

Natalie, Tanya, Kandi, Maketta, Lolita, Rachelle, Aisha, Mary, Sanisse, Nikia, Ebo, and White Girl were there.

Familiar Faces
Godfather was not present tonight.
First set
1) Alternating Halima-led Cheri Denis' I Love You - it cranked / Percussion solo - Halima chanted, "Eya eya"
Monique, Neta, Muffin, Shawn, Tricia, and Angie were there.
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
3) Donnell-led "Where y'all from?"
4) Donnell-led "Can we do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
5) Donnell & Halima-led Kelly Rowland's Like This featuring Eve - it cranked / Percussion solo
6) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
Archie was there.
7) Halima-led Shareefa's Cry No More - it cranked, Halima was hyped up --> (true fade)
8) Sean-led Usher's Bad Girl - it cranked / Percussion solo
6'9 was there.
9) Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') - it cranked, the frontline dipped during hits / Percussion solo - the crowd shouted, "Wind me up, Smoke!" and Donnell responded, "Say what?
Jackie was there.
10) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
11) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate it)
12) Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me? - it had a light crank, Donnell added lines, they performed different music, Donnell said, "Bassline" and Doc played a solo, Donnell said, "fly sh*t" and Dwayne played a solo, Donnell said, "Horny horns" and DP and Mike played hits
Pocahontas was there.

Tasha T., Tamara, and Shameika were there.

Second set
1) Sean-led T-Pain's Bartender -->
2) Alternating Donnell & Sean-led Tattoo - it cranked / Donnell said, "Let's go Smoke, oh!" - they played a percussion solo, Donnell chanted, "Eya eya"
3) Alternating Donnell-led "Party party, everybody" - it cranked / Donnell said, "Hey Smoke oh" and Smoke played a conga solo / Sean-led Ne-Yo's So Sick
Trea was there.
4) Donnell-led Reggae - it cranked / Sean-led "We're taking over" / Donnell-led Shawnna's Getting Some (tease) / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful
5) Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / "Keep it low"
6) Alternating Sean & Donnell-led Rare Essence's Lock It - it cranked, Smoke played congas with sticks / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (tease) - Smoke played timbales, Tasha whooped
Rhonda was there.
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine - it cranked
GoGo Mickey was there.
8) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Alternating Notorious BIG's Warning - it cranked, GoGo Mickey played timbales, Jacques played the cowbell / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes
9) Alternating Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time - it cranked, Packy played the cowbell / Mickey timbale solo - the house lights came on -->
10) Alternating Donnell & Sean-led "I love her because she's my baby, DC girls they drive me crazy" / Doc & Dwayne solo / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Body Snatchers (tease) / "Southeast, South, Southeast" chant

Floetry After Party at Mirrors
Mirrors, 33 New York Avenue N.E. Washington, DC 20002

This was the official Floetry After Party after their performance at Love, the second date of their Remixed Tour with Amanda Diva replacing Natalie "The Floacist" Stewart.


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


Ariel and ?
Back to camera: Ebony, Nikia
Picture taken by and Copyright - Darrell Foster

The Band


Allison and Jay were back in the line up.
I caught their entire set this time. Here are the songs I recognized: Allison-led Alicia Keys' Unbreakable, Jay-led Prince's Kiss, Allison-led Michael Jackson's PYT, Jay-led Marvin Gaye's Got to Give It Up, Allison-led The Gap Band's Outstanding, Allison-led Toni Braxton's Take This Ring, Allison-led Rufus' Sweet Thang, Jay-led Gnarls Barkley's Crazy.

The couches on the right side of the dance floor were arranged with a barrier for Floetry and VIPs.

James, Nakia, Rachelle, Pinkey, Tracy S., LA, Angie, Darrell and his sister Darlene, Sherray (Always Showtime!!), Ro'chelle (toosweet), Gary, Chevy of Faze2, Ayesha, Ronnique, Michon, NeeNee (still celebrating her birthday), Ariel (celebrating her birthday), Candi, Kia, Joy, Lolita, Maketta, Tony, 6'9, Skaci, Peg Leg, Ian, Wings World, Chappy, DeeDee, Mimi, Nikia, Ebony, Los, and White Girl were there.

Familiar Faces

Jammin' Jeff, Packy, Donnell, Jacques, Mike


Doc, Lorenzo, Sean "Kal-el", Dwayne, Jammin' Jeff

Picture taken by and Copyright - Darrell Foster
First set
1) Sean-led Ne-Yo's Do You / Percussion solo - it cranked
2) Halima-led Sade's No Ordinary Love - it cranked
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Donnell-led "Can we do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
5) 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 / Percussion solo
7) Halima-led Shareefa's Cry No More
8) Sean-led Usher's Bad Girl (tease)
Floetry came onstage
9) Marsha Ambrosius-led (Floetry's) Supastar - it cranked

Dwayne, Sean "Kal-el", Halima, Jammin' Jeff, Marsha Ambrosius, Jacques, Amanda Diva, Smoke, Donnell


Marsha, Halima, Donnell, Jacques, Packy, Amanda, DP
All pictures (other than flyer and those specifically noted as taken by Darrell Foster) taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
10) Marsha Ambrosius & Halima-led (Floetry's) Say Yes - Floetry left the stage during the song, Amanda Diva said, "Y'all have a good thing going here, keep it up!" just before she walked off the stage / Halima-led Lionel Richie's Hello (tease) / Outtro - just Jammin' Jeff, then Donnell asked Lorenzo to join him


Joy, Claudia, and Kia
Picture taken by and Copyright - Darrell Foster

Second set

Smoke
Picture taken by and Copyright - Darrell Foster
1) Donnell & Sean-led "Unh Unh Unh" - it had a light crank
2) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
3) Halima-led Mis-Teeq' Style - it cranked
4) Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Brandywine, friends of mine" / "Keep it low"
5) Donnell-led "I Don't See or Hear No Evil" - it had a light crank
6) Alternating Sean-led The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rock Star - it cranked / Donnell said, "Hey Smoke, Oh!" then Percussion solo / Donnell-led "___ We're going to show a little swagger"
7) Donnell-led Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome (tease) - it cranked / Smoke conga solo - the crowd shouted, "Wind me up, Smoke!"
8) Halima-led Rihanna's Umbrella - it cranked
9) Alternating Donnell-led Reggae / Sean-led "We're taking over" / Damien Marley's Beautiful
10) Halima-led Beyonce's Freakum Dress - it cranked / Donnell-led DJ Unk's Walk It Out (tease)
11) Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me? - it cranked at the end
12) Alternating Donnell-led Rick James' Mary Jane (tease) / Sean and Donnell-led "I love her because she's my baby, DC girls they drive me crazy" - the second time around Donnell made fun of Kal-el adding the line "DC girls they drive me crazy", calling it "'Bama sh*t"
13) Donnell sang more songs acapella as I walked out

I told Dwayne that I understood why he liked Mother's Finest because I finally listened to the clips on the MVP myspace page.

Prince George's Community Peace Festival
Iverson Mall, 3737 Branch Ave, Hilcrest Heights, MD 20748



I got to Iverson Mall around 12:45 PM. The members of Mambo Sauce were sitting around. Red introduced me to his nephews, Zach and Josh. Keisha D. came by and introduced herself to them as the coordinator of the event. I talked with her; I hadn't seen her in a while.

Sherray (Always Showtime!!), Ant, and Sashay Shaunte were there.

Mambo Sauce was originally supposed to go on first, but Bad Intentions was up first.

Bad Intentions Band

Picture taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
The line up was: lead talker/cowbell player, female vocalist, 2 other male vocalists, bass player, 2 keyboard players, drummer, percussionist.
They started with a prayer.
1) female-led "With me you're never going to be... I only want to be with you... it doesn't matter where to go..."
2) Conga solo
3) female-led "I wonder where he went off to, why I can't get" - congas / "I would like to get to know you better"
Tracie (Model Chick) was there.
The recap on PA Palace listed Shake Ya Tambourine in the setlist.
4) Male-led "Good Googalie Mooglie, 2 Step" - toms
5) Male-led Does It Real Good - toms
They finished at 1:38 PM. I really liked the female singer's voice and her singing, but otherwise they didn't really impress me.

I met Prettygurlki$ha.

Still Yeahoe was there.

Mambo Sauce

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


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


Khari, Black Boo, Twink, Yendy, Red, Pep
All Mambo Sauce pictures above taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
All Mambo Sauce pictures below taken by and Copyright - Bones Jones

Chris, Twink, Khari, Pep, Red


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


Black Boo, Yendy


Khari


Red


Chris


Pep


Twink
Black Boo said, "'Bama Cowboy fans in the house."
Black Boo said, "We're the only GoGo bad that performs all originals."
1) Black Boo-led Puttin' in Work - it cranked, Black Boo performed at the edge of the stage / Percussion solo - Black Boo played the cowbell, Black Boo did a shout out to the "TMOTT Honies"
2) Black Boo-led Thing Will Get Better - it cranked
3) Black Boo & Yendy-led Long Time Comin' - Black Boo said, "Go to the right", Black Boo chanted, "Hey Hey" repeatedly / Percussion solo
4) Yendy-led Miracles - it cranked, Pep played toms, fans recited the lyrics

A girl named Ayesha Markel sang the Star Spangled Banner.

Lachelle was there. I talked with Scottiejay. He told me about Michelle of Glasshouse Radio, who is also doing a thesis on GoGo. He was with a guy whose name I don't recall, but is affiliated with Submission Band.

Sugar Bear & "EU"


Pictures of Sugar Bear & EU taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
Sugar Bear and Derek were the only regular members of EU in the line up. The others were all young. Sugar Bear (vocals), guitar player, bass player, keyboard player, drummer, Derek (percussion).
1) Instrumental - it cranked, DJ Flexx was talking and played the cowbell
Sharmba Mitchell and DJ Flava were there.
Sugar Bear arrived and said, "The police pulled me over. I had to give them my autograph and they let me go."
2) Sugar Bear-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) / Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s Crush On You - it cranked, Sugar Bear said, "Hold up, wait a minute!" / "Is Southeast the real deal?" / "Where y'all from?"
3) Sugar Bear-led "Work it baby, shake it baby" - it cranked
4) Sugar Bear-led "Bounce it everywhere"
4) Sugar Bear-led Da Butt - it cranked, the crowd recited the lyrics
Sugar Bear said, "Don't play with Sugar." He said that Wednesday was his birthday. He said Chuck (Brown) and James Funk were also Leos. He said he was celebrating his birthday next Saturday at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Then he said, "Love y'all. Ow!"
According to the recap on PA Palace, the setlist included:
Amusement Park
Um Bop Bop
Booty Bounce
Da Butt

Next up was a rap group, Da Committee
I didn't really pay much attention to them. They were touting their song, DC Clap.

There were a number of speakers.

The next group, which was a while later, was CCB.

CCB (Critical Condition Band)

Picture of CCB taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
The line up was: female vocalist, 4 male vocalists, 3 keyboard players, bass, drummer, percussionist. They all wore CCB t-shirts, and tossed some into the crowd.
1) female-led Classy Girl - it cranked, they played congas
2) male-led "Where y'all from?" - it cranked, they played congas / Percussion solo - the frontline danced in synch to the right and then back to the left
3) male-led "Get it, get to the wall" - it cranked, they played toms, it was hard to hear the lyrics over the audience, who recited the lyrics and showed hand symbols
4) male-led ? - it cranked, they played toms, I noticed the dance floor in front of the stage was packed wall to wall people
5) female-led "2 times 2, 21, hands up" - it cranked, they played toms and congas
I define crank as a level of rhythmic intensity. By that measure, they definitely cranked. However, I did not like their music, which literally gave me a headache. However, the young audience liked it.
According to the recap on PA Palace, the setlist included:
Classy Girl
Bazzoka Bottom
She's Hot
Roll Call
Stop the Violence
Hands Up

UCB (Uncalled 4 Experience)

Picture above of Uncalled 4 Experience taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
Picture below of Uncalled 4 Experience taken by and Copyright - Gangsta B

The line up was: Tre (singer), 3 other male vocalists, 2 keyboard players, drummer, guitar, bass, percussionist.
They gave out posters for their upcoming EP.
1) Tre-led So Addicted - it cranked, they played congas
2) Tre-led "On it, Beautiful girl, every time I see your face, I think to myself, I'm in love with a girl" - he held his mic to the fans, they played toms
3) male-led ? (the lyrics were hard to make out) - they played toms, fans recited the lyrics
4) Tre-led Sexy Lady - it cranked
5) Tre-led Married to Juwanna "zoom zoom, help me Rhonda" - it cranked, they played toms
6) Tre-led Better than Beyonce - it cranked, they played toms, it was ended by a fight.
I didn't like this performance as much as the last time I saw them because they played too much toms for my taste, but that reflected the audience.
According to the recap on PA Palace, the setlist included:
Her Love
Splash Girl
Pump Me Up
Ima Hoe
Married to Juwanna
Get Get Mission
Better Than Beyonce

One of the leaders of the Community of Hope spoke: "They want to say we can't do this without violence. This all they waiting for. You all enjoyed yourselves? We're trying to do this every week."

Reverend Tony Lee said, "Turn to your neighbor, say 'We can't go out like this'. Don't let a couple of people ruin it." He lead a prayer.

Afterwards, I headed straight for Darrell's Pool Party.

Darrell's Pool Party 2007
Darrell's house, Beltsville, MD

Darrell, Nakia, Johnny & Darlene, Tiny, Richard, Mimi, Shameika, Tracy, Chanel, Maketta, Nephew, Halima, Sean "Kal-el", Deenah, Los, and Howard were there.

I met Lolita, Tina (who is Skaci's cousin), Tasha, Mimi, Tricia, Angie, and Quentin. There were a whole lot of people I don't know there...

I talked with Rachelle. I talked about Suttle, whom I missed seeing on July 3rd. I said I first met Chi Ali when he performed with Elevation Band at Reggie's in July 2004. I told her that the band members were depressed because their lead talker, "Chief Rocka" had just been killed. She talked about Footz' death. She was on the boat ride that evening, they held up the boat for 20 minutes waiting for Footz, then they had to go. It wasn't until later that they discovered he had missed the boat ride because he was murdered.


What do you mean you made this, Darrell?




Mimi (spelling?)


Rachelle, Nephew, Howard
All pictures above taken by and Copyright - Darrell Foster

All pictures below taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich




Deenah


Nakia, Tricia, Angie


Los and Nakia


Tracy and Shameika

Darrell set up a TV so they could watch the fight.

Darrell wanted me to thank everyone who came out. A big thank you to Nakia who was the highlight of the party.

I left as they started watching the fight and then went to Tradewinds.

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

Tracy, Shawn, Rachelle, Tricia, Angie, Mo (Slim Goodie), Kali, Renee, Melanie, Robin, Aisha, RE Angie, and Archie were there.

Familiar Faces

Doc, Dwayne Lee, Sean "Kal-el", Dwayne Thomas, Halima, Donnell, Smoke


Donnell, Smoke, DP (Renee has her back to the camera on the right)


Lorenzo, Godfather, Dwayne Thomas, Shawn (back to camera), Packy
Mike was not present tonight.
First set
Packy played the cowbell.
1) Sean-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You - it had a light crank
Nikia and Quay (Shorty Q) were there.
2) Donnell-led "___ Is in the building"
Mimi was there (with the white woman).
3) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - it had a light crank, every time DP said, "Yeah!" Omarr pumped his fist at Dwayne Thomas / Guitar & Percussion solo - Donnell said, "Right there one more time Doc"
White Girl and Nicole were there.
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
5) Sean-led Ne-Yo's Do You / Percussion solo - it cranked, Donnell said, "Oh my my my"
Jan & Keisha were there.
6) Donnell & Halima-led Kelly Rowland's Like This featuring Eve - it cranked, Sean played guitar
7) Instrumental (guitar-led) / Alternating Sean-led The Shop Boyz' Party Like a Rock Star - it cranked / Percussion solo
Tasha (L), ChooChoo and Stacy were there.
8) Alternating Donnell & Sean-led Tattoo - it cranked / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya"
Nakia and Maketta were there.
9) Halima-led Tamia's Can't Get Enough - it had a light crank
Sanisse, Ebo, Mia, and Shawnie were there.

Sherray (Always Showtime!!), Ro'chelle (toosweet), Los, and Tina were there.


Aisha and Vincent

Second set
1) Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back (tease) - it cranked (I still hate it)
2) Sean-led Sean Kington's Beautiful Girls (I remember Tracy told me she hated this song when we were talking before Familiar Faces performance)
I was talking to Tracy, so I may have missed a song.
3) Sean-led Musiq's Buddy - it cranked / Percussion solo
4) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - it cranked
5) Alternating Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') - it cranked, Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute!" / Percussion solo - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya"
6) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style - it cranked
7) Alternating Donnell-led "___ is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Hey Smoke oh!" - Sanisse and someone else whooped / "I'm a treat, you right, Can I get a piece of pie?" / "Keep it low" - they had technical difficulties / "In & out and up & down"
8) Halima-led Rihanna's Umbrella - it cranked, Sanisse whooped
9) Alternating Donnell-led Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome (tease) - it cranked / "RE-Angie" chant / RE Angie conga solo (a true solo) / Smoke conga solo - the crowd shouted, "Wind me up, Smoke!" and Donnell responded, "Say what?", Donnell said, "Wave to 'em, Smoke!", the house flights flicked on and off / Rare Essence's Body Snatchers (tease)

Shawn, Dwayne Thomas, Smoke, Packy, RE Angie, Donnell, Dwayne Lee
All pictures taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich
10) Halima-led Beyonce's Freakum Dress / Donnell-led DJ Unk's Walk It Out (tease)
11) Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me? - it had a light crank, Donnell said, "Percussion" / Percussion solo - ended by John
L-Boogie was there.

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

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

Patrice, Rachelle, Nakia, Robin, Candi, Kia, NeeNee (celebrating her birthday), Kia, Tasha, Tamara, DeeDee, Darrell, Shameika, Byrd, Sharon, Juanita, India, Peg Leg, 6'9, Theos, Kali, and Trece were there,

The Band
They had a different line up this week, neither Allison nor Jay was present, but they actually had a larger line up than usual, with 2 percussionists and a full horn section, including TonySax.
They performed Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back and another song I didn't recognize - Zach played a nice solo, they cranked with the additional percussion.
Cleophus said, "We're available for weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. Well, probably none of you are Jewish..." The DJ joked, "I'm Jewish."

Packy told me Unity Band would be playing at the Market Lounge again in 3 weeks.

Familiar Faces
Mike was not present tonight.
First set
1) Alternating Sean-led Musiq's Buddy / Percussion solo - the percussionist from The Band, whom Donnell identified as Tommy Cuz, an original from Northeast Groovers, looking like Black Jesus, sat in until Smoke arrived
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
3) Alternating Halima-led Shareefa's Cry No More / Percussion solo - the crowd shouted, "Wind me up, Smoke!" and Donnell responded, "It's too early for that, just a little socket."
4) Sean-led Usher's Bad Girl -->
5) Donnell & Sean-led Tattoo / Percussion solo
6) Alternating Sean-led T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc's Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') / Donnell-led "___ Is in the building"
7) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
8) Halima-led Mis-Teeq's Style
9) Halima-led Nelly Furtado's Say It Right - really strong solos by Doc and Dwayne

Second set
1) Percussion solo (it cranked) with Donnell-led chants: "Brandywine, friends of mine" / "Hands Free, you're playing with me"
2) Halima-led Kelly Rowland's Like This featuring Eve - it cranked
3) Alternating Sean-led Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back - it cranked (I still hate it) / Donnell-led Gangsta / "___ how you going to do that?" (I'm not positive of the words)
4) Donnell-led "___ Is yes!" / "You make me want to see, just how freaky you can be" / "Hey Smoke Oh" - it cranked/ "Keep it low"
5) Halima-led Rihanna's Umbrella - it cranked
6) Alternating Donnell-led Reggae - it cranked / Sean-led Damien Marley's Beautiful / Shawnna's Getting Some (tease) / "But is it like, is it really like that?"
7) Sean-led Ne-Yo's Do You
8) Donnell-led Public Enemy's Welcome to the Terrordome / Smoke conga solo
9) Donnell-led "Unh unh unh"
10) Donnell & Sean-led Do You Think About Me - it cranked, especially the ending with wicked solos by Doc and Dwayne, Byrd was getting down

I talked to Jackie (she was at the drive in at McDonald's) as I walked to my car.

Patrice Bowie at Blues Alley
Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW Washington, DC 20007

When I was at the Mike Stern performance here in May, they mentioned this upcoming performance (although they mis-spelled Patrice's name as Patricia).

I sat right next to where I sat at the Mike Stern show.

Except for Patrice, Stan, Allison, and Kevin, all of the band was new.

I recognized a number of regulars from Patrice's prior shows.

Buzz, Patrice's manager, said hello, but I was eating so we couldn't really talk.

Stan said hello.

Patrice Bowie
Patrice Bowie (lead vocals), Allison (vocals, I've seen her sing many times with The Band), Kia Bennett (vocals, she looked familiar to me, per Buzz: soloist, and performed with Julie Dexter, Freestyle, Wendy Davinport), Najibah (vocals, per Buzz: soloist, sings with Agency Bands), Stan Cooper (guitar, performs with L!ssen iHD, Marcus Johnson Project), Walter Crosby (bass, Per Buzz: plays with Julie Dexter, The House Band at the fish market in Clinton), Taylor Pace (keyboards, per Buzz: plays with Mario and Mya), Claudia Rogers (keyboards including the Blues Alley house piano, per Buzz: she's played with Julie Dexter, and per her website, she was a member of Pleasure), Jason Holt (drummer, I saw him perform together with Stan in the Marcus Johnson Project, per Buzz: he has played with Mario and Mya), Kevin Prince (percussion, plays for Spur of the Moment)
8:05 PM - Early show
1) Patrice was not onstage when the band started, it was instrumental only at first, it had a light crank, then Patrice walked onstage / Patrice-led Close to Me / "Little Bit of This, Little Bit of That, tat tat tat"
Patrice talked about her album, it is entitled Unprecedented.
2) Patrice-led "Believe in love at first sight, true love" - it had a light crank
3) Patrice-led Alicia Keys' Diary
Patrice asked, "Are there any women in love? How'd you feel when you first met?"
4) Patrice-led Butterflies - it cranked
5) Alternating Patrice-led Say Yes - it cranked, a technicial was working on the monitors as they performed / Instrumental
6) Alternating Patrice-led "I really believe everything that you told me, You say that..." / Instrumental (soloing)
Patrice said, "We're just going to step it up a bit here."
7) Alternating Patrice-led Give It to Me - it cranked / Instrumental (soloing) / Outtro
8) Patrice-led Amazing - it cranked
9) Patrice-led Finga Lickin - it cranked / Stan guitar solo / Taylor keyboard solo / Kevin conga solo / Walter bass solo / Claudia keyboard solo / Stan guitar solo - quoted a Jimi Hendrix song / Jason drum solo / Outtro
The set was done at 9:15 PM.
I enjoyed the set, but wish she didn't do covers, her originals are better. I was hoping to talk to the band members, but they filed out immediately and besides, I was still waiting on my check.

I could have stayed for the second set, but it was too late for me on a weeknight.

Patrice's brother, Vernon "V", greeted me.

Buzz gave me a promo - before Patrice left the stage, she said the album was shipping.

I listened to the promo on the way home, it has: Butterflies, Say Yes, Give It To Me, Close to Me featuring Little Benny/Coolie High. I didn't like the first two tracks as much as I do live (which is often the case), but did really like the last 2, and the mp3 of Finga Lickin that Buzz sent me. I will pick up the album when it's out.

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.

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.

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)