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

I talked with Packy and Godfather outside.

Ray, Diva and JoJo were there.

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

Stacey and Tracy were there.

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

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

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

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

KD was there.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shawn and Sanisse were there.

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

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

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

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

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

Rah was there.

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

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

Cookie, Tracy, and Angie were there.

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

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

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

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

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

Keta and Nita were there.

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

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

Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private location

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Donnell arrived during the break.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cookie and 6'9's Birthday at Takoma Station
Takoma Station, 6914 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20012

When I walked in, a woman with dyed red hair grabbed/hugged me. She talked with Shelle, who waved to me. It wasn't until I sat down that I realized the woman was Renee. Angie walked over and said hello. I asked if she had indeed been at Tradewinds on Saturday. She said she had been, but she and Tracy didn't dance in the middle of the dance floor like me. Ray, Candy, Michon, and Tim (LJ) were there. Shelle went and talked with Donnell and left before the performance. Halima wore a bandana, Doc called her Jimi Hendrix.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Lock It in the Pocket - YC joined in
Donnell said Jacques was hearing new beats
Donnell announced that on August 31st (he alternated between saying December 31st and August 31st, but I confirmed he meant August), they would have three Sopranos - Kimese, Yannie and Halima
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - YC continued to sit in
Halima said Miami was something serious, she saw her mother, but here today she is so glad to be back
3) Mike-led O'Bryan's Lady I Love You - Mike said, "Like Stevie Wonder said those three words, sweet and simple.", Mike danced with a woman in the audience on the dance floorBR> Donnell joked that Cookie and DeeDee kicked us off the boat ride, it must be something special for Cookie to be out
The crank started with
4) Mike-led Tony Terry's Freaky Little Game
5) Halima-led Jill Scott's Whatever
6) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - with improvs
7) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - excellent as usual
Donnell said, "She warmed up too early."
Halima talked with the audience - I didn't hear all that she said, but it was a dialogue with the whole audience, not a monologue with the women as usual
8) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Golden Lady - in Cookie's honor
Donnell said, "6'9's at the bar, don't buy him any drinks".
Mike said, "He's behind the bar!"
Donnell said they would have a pool party on August 20th.
He joked that Mike's Rearview2.com will have a thong contest and the winner will win $200.

DeeDee and Cookie were there. I said happy birthday to Cookie, she thanked me for coming. Sharika came by and said hello. Donny Ray, RE Angie, Tamara, 6'9, Nikiya, Ras Lidj, Stacey, Los, Tata, Slim Goodie, Yvette, and Felecia were there. I went outside. Mike told Godfather about a dream. During it, a cop told Mike that whoever had a cup had to go inside. Since Mike didn't have a cup, it was weird. Mike's dream - He and Cherone went to a record store. Cherone got into a fight with another woman - it was Bernita (Godfather's wife). Mike worked to break it up, saying Bernita was like his sister. He saw Donnell behind a rack laughing and asked him why he didn't break up the fight. He went to tell Godfather and his brother was there, just back from Vietnam and was telling stories. Mike went home, he hadn't unpacked from Miami yet. The bag was on the bed and OJ Simpson was standing on it, with his shoes on.

I went in and later talked to Halima. I told her jokingly that she had taken my Betty Davis comment too seriously (Betty Davis was friends with Hendrix. She introduced him to her husband Miles Davis - she had a strong influence on Miles' fashions). I told her Shelle had been there. Stacey said hello to me. I talked with Tamara, asked her about the sunglasses - she said it's a fashion thing.

Second Set
Donnell thanked Seek Abundance for everything for the video shoot.
He then said they would only be accepting thongs on women for the pool party.
Halima said, "Then I won't be there, or do you mean thong sandles?"
1) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) They briefly performed the music to Faith Evans' Again
5) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
I don't remember if they went back to performing Faith Evans' Again
6) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
7) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Halima bounced up and down
8) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
9) Donnell-led Hold the Note
10) Donnell-led "If you look and you see..."
11) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's One on One (Footz version) - the crowd shouted Go-Go Smoke-ay during the song
13) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - Donnell called up Whitie to guest rap (Slim Goodie at first thought Donnell meant Ytee, I believe this is the same guy who guest rapped with them last July) - this time everyone in the band danced during the sample, then they played
14) Donnell-led possible a Vinnie D cover - "My name is D-Floyd, I can't get scared, Vintertainment (another stage name for Vinnie D, which is why I suspect it may be a cover of his), God I'm on my Way"
15) Donnell-led Lap Dance - a shorter performance than usual
Donnell said, "Security is furious"

Sugar Bear and Dey were there. Slim Goodie introduced me to Pinky.

I went over to DeeDee and got some cake. I asked her if Cookie had already left. She said she had another engagement.

As Lorenzo walked out, I told him he didn't need to give me his resume, I was just curious as to who else he has played with. He said he would give me his resume anyway.

Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private Location

Familiar Faces
I got there at the usual time, about 8:45 PM. I didn't see Donnell's car, but decided to check the outside door anyway. It was unlocked, as was the inside door.

I looked in the main room and Halima was inside, listening to a CD on headphones with a camera around her neck. She was copying down the lyrics to Mariah Carey's It's Like That. DP and later Duane Face walked in. I told Duane I would give him a copy of In the Pocket. He asked if I had a DVD burner. I said yes. He said he wanted a copy of all of my GoGo DVDs. I asked, "Are you old enough to watch the Rare Essence pool party?" He said that he watched it in eighth grade. We told Halima about it. DP said it was negative publicity, that every talk show wanted them on, but they rejected it. Halima was surprised that they rejected it. He said we're not Luke, we don't want to sell records that way. I told them that according to TMOTT, the main girl in the video is now saved. I said there was a Northeast Groovers pool party as well. DP said that was different because in that case they intentionally had women stripping, the RE one was unplanned. Dwayne walked in and asked if there was going to be an actual rehearsal. Halima said, "Yes, they are waiting for you in the back."

Duane and I went back with him. Donnell, his son Donte, Derek Paige Jr., and Stomp were already in the room. I gave Stomp copies of the Bike Week DVDs. I perspired and Donnell asked me if alright. I told him I had started working out the week before, I had just worked out and showered before driving over. He asked if my girlfriend had got on my case. I told him I don't have a girlfriend. Halima later suggested I do dance aerobics. I told her I'm not very coordinated. Over time, Doc, Mike, Nephew, an undentified woman, and Smoke arrived.

Donnell asked Derek Jr. to get Halima. She sat on a couch cushion on the floor. Donnell asked her if she had the Mariah Carey song and the Minnie Riperton. She said she had the Minnie, but not with her. Doc called Halima Angela Davis (because she wore a full length magenta robe and has an afro). They discussed more possible covers. Donnell told Halima not to work about whether other bands are covering the same songs, they only play together with other bands maybe about once a month. Mike complained about the different recording/mixing levels for his vocals being lower than Halima's. He said that was definitely the case with the PA that was played in Miami. I said that was from July 9th - I recognized it because Donnell had told Halima to dance during Cleva. She agreed that's rare and smiled. Mike played Tony Terry's Freaky Little Game, they discussed whether the remix was better. They discussed Common's The Corner - they said everyone need to dance, not just some of the band members. They went over It's Like That - going over different strategies for how to perform it. Donnell said he would stop playing the horns on Free Yourself, that he acknowledged it didn't work. Dwayne did the usual teasing, saying, "we all knew that already." Halima took some pictures. Stomp at one point said I'm fat and hot, I need a fan. Halima went and got him one. Donnell said to Mike and Halima - you're responsible for your song including getting the other band members to learn the background vocals. Donnell also said you can't abandon the hook. Halima said that men can't sing female background and sound like a woman, they have different timbres. Doc said Mike is close. Halima said, "Creativity is a musician's right and liberty".

Donnell said, "I started sockets" with Rare Essence. Donnell and Stomp argued. Donnell said, "I realize when I'm wrong, can you say that?" Halima sang Twist & Shout. I told her that was the Isley Brothers. She said, "Are you a music historian?" I said, "You shouldn't even have to ask that." At one point, Halima asked me not to put something in the blog. I told her, "You should know I don't put that sh*t in the blog." She was surprised that I cursed.

Donnell went over future performances with the band members. He said they would be playing for free in Union Temple's parking lot for a WKYS 93.9 promotion. He asked who couldn't be there for the show, which would be from 6 to 8 PM. Doc said free. "That's why I hate N*ggas in the band," and directly to me, "write this down, only Blacks can call each other N*ggas." Donnell said that Bobby Smoot was going to be at the next two rehearsals.

Stomp called Donnell, "the bald headed wonder". Lorenzo walked in as Halima and I walked out. She asked him if she could meet with him on a Monday to go over material. She asked why he arrived so late. He said he has another gig on Tuesdays. I asked her what the name of the Mariah Carey song. She said she didn't know. Lorenzo asked if it was the fast song or the slow song, she said fast.

Halima asked Mike about his daughter. He said he is having her record her demo soon. He wasn't sure who he was going to ask to produce it.

Halima and I talked about Betty Davis.

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

There was a jumper on I-95, which delayed the traffic (the signs said accident, so I didn't know it was actually a jumper until I read it in the Metro section the next day) - it shut off all northbound lanes (later all lanes) on I-95, so the people wanting to take exit 27 essentially formed a parking lot.

After I parked, I spotted Doc, James and Godfather sitting outside by the side entrance. Lorenzo came formally dressed. They asked him if he had gone to a funeral. He had actually played at the Stone Soul Picnic. Then Big Tony Fisher from Trouble Funk walked up and said hello to us. Doc introduced me to Derek (spelling), the conga player in his band (Physical Wunders).

Inside, I talked with Tracy. She asked me about the Miami video. I teased her about her being on bad behavior, she said she had done nothing bad. She said she was waiting for Angie. Shawn was there, she waved to me. Tracy, Los, and June and his wife Shadonna were there. Dey and Slim Goodie talked with me.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Charlie performed from the beginning
1) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People - quite unusual not to start off with an instrumental
2) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
Donnell said, "June's already warmed up" since he danced right in front of me, I can confirm that is true
3) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - Halima danced
Mike said something, but I couldn't hear what it was
4) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
5) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot
6) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Ova (tease) - Love and Hot Sauce were onstage and Hot Sauce sat in on timbales
7) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
8) Donnell-led Hold the Note
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (tease)

Sanisse and Tijuana were there.

We talked about the water in DC. I remember when the Green Line station on the Metro opened on December 11, 1993, we went to Union Station and tap water was banned. DP said he wished he had known that Aquafina would sell, he used to make it when he was a dialysis technician. Stomp wore a Raw Image "under construction" shirt. Doc asked what under construction meant. We talked about the hookers in DC. DP said many of them were male - had adams apples. I told him about a survey at UVA of women who were monogamous and contracted HIV and didn't know where from, that 100% of them had boyfriends who had contracted HIV from DC prostitutes. DP said he f*cked with prostitutes in DC when he was in high school. Doc backed up, saying "You f*cked with them..., I can't moonwalk, but I can back up" (DP meant he messed with them, not in a sexual sense). We also talked about the so-called bums (not really homeless) who slept outside the library by Xcalibur. DP mentioned the Russian women in Bethesda (a massage parlor that was really a front for prostitution that the police raided in the mid 1990's). I said that was right across the street from the Bethesda Library. I talked about the College Park palm reader that is rumored to be a brothel because of all the expensive cars constantly parked there. I said now Montgomery County has some of the strictest legislation in the state for physical therapists and that you can't get a massage from someone of the opposite sex. DP said he wouldn't want a massage from a man.

Nena was there, she did a dance and said, "There's your lapdance."

Second Set
1) Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy
2) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
3) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
4) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (with him doing the keyboard effects vocally) (tease) / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
5) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
6) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
7) Donnell-led Vinnie D's Porno Star?
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine - with him doing the keyboard effects vocally initially
9) Mike-led Rare Essence's Lock It
Donnell said, "This is for the Grown & Sex only"
10) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25, Girls want to shake that ass, but you've got to give up the cash" - Halima did nonverbal arm & hand gestures to the lyircs / Rare Essence's Work the Walls
11) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?"
12) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / a female fan rapped / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / ? / "Wait a minute" echoes
13) Donnell-led 911
14) Donnell-led Brown & White (tease)
15) Donnell-led ?
16) Percussion solo during Donnell's announcements
17) Mike-led Lap Dance - Charlie and Smoke switched instruments, Donnell chanted "Swing your body", while Mike chanted "Swing"
Mama Chelle had danced on the stage floor.

Dey said hello.

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

I talked with Peanut, he said he didn't go to Miami because of a knee injury he suffered. He wore bandages around his knee.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Mr. Magic
2) Mike-led The Stylistics' People Make the World (Go Round)
3) Mike-led I Dreamed You
4) Mike-led Ruff Endz' Someone to Love You
5) Mike-led Tony Terry's Freaky Little Game
6) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - Halima improved, it was very different from any previous performance of it I've heard from her.
7) Halima-led Jill Scott's Whatever - again different, laid back - Donnell jogged in place, making fun of Stomp's beat
8) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - excellent as usual with different keyboard effects (I think by Lorenzo)
Donnell said to some woman: "Is that your song? We would have played that year ago."
Halima responded that the song wasn't out a year ago.
Donnell went to break, but ended up calling Halima back for one more song.
9) Halima-led improv - it had a refrain "I'll take you there", but it was not the Staples Singers song. Mike also sang after her.
I asked her about the song, she said it was made up, free flowing.

Halima and I discussed her different performances from usual tonight, she said Donnell is letting her go all out. Kato and Lisa of the World were there. Teago came over and said hello. Jacques talked about the old music being played during the break. They said it was Supa Dan, DJ Flava (aka GoGo Rudy) plays elsewhere now (but he was back working Fridays at Safari not long afterward).

Second set
Donnell said they were celebrating Supa Dan's birthday.
The crank started right away
1) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
2) 6 Minutes percussion solo
3) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hey Tamika
4) Donnell-led shout outs to Brandywine over the percussion section
5) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
6) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Superstition
7) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
9) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
10) Donnell-led Hold the Note
11) Halima-led Donna Summer's Love to Love You, Baby (tease)
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine - at the start Donnell did the keyboard effects vocally.

Doc talked about Marquis Melvin on the video I shot of last Friday's performance. Mike was doing a dance. Halima was laughing and said "Riverdance!" I said that's not correct, your arms are supposed to be flat on your sides. Halima asked what happened to Stomp - he had a bandage on his arm. Doc said that Smoke said he got his wound from masturbating too much.

Los and June were there. I went up to the bar and Tijuana asked me to buy her a drink, which I did. I introduced myself to her and her friend Shameika who asked me what I did.

Third Set
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
2) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa (tease)
3) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me
4) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25, Girls want to shake that ass, but you've got to give up the cash" / Alternating Donnell-led Rare Essence's Work the Walls / Donnell-led Rare Essence's How Can I know? / Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
5) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time
6) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up)
7) Donnell-led 911 - "Sixx 911", Sixx sat in
8) Sixx-led Rare Essence's All Da Time
9) Sixx rapped
10) Donnell-led "This is..."
11) Donnell-led "Knee"?
12) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - the sample and Donnell rapped, Stomp danced and Halima played the congas, Jay Gotti also rapped - the first time in a while
13) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes
14) Donnell chanted, "Each and every Friday night this is our set"
15) Donnell-led "You look and you'll see, recognizing Godfather, Mike Muse and DP..., if you have... recognize me.. These Faces are Familiar..."
16) Donnell-led "Side to Side"
17) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
Donnell said they would have the DVD and CD out from Miami, with everyone having sex, getting topless... (He was kidding of course). Donnell said something to Shante about a guy being past the legal limit.

Donnell talked about not recognizing us, you are most likely from Gaithersburg, Blair High School (where Jauhar is from I think). Some guy (who must be friends with Peanut, since he drove him) said of me to Donnell, this is my man. He made Donnell do a shout out to me. I asked Donnell where there next Thursday joint will be. He said that he wasn't sure but it wouldn't be for a minute...

I asked Stomp what happened to him, he said he was burned by a rod from his work truck that was really hot. I told him I had heard that he had injured himself masturbating. He yelled, "I'm going to kill you, Smoke!"

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

Darrell, Tim (LJ), Tamara, Ray, Michon, Candy, Slim Goodie, Marcus Smith, Cherone, Angie, Tracy, Jay Floyd, and Donnell's cousin Regina were there. I asked Packy how "his brother", Darryl "Blue Eye" Arrington, was doing (I read that he had been shot). He said, "Just fine."

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Instrumental - long with a nice beat
Jay walked in and said, "It's standing room only, sold out" as most of the chairs were already taken.
2) Mike-led I Dreamed You
Donnell said, "Nephew's Father, he's also my brother, and my Cousin Regina are here. She hasn't seen us in ten years. We can play old stuff."
The crank started and the dance floor filled during
3) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Golden Lady
Mike thanked the Verizon family for coming out
4) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's As
Tata danced next to me
5) Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy
6) Mike-led Ruff Endz' Someone to Love You
7) Mike & Donny Ray-led Atlantic Starr's Send for Me
Donnnell said, "Jealous dudes up here wouldn't let me sing my part, I can tapdance too."
Halima was not back yet - I asked Donnell when she was coming back. He said, "Tomorrow."
Marcus Smith left after the set.

Mike Smith, Donny Ray, Stacey, and James were there. Slim Goodie introduced me to Dey from TMOTT.

I talked with Doc. He asked how the Miami performance was. I told him that if he brought it back tomorrow, I could give him a copy right now. They asked how Bobby Smoot could forget to play 911 songs. I said that BJ had said when criticized by Lisa of the World for not playing something old correctly - it's like remembering one paragraph from a complete book. I talked about what Donnell had forgotten from Brown & White, but they said he hadn't actually performed that back in the day. Yannie walked in.

RE Angie was there.

Second Set
Yannie subbed for Halima in this set.
Donnell said, "Some of you all owe me money because you got too much screen time."
Donnell said, "Yannie is here, I will work her ass to death."
1) Yannie-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - better than how she performed at the Fur, but she still oversang it
2) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
The crank started with
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
5) Yannie-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - excellent
6) Yannie-led Destiny's Child's Danger - nice
7) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
8) Donnell-led Hold the Note
9) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
10) Donnell-led Tupac's Hail Mary (tease)
11) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot
12) Alternating Yannie-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Mike-led Lap Dance - Donnell chanted "Swing your body" and Mike chanted, "Swing"
Donnell said, "Don't be scared"
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
14) Mike-led Lap Dance reprise
Donnell said something about being a "realist"
Yannie talked, but I didn't hear what she said
15) Donnell-led 50 Cent's in Da Club (tease) - "Go Vanessa, it's your birthday"
16) Donnell-led DIP
17) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - just the sample and Donnell rapped
I danced with a woman who at first said, "Don't be afraid." I'm never afraid to dance with any woman. Godfather later said to me that when dancing with her, I looked like the guy from Big Momma's House (which I have never seen).

6'9, China Boogie, and Archie Paige were there. Slim Goodie introduced me to L-Boogie, whom I recognized as a regular, but never knew his name before. I talked with Tim about 6'9 being kicked off the flight. He said that's 6'9 being 6'9. He said he went to high school with him, but is a couple years older. RE Angie said he shouldn't have been kicked off the flight.

I talked with Dwayne. I told him that Halima isn't as far in front of Yannie as I had previously thought - Yannie's performance tonight was excellent. He said he didn't want Halima to be like Yannie, that he hopes she doesn't change too much to be like other GoGo performers. He reiterated that her not being from here is one of her strongest assets.

Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private location

Familiar Faces
Donnell and Godfather were there when I arrived. Donnell had his ex-wife's car. Godfather told me the whole story about how 6'9 was kicked off the plane. He left shortly afterward.

Donnell asked me about the video shoot. He's seen the footage - Jesse said that Halima really came alive whenever she was on camera. He said he wished she could have been on Evolution. He asked me what I thought about the video shoot. I said I didn't know exactly what to expect. I did say I wish they had allowed more people in from the outside for the Friday performance. He said that wouldn't have been fair. I said I understood why they didn't do it, He didn't like the PA system - he didn't think it was booming enough. He thought Friday's performance was terrible, especially Bobby Smoot, but Halima shined even so. It's interesting because I and other fans really enjoyed it. I didn't think there was anything wrong with the performance - either live or watching the DVD I made of it. We talked about what FF's goal is. Donnell said he wants to put the video through any place he can. I asked him how they would do that. He said a video promoter, just like radio promoters.

Duane came by briefly. We discussed the NEG reunion. He said he has 200 PAs. He talked about how RE had so many fewer PAs. Donnell said, "That's just giving your money to the street." Donnell asked how he hooked up with EU. Duane's mom grew up with Sugar Bear and met him at the supermarket, told him about her son. He subs for Scooter. Duane was supposed to play with Chuck, but made the mistake of saying he didn't know Chuck's stuff. Benny said he shouldn't have said that.

Donnell said one of the problems with GoGo is putting out ten people at the public. He said Halima will be the star, like the Jill Scott and the rest her band. They will have a front line like at Bike Week: Smoke, Donnell, Halima (in the center), and Mike. Halima will be like Lauryn Hill in the Fugees, with Donnell and Mike being the other guys (Wylcef Jean and Pras). They understand from years of experience that it is okay to not be the centerpiece. He likes having young percussionists, but not young musicians. He said Smoke would be on the front line because GoGo is about congas. James and DP were second row back. He talked about the plan to sign with a major record label because that's easier to become a national touring act. They have a three year plan. Then we discussed Halima specifically. We talked about her obvious talent. He said she's got the perfect personality, then qualified it, saying, not perfect but pretty good. He said she's humble because she's been knocked back. I talked about how I was surprised that she was still available six months after she came to DC. He said he was kind of surprised too. His camp was split on bringing her in. I said everyone says she's not GoGo. She's changing what GoGo is. Dwayne arrived during our conversation and continued it. He talked about Lorenzo: he wanted him to assert himself more. He has the credentials - Donnell said he is giving him a couple of months to win the job. He made a mistake previously by not giving Doc enough time to show he can play. Dwayne said the problem is Lorenzo is afraid of Godfather - he's timid because he feels he's at the bottom of the totem pole. Dwayne wants him to care more and tell people when they are doing something wrong. Lorenzo is excited about playing with FF, this is the real deal to him. When Stomp came in, he was naive, but he quickly asserted himself. He twirls his sticks more than anyone else, that's just his personality. Donnell said he hasn't been in a band that cared more than this one does.

I asked how Smoke (who had come and gone) played with NEG, that I had heard Donnell reined him in more with FF. Donnell said he was a star with NEG, that he's more conservative with FF, but that it works. He discussed how he liked his feel.

Donnell said that the national criticism of GoGo that most bothers him is the view that it is just noise. He has always been concerned with the musicality behind what they play.

Halima led the Chuck Brown show, but she spent a lot of her energy on herself. Donnell told her to spend her energy on the crowd, making eye contact, etc. Donnell was upset that Bobby didn't come to practice or any of their shows before the Miami trip. He said Halima has done everything he's asked her to do. He said, look out in another nine months. He talked about her probably lunching in twelve months, I asked what that meant. Dwayne said, "Diva-itis". They discussed examples of other people developing "Diva-itis". Halima says in response that she will never develop "Diva-itis" with help from "the Creator".

They discussed a 19 year old keyboard player named Chris for Suttle Thoughts, but Donnell reiterated that he doesn't like young musicians because they don't care enough: they do things half-assed (he didn't say that was true of Chris).

They agreed that one of the key reasons for Halima's success here, which she said is the biggest fanbase she's ever had, is that she doesn't know what not to do. I told them about my conversation with her on April 13th. Donnell and Dwayne talked about how she watches everyone and picks up things. She picked up how Adia would get the girls on her side by saying "Hey ladies", which she now does. She has watched Yannie and really everyone she sees, even Ebony rapping. I told them that she's working on rapping. Dwayne was happy that she was working on that. Dwayne said he was worried about her being stolen - we're not the only ones who have seen her talent. Dwayne said it was like bringing in Kobe Bryant to your basketball team, everyone knows who's going to win the championship. They said no one else has had people bring their seats up like at Takoma Station last month. Dwayne said she's made a lot of friends. Dwayne said someone calls him everyday about Halima.

Dwayne talked about the respect for his musical knowledge that Redds and James Funk gave him. I told them about Wayne from Fatal Attraction finding them boring. They said they were not surprised given the brand of GoGo that young people are used to: "banging roto-toms".

Saturday at the Kent Hotel

The Kent, 1131 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139

Familiar Faces
I arrived at the Kent at 6:45 AM. I talked with Stewart Clawson, the owner of the PA system they used for Friday's performance. He was the second person to arrive there after me. He said they liked it so much, they wanted him to give a price quote. It turns out Jauhar liked the PA system, but Donnell did not.

I followed Jesse and the film crew as they discussed the set up. The humidity fogged up the camera lens at the time.

Maria took me to room 108 to watch Sookie and the wardrobe people. She said that I could only go there early since I couldn't film the dancers when they were naked (while changing, which I understood completely). Omar and the other wardrobe woman were there. Sookie had a number of outfits. After she changed into them (not with me in the room), she went to Jesse to have him choose which one she would wear for the shoot.

The very first scene shot in the day was a dance scene with Sookie and Los in the lobby. Mr. Cheeks and his entourage arrived during this set up. I asked Los afterwards if this was his first music video. He said yes, but that he had done other types of video shoots before. This scene took hours of time. The video and sound were done separately. Jesse would ask them both to roll, and there were two horns/beeps that would sound before the actual music. The slates called it "Can I Get a Lap Dance". It is a remix, not the same as on Evolution apparently. Donnell said that scene went so well, they cut a scene of his.

Donnell asked that I have his son Derek accompany me so he could ask the questions of people as I filmed.

Derek Floyd and I interviewing Nikiya
We interviewed a number of people, including Donnell while Cindy applied his makeup. Halima inserted herself into a number of pictures - she said she wanted to be in everyone's pictures of the event. I said, "you mean like Kilroy was here?" She was obviously very excited and happy.

The second scene was on the patio - set up as a performance - like the actual performance but with tables in front.

Jacques getting makeup


Film crew - Marcus Smith in middle


Film crew - Jesse Vaughan with the hat, Marcus Smith looking into the camera


Film equipment

The band mimed performing with fans as extras sitting at the tables. They set up a number of light reflectors.

Standing: Bobby Smoot, Mr. Cheeks, Mike, Lorenzo, Donnell
After they shot this scene, they took a lunch break. They served chicken and pizzas in the hotel.

The camera people knew exactly how long clouds overhead would take to pass over. There was a scene with the band members and no extras.

Three of the dancers - Simone, Sookie in white and Christine in the mirror reflection


Dancers in the shoot

Also, there were also a number of scenes with each of the individual band members (including substitues Bobby Smoot, Mike Smith & also Mr. Cheeks), standing and dancing.

During the break, Donnell played drums while two kids (I think they are both Jauhar's sons) played the congas and cowbells. DP joked, "the drummer ain't sh*t, but the other two are good..." The next scene was a scene with Sharmba Mitchell and a dancer, Elizabeth, outside against the fence.

Elizabeth and Sharmba Mitchell
DP said he wanted a copy of that. I said, "with your head inserted over Sharmba's?" He said, "Yes!" Then there were a few more scenes against the fence with more of the dancers.


Los and Sookie

DP said RE has done about 7 videos, he's been in all of their videos except the Live in 2004. They worked with Marcus Smith on a number of them. He asked me where I was from and told me he was from Gaithersburg. I discussed how the audio was good, but that it was not in synch with the video. That was really obvious when GoGo Mickey was shown playing the congas.

There was another long break. Then they told everyone to change into club clothes. The next scene they made up a bar in the back of the garden at the Kent and allowed anyone who wanted to to be an extra in the scene. Donnell told me I should be the bartender, so I took that role, along with a member of the film crew. Halima sat on the bar so she could be seen. One of Donnell's sons talked about it being like a slave being forced to constantly wait. Halima said, "you don't know what being a slave is like" to him. I said, "Slave to the rhythm." She said okay. I then told her that JuJu from EU had played drums on that track. Bobby Smoot was impressed and said most people here don't know that. He said people also believed Sugar Bear was on the track but he wasn't. Donnell had to constantly wipe sweat off with a towel. There was a second club scene with Donnell, DP, and Mike Muse sitting in chairs getting so-called "lap dances" (not very much like real lapdances, Donnell said he wanted it to be tasteful) from Tata and two of the dancers. Halima still sat on the bar in the middle, with Elizabeth on her left and Christine on her right. Elizabeth kept playing with her own hair. Donnell joked that I should take Mike's place after the first take. At the end, Donnell kept joking, "one more take!"

The final scene was in a convertible with Donnell driving, Marcus filming from the front passenger seat, and Halima sitting on the back, like in a parade (like Miss Marigold in her words). After they left (and Jauhar said, "Someone better tell Donnell to turn the lights on or he will get a ticket"), we hung around and talked.

Nephew, Black Heart, Slim Goodie, 02, a friend of his out of Charlotte, NC (he asked me how I hooked up with FF, I told him I am a grad student at UNC, he said he is at UNC-Charlotte), Tata and I had a long discussion on music. They discussed the fact that Familiar Faces performs Rare Essence songs that Donnell and Godfather wrote. 02 said he has a friend who really doesn't like that. Nephew said they both have a right to play the old Rare Essence songs. Donnell wrote them, so he should be able to perform them, and he wrote them for Rare Essence, so they should be able to perform them. Nephew talked about how many people have talked about Familiar Faces and Rare Essence being on the same bill for a show together, but that Rare Essence is ducking it. Nephew said that it would have mattered more for 911 back when they first formed, but now they both do their own thing. He further went on to say many current Rare Essence fans wouldn't even know who Donnell Floyd is, that their crowd has changed. We discussed the Chuck Brown Birthday Concert. We agreed that 911's was the best performance of all the bands there (that's why I am following FF now I was at that show). We talked about their showmanship, with the opening dancer. Other nuances were discussed such as that when Rah said something about going to the next song, that he didn't really want to. 02 talked about the Onyx sample in Uh Oh (Heads Up). They also talked about a mistake Blue made. Nephew said that was 911's best performance ever. He also said that originally Rare Essence was going to perform rather than 911, but 911 had the hot song Brown & White and was cheaper. Nephew further discussed how 911 had the most talent, but the current band is a better band. Boolah is extremely talented, but he doesn't even like GoGo. Dwayne isn't as talented (a guitar player as Boolah), but has a lot of musical knowledge. Plus, given how busy (in terms of their playing) so many other band members are, that it is better with Dwayne than Boolah. Nephew said that Smoke is held back in the way he plays with Familiar Faces. He also said, "No one wants to see Bojack on the roto-toms (he meant that as a positive)." The personalities in 911 didn't go together well. Nephew said that Donnell wouldn't be in GoGo if it weren't for Bobby Smoot. He said that Donnell was studying Jazz at Ellington, and Bobby got him to join Chance Band. His teacher said he had to choose between Jazz and GoGo, and since he was making money playing GoGo, he stuck with that.

We talked about Northeast Groovers and the planned reunion which was posted on the TMOTT board by Khari the day before. I said Duane would be happy. We talked about him playing with EU.

They discussed in detail the first Fur show (which I was unable to attend. It was on May 22nd and I was helping my sister move.), where FF took the wind out of L!ssen's sails, or as 02 put it, "turned L!ssen into OP Tribe". Nephew said that FF was the only one that played songs that the other bands that night didn't play. They talked about how they performed songs really well that L!ssen wanted to perform. Nephew said Yannie was really frustrated.

The conversation shifted to Halima, who walked into the lobby in the middle of the discussion, but didn't join in. We talked about her stage presence and her voice. 02 asked where she learned to sing GoGo. Nephew said she was incredibly observant. 02 was really impressed with how quickly she picked up specific songs. Nephew said he didn't understand why Donnell didn't have her perform more the song she composed around Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane. He said she composed that in an hour at Bike Week. They talked about Halima's development with the band, an early show where Donnell interrupted Work the Walls to have her sing My Funny Valentine. He told the crowd, "Tell people you heard a little something." Nephew said when Adia first joined FF, that she was timid, afraid to touch the mic. 02 was surprised since she sang with Sounds of 1 Luv. Nephew said she had good stage presence. They talked about Ms. Kim. Nephew said her voice isn't as good as Halima's but with her stage presence, she's a better overall performer. Nephew talked about Linda Wills hooking FF up with Halima. He said something about her singing with them at Cranberries - I will have to ask him more about that.

Nephew's ex-boss came in; she said she saw him from the street. 02 asked, "Did she call him Nephew?" She asked his name, he gave a phony name, then told her he was 2. She said, "What happened to 1 and 3?" I told him and Black Heart that Nephew really is Donnell's nephew and that his full name is Eric Leon Floyd Sr.

02's friend asked what Black Heart's tattoo was, I think he said it's Ethiopian. I said that it says, "Your favorite band sucks". They laughed and I told them that was from the Onion.

02 said he thinks Mike has the best voice in GoGo. Nephew said it was a very 80s voice.

Wayne of Fatal Attraction found FF boring.

02 said he couldn't talk to Donnell; he would have too much to ask him. I told him how nice he was with Duane Face. When Donnell came down, he told 02, "I'm not all that." I said, "That's the most humble thing I've ever heard from him."

Saturday at Mango's
Mango's Tropical Cafe, 900 Ocean Dr Miami Beach, FL 33139

At midnight, I went with Donnell, Nephew, Black Heart, 02, Los, Tata, Mara, Shaun, and Donnell Jr. to Mango's. It was just a few blocks walk. While you wait, they have waitresses who come outside in outfits like bikinis (but with shorts rather than the typical bikini bottom).

Mango's is known for having dancers on the bar. We walked in and three women danced on the bar. Unfortunately, not all of the dancers are female. They don't all dance on the bar, either. There were both professionals and guests dancing in the aisles as well.

6'9 and Nikiya were at one of the bars as we walked in. We got a table, then a number of the people from our table left. I noticed a guy video taping from outside through the exit door behind us. RE Angie later joined our table. There were video monitors to see dancers in the Vodou room - I thought it was kind of lame actually.

A Latin band performed - 02 said they could keep a pocket and checked them out. There were signs on all the walls that had printed: "1 drink minimum per musical set." I thought that was kind of bizarre, especially given the cover and the fact that it was hard to distinguish the musical sets from each other.

There were different cycles of dancers - including a woman with a white plumed feather outfit and bikini. Nephew bought me one of the vial shots: the waitress held a cherry implaed on a mini-umbrella with the umbrella end in her mouth. I ate the cherry, but refused the alcohol. The waitress inserted the vial of vodka in her mouth and played with putting the open end in his mouth. Then she got much closer to his mouth with the vial of Rum.

DeeDee, Michelle, and Marcus Smith sat down at another table nearby. DeeDee danced over by our table and a woman from the next table eyed her - I think she thought that DeeDee was a pro rather than a guest. I left at 1:30 AM because I was bored and because I didn't want to make my friend Chris have to stay up too late for me.

Friday at the Kent Hotel
The Kent, 1131 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139


6'9 showing his flexibility

I did not take notes and since I spent eight hours on Friday and seventeen hours on Saturday at the hotel, I am not even going to pretend that I can remember every conversation or the order thereof. I will expect the two Miami entries to change as I remember more details.

Familiar Faces
On Friday, I drove down, found a parking spot and headed to the beach to look for the planned splash party. Fortunately, Chris had lent me a cell phone and I called Donnell. He said they had just arrived at the hotel, so I headed back over there. Many people were in the lobby with a lot of luggage.

The people whose names I know that were at the Kent are: Michelle, Dee Dee, Mike Muse, his girlfriend Cherone, Halima, Donnell Floyd, his sons Donnell Jr., Derek, and Donte, DP and his girlfriend Arielle (spelling?), Bobby Smoot - substituting for Doc and Bobby's sister Tracy, Godfather, Lorenzo, Mike Smith - substituting at the last minute for Stomp who had a family emergency, Smoke, Jacques, Nephew, Jauhar and his kids, 6'9 and his business partner at Seek Abundance, Angie, RE Angie, Tim (LJ) and his brother Roosevelt and their cousin Darrell, Pinky, Tata, Shaun (female), Slim Goodie, Marquis, Googie, Los, Tony (band security), and Mara.
Slim Goodie adds: 6'9's business partner is named Nikiya and he's the CEO of Seek Abundance, by the way which urban clothing Donnell and the crew were wearing in the video. Along with other Verizon co-workers like L-Boogie, David, Jauhar's business partner, a girl named Chanel and Dana. Lastly some Miamians.
Jauhar said about forty people came down.
In addition, Yvette and Felecia came down and Black Heart and 02.
Sharmba Mitchell was already down, doing his training here - he came by on Saturday.
Staff - Jesse Vaughan (director), Marcus Smith (camera man), Shelle Haynesworth (producer), Maria Romera (casting director and head of wardrobe), two wardrobe people - Omar and an older woman I never spoke with, Cindy (make up), three Black men and a white woman (don't know what their names or jobs were except that one is the playback man, and the woman said she didn't want to be on camera if I could help it), a middle aged blonde white man who was #1 on the camera crew, and three young white men along with a young Hispanic woman on the camera crew.
Mr. Cheeks came by on Saturday with an entourage.
The other talent consisted of four dancers: Sookie (Puerta Rican, she didn't speak much English so Maria translated for her), two Black women - one named Christine, one named Simone and another Hispanic woman named Elizabeth (there was a picture of her on the collage board at Mango's) - she was so nice and down to earth that I thought she was a staffer at first, not one of the dancers, despite being so physically attractive.


While sitting in the lobby, I talked with Godfather for a bit. DP played checkers; he played a number of games of checkers over the weekend.

Nephew and DP playing Checkers
They were setting up the band's instruments on the outdoor patio. They played the PA from July 9th - I recognized it from Donnell asking Halima to dance during Cleva on the recording.

I asked Mike Smith what was up with his hair, he laughed. I asked him about his being a former boxer. I talked with Smoke again about his friend not being his girlfriend. I told him I wish I had known that earlier because she is quite attractive.

The Hibiscis Room served as the production room. I really regret that I didn't just hang out in there for far more on Friday. They worked on wardrobe with all of the talent - the men are all wearing Seek Abundance gear in the video. Jesse liked the outfit that Halima wore - it is the same outfit in the performance picture for this entry (but she also wore sunglasses at the time).

Donnell and Halima went in a car to shoot the first scene. Jesse said I shouldn't come along because they were shooting on the waterfront and the city didn't really want them to do that. They might have their cameras seized if they were caught.

Mike Muse showed a bunch of people his website, Rearview2.Com. He discussed its nuances. Mike also discussed the picture of me with Rudy Ray Moore on the blog. I said I have a picture with my friend Clarence "Blowfly" Reid. He thought they were the same person, which is not true. Here is me and Blowfly:

Picture Copyright Jordan Rich, taken (probably taken by Shelden Goldberg) at Pandisc in January 1999.
Blowfly is a Miami native. I interviewed him at Pandisc Records, his current label, and they offered me an internship at the end of the interview. He worked in the warehouse at the time as well. We became good friends - he's one of the nicest people you could ever meet. Not the greatest driver though. My co-workers at Pandisc told me a story about how TK Records had given him a Cadillac. He ran out of gas on the train tracks and thought he could just go back and get his car the next day. Of course, a train hit it. While I worked at Pandisc, I sang back up on two bonus tracks for the re-issue of Blowfly for President, Pussy Whipped and TWBN (The World's Baddest N*gger). You can recognize my voice on TWBN.

Donnell talked with Nephew and told him to have the band ready for the performance at 8:15 PM and to start without him and Halima if they weren't back by 8:30 PM. He and Halima were back a little before then. During the set up/sound check, RE Angie played congas; she was not bad. DP called her "Jungle Boogie". Below is the setlist to the performance. I filmed the entire peformance. Marcus also filmed parts - with actual film rather than video, but he did a good job of staying out of my way. Googie worked the sound. I did not see him again after the show.

Mike Muse, Godfather, Halima, Lorenzo, Donnell, Bobby Smoot, DP, Jacques
Picture is a screenshot from video taken by me.

First Set
1) Halima-led Rodgers & Hart's My Funny Valentine - really excellent
Mike said, "When we hit that air pocket (on their flight), some of you all got saved."
2) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People
3) Percussion solo while Donnell did announcements
4) Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy
5) Percussion Solo
6) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
7) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
8) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
9) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
10) Donnell-led Hold the Note
11) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
12) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
13) Donnell-led Brown & White / Ride Out
Donnell said, "This is where we found Halima, right down the street in Fort Lauderdale. The land of Geechee Dan."
Halima said, "To my DC family, Thank y'all for loving me, for extending your love to me"
14) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - excellent as usual
Donnell said, "we don't have a DJ, Halima will be our DJ."
15) Halima-led Alicia Keys' Diary

A guy who said he's from San Francisco said his driver told him about the band. He asked for a business card and talked to Halima for a little.

Second Set
Donnell had his three sons Donnell Jr., Derek, and Donte and Marquis Melvin come up to perform.
Mike said, "With all the Ds I might as well stay up here, Dickie. Can I stay up here?"
Donnell said, "What are you, scared? We want these youngsters to have five seconds of time."
1) Donte played on the congas, while Donnell said, "I'll get them started since they are scared." He rapped Common's The Corner
2) Halima did a little improving
3) Marquis said, "I am from West Virginia University football." He sang a song, his own composition, Secret "I'll be wanting you baby, I just can't get you off my mind, I will take my time and do it right, I can feel now..."
Donnell said, "I thought you was a youngster, now I'm not so sure. Jauhar, this is your man? Listen to the subject matter. How old are you, eighteen? You're supposed to be singing Mr. Telephone Man. I guess he got no playstation."
The youngsters left the stage.
Donnell talked bout the video shoot tomorrow. He said, "6'9 is already a movie star, I just don't know which movie you were in."
4) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
5) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
Donnell said, "Since we're out with a bunch of old heads in South Beach, we don't need to worry about the youngins..."
6) Mike-led Rare Essence's Take Me Out to the Go-Go
7) Mike-led Rare Essence's Lock It / Mike-led Sam Cooke's Chain Gang (same music)
8) Donnell-led Lap Dance
Donnell said, "We're going to try to make this an annual event. Remember the video shoot strts at 8 AM when you go to Wet Willies. Don't go with LJ or anyone with a LoKee shirt on."
Halima's aunts and their friends were there. I filmed her introducing them to me. I also filmed her shirt, which she made herself.
Donnell said, "Halima is that your crew and you aren't going to introduce anyone? We love Halima, she's never coming back."
There were a few local Latinos in the audience, they sure got down. Another guy who asked me who the band was. Jauhar said they turned away 200 people who wanted to watch the performance (because it would have been unfair to those who paid). Nephew said that the PA could be heard for blocks away and that people really took Halima's singing.

Tata said she wasn't sure she wanted to go out or get up early for the video shoot due to heat exhaustion. I know exactly how she felt - the heat completely took away my appetite. I only ate one meal each day on Friday and on Saturday. I left without going to Wet Willies because I had to get up so early for the video shoot.

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

I called Donnell to ask him if I could film the Friday performance. He said that was okay. He then called me right back and said he wanted me to go ahead and film the making of anyway; he wanted me to start tonight.

A blood moon was out tonight.

Nita was there. She said she lives walking distance from Takoma Station. She talked about being tired a lot. I said you're awful young to be so tired. She said, "If I had waited any longer, I wouldn't have come out at all."

Ebony was there.

Candy and Michon were there. I asked if they were going to Miami. They said no. Candy said, "You can have fun for us." Michon laughed. I said, "I will". They both laughed.

Tamara and Tim (LJ) were there. I asked Tamara if she was going, she said, "No, but I'll be there in spirit."

Godfather had a second keyboard - a Korg in addition to his regular keyboard. He also wore granny glasses - I told him I hadn't seen him wearing glasses before. He said I should take a picture. I told Halima I wanted to film her - asking her about the trip because I couldn't imagine anyone else being more excited about the trip.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Blueprint - instrumental
2) Parliament's P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up) - instrumental
3) Alternating between Mike & Halima (just improving) Donny Hathaway's Little Ghetto Boy (Whatcha' gonna do when you grow up and have to face responsiblity ? Will you spend your days and nights in the pool room ? Will you sell caps of madness to the neighborhood ? / Halima had a speech and then she sang Gladys Knight & the Pips' "Morning" Train to Georgia (same music behind it as Little Ghetto Boy) / Mike-led ?
Someone yelled about Mike, "Parkland's finest!"
4) Mike-led I Dreamed You - he had an intro speech leading into it
A guy sitting behind me yelled, "Get that p*ssy, Mike!"
5) Mike-led O'Bryan's Lady I Love You - Mike led it with "No hurt worse than a hurt man. Tell your lady I cannot breathe without you.", Mike went out singing on the dance floor, it was an excellent performance
6) Halima-led Rodgers & Hart's My Funny Valentine - I thought, "Wow! It's getting harder and harder to determine which is her best performance."
Donnell said of her, "We are going down to her hometown." Halima said, "Yes, yes!"
The crank started & the the dancefloor filled during
7) Halima-led Jill Scott's Golden
8) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Golden Lady
9) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - She had an opening monologue to the women in the audience, in the middle, she said, "Everybody get down so I can take my shoes off", she was barefoot standing on the stage, she bounced up and down, it was excellent as usual.

June and his wife Shadonna, Darrell, Yaquim, Val, Peanut, and Jazz were there.

I filmed Halima outside, then she watched it and said she wanted a copy. After we were done, Junie from EU talked with her.

I talked with Doc and Dwayne. Stacey, who had had her birthday the night before, was there. Go-Go Mickey came by. A number of police cars were on the block. Doc and Dwayne said they were there to see Halima. Smoke told me he doesn't have a girlfriend, the woman I thought was his girlfriend is just a friend and often his ride to shows.

Dwayne talked about John Legend probably being gay. I said Dwayne would be married soon. He said he would be married, no engaged, by the end of the year. He went to something with his girlfriend and her family asked when they were getting hitched.

The second set was really crowded, which was surprising since there were fewer regulars than usual there. The woman who makes fun of my head bopping was there. I introduced myself to her. She said her name was KD. She wore a t-shirt that had "I Heart NY" printed on it.

Second Set
Donnell said that Mike would be wearing a brand new Speedo with extensions and a girdle."
Mike said, "Donnell is the 'Bama of the week."
Donnell continued, "Mike Muse will be wearing a new pair of Speedos. For the women, we have rooms available, for the fellas, we are sold out."
The crank started during
1) Mike-led Ruff Endz' Someone to Love You
Donnell said, "6'9 killed Len Bias." 6'9 yelled, "Hey!" - he was not happy about what Donnell said
2) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
3) Halima said, "Hey, ladies" - the percussion section played and the crowd shouted, "Go-Go Smoke-ay."
4) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - she worked it
5) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
6) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
7) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
8) Donnell-led Hold the Note
9) Percussion solo - the crowd shouted, "Go-Go Smoke-ay"
Go-Go Mickey sat in
10) Do the Mickey? - percussion solo
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine with Donnell doing the effects vocally at the beginning
A woman named Dawn started dancing with me during the set. She was annoyed when I would stop to take notes. Her brother asked me if what I was writing was her phone number.
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
13) Donnell-led Vinnie D's Porno Star?
14) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
15) Mike-led Lisa Stanfield's All Around the World (hard to read my own notes but it's a guess)
16) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Roll Call
17) Mike-led Rare Essence's Lock It
18) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Donnell & Ebony-led Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name
19) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (tease)
20) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
21) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time (tease)

I asked Jauhar if I could talk with him at the end of the performance, but he was nowhere to be found then. Stinka was there.
I interviewed Tim and asked why Angie and Tracy weren't there. He said they were getting dolled up for the trip. I talked with Nephew. He said he was camera shy.

I followed Stomp to his car, where he gave me a video from Bike Week. I saw Darrell, asked him if he was going, he said, "No", but he did go.

I went home, slept for a couple of hours, then drove to the airport. I flew out with Michelle and DeeDee.

I met with my friends Chris and Joe on Thursday.

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

A couple who had been at Thursday's show were there. The husband came by and introduced himself to me, His name is June - I later heard her name is Shadonna. I told him about my project.

Peanut was there.

Kato, Teago, and Wayne, rapper for Fatal Attraction were there. Kato and Teago took Wayne to the show to introduce him to Familiar Faces' music. Fatal Attraction opens for Backyard, so he's familiar with their music, but they want to expand his range to other GoGo bands. DP asked what kind of music Fatal Attraction played. I told them the Duane Face story.

Donnell told Nephew how my filming wouldn't work. The video people thought the different media wouldn't go well together... Nephew said, "I guess he owes me something", laughing. I said, "Was there ever a time in your life when you weren't a smartass?" He said, "Never."

Familiar Faces
First Set
Donnell performed Common's The Corner at the sound check, a guy asked me if that was Common, I think he really thought that was Common performing, I told him it was Donnell Floyd
1) Instrumental
2) Halima-led Alicia Keys' Diary
3) Mike-led The Stylistics' People Make the World (Go Round)
Mike said to some girl (I didn't see who), "We're going to get married some day."
A male fan said, "Don't be afraid". I don't know if it was a request for the next song
4) Mike-led Glenn Lewis' Don't You Forget It
5) Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy
6) Halima-led Jill Scott's Golden - percussion solo at the end
7) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People - Halima played the triangle, which she got from Jacques Before the next song, Donnell said, "Jacques, collect your toys"
8) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself
9) Mike-led I Dreamed You

I asked Kato the name of his blonde friend. He said Danielle and that her sister writes for TMOTT - Che're Pennington. Tyrell, Britney, and Chocoltchp were there. I talked with Halima. I also talked with Peanut who sat on my other side. I asked him where his woman was, he said at home with the kids. He said he drives a furniture truck, bigger than the stereo truck, but not a tractor trailer. He talked with me about flight information, since he has a court date on Friday. I told him how Slim Goodie and 6'9 said they wouldn't go out again until Miami to save money. Tyrell talked with Halima.

Second Set
Donnell did Miami announcements and Stomp said, "There is pleny of room in his room." I went to Donnell and kidded, "Just for women only?" Donnell, then kidded him on the mic about whether or not it was for women only.
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
Britney sat on the bottom right speaker during the set
2) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
The crank started with
3) Donnell-led "___ is in the house"
4) Donnell-led "Can you help me ___? Can you help me? Trying to get away. Waiting to get away"
5) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
6) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot
7) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
8) Donnell-led Hold the Note
9) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
10) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine - Donnell did the musical effects vocally at the beginning
11) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - this time with just the sample "Hands free" as Donnell put it, Stomp danced. At the very end the percussion section did play.

6'9 was there, Peanut taunted me about it using his fingers to show 6'9

I sat over by 6'9, we talked about Gilchrist. He was disgusted by Real Sex which was showing on the TV. Love (actually now from What? Band) was there, I introduced myself to him. He hugged Stomp. I teased Stomp that he must have heard there was room in his room.

I talked with Lorenzo, asked him if he went to the Naval Academy (he talked about his ID re: the Naval Academy at Rehearsal) - he said that he played for their choir. I asked him who he played with, he said he would give me a resume.

Third Set
Donnell said that "Britney would do an erotic dance in Miami." He then addressed her, "You are young enough" to get naked on Haulover Beach
1) They started to perform the music to Faith Evans' Mesmerized while Donnell did announcements / Halima-led Faith Evans' Mermerized
2) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning - Donnell said, "That's what we talking about Brandywine, Trinidad, Simple City" / Keith Murray's Call My Name (Tease)
3) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (tease)
4) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
5) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time "ay ay, awa ay, Southeast, South, Southeast, Northwest, North, Northwest"
6) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up)
7) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me "od ba ba ba"
Several women danced on stage, men put money in a woman's top (at her breasts), and skirt. Britney moved to the front of the stage (wearing a shirt with the words "Future MILF" printed on it that emphasized her breasts) so that she could get the same treatment
8) Percussion solo - the crowd shouted "Go-Go Smoke-ay!"
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Work the Walls
10) Donnnell-led DIP Stomp - Mike added lyrics
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
12) Mike-led Lap Dance
One of Britney's friends sat next to her on the speaker
Donnell on the mic, "Lynette Wright and Angel - skinny and sexy, sensual. DP reminisces. You didn't think he didn't tell me? The first lunch break he called me"
13) Donnell and Stomp "Would it be alright if I called you tonight, If I went home with you tonight"
Continuing his conversation with those women, "Reezio. Don't act like you don't remember when we were being childish"

Yolanda was there.

Thursday at Venus Hall
Venus Hall, 15 K St NE Washington, DC 20002

This was my first time at the Venus Hall. As Donnell said, it is over by the ticket adjudication. It shares a building with Dominoe's Pizza. I recognized one of the bartenders as Imani, formerly from the Market Lounge.

A four person Jazz Band (guitar, bass, keyboards and drums) performed. They just ended their first set as I walked in. I only recognized Telando and Vincent among the audience members.

There were less than fifteen people there. During the second set, they performed a number of familiar jazz covers, the first of which I recognized as Herbie Hancock's Chameleon.

Mike Smith was there.

I talked with Packy for a while. Doc, Dwayne and I discussed why they switched to this venue with its very small audience.

YC and Tim (LJ) were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Jacques played during the first set
During the sound check, Donnell sang Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane.
He said "Mark, please don't play the Girl from Ipanema, that's from the band before".
Still, Halima did sing Stan Getz & Jo?o Gilberto's The Girl from Ipanema during the sound check.
Halima also sang Bob Marley's Is This Love during the soundcheck.
1) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know
2) Mike-led I Dreamed You
Mike said, "Thank you love" to Halima
3) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - the intro was different with a very laidback beat
The crank started with
4) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You - Halima, Donnell and DP danced the same dance
5) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva
6) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
7) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - this is the first time they played it on instruments rather than just the sample
Halima used more nonverbal arm & hand gestures than usual, and did a black power fist at the start of the set.
There were fifteen to twenty people there for the first set. There was a couple there that I later learned are named June and Shadonna.

I sat at a table with Dwayne, Doc, and Halima. I asked Dwayne if he could play Maggot Brain. He said yes and there was even a Maggot Brain setting on his pedals. I talked about Hichael Hampton supposedly purposely sabotaging shows due to the large entourages. Go Go Mickey came by and shook hands with all of us. I said to Halima, that's the best conga player in the game. She asked why he's the best. I said what he plays and how he plays it.

Val "Tina Turner", Renee, Michelle, RE Angie, Candy, Michon, Mookie, and Los were there.

Second Set
Charlie played during the second set
The crank started right away
1) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
2) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
Donnell said, "Michelle went back to the Metro."
Donnell and Halima danced together
3) Donnell-led Hold the Note - Halima danced
4) Donnell-led Sly & the Family Stone's Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
5) Donnell-led "If you have to believe in something, why not believe in me"
6) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot - Los rapped, Donnell added the line, "Bounce, bounce"
Mike pointed behind me and smiled. I turned around and saw Halima dancing in the audience.
7) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - Donnell invited Michelle on stage, she did a dance that mocked his onstage arm gestures / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine "going to get away, yes, yes (the line Charlie claimed Donnell had left out last Friday)
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Work the Walls
10) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl
The crowd had increased for this set - there were at least thirty people there.

Spanky, a promoter, talked with me.

Before I left, Imani talked with me. She recognized me from Takoma Station. I said Market Lounge too. She said back to then? She said she works here and at Killi's Kafe. It was raining when we left.

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

Val "Tina Turner", Candy, Michon (I kidded them about not wearing hats), Tamara, Tim (LJ), Ray, Jay Floyd, and Michelle were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Donnell introduced the set by talking about about a guy (Chuck Brown) who started playing in places like the Ebony Inn and started to play the beat from this song under every song. The song whose beat he used they played:
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Mr. Magic
2) Another instrumental
3) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People
Mike talked about hearing on the radio about GoGo's lack of originality. They named a band he had never heard of: Uncalled4Experience (he didn't actually name them tonight, I asked him the following night). They talked about their original. Mike said, "What about our album Evolution which is 75% originals?"
4) Mike-led I Dreamed You
Donnell said, "There's someone in the famiy who hasn't sung in three weeks". Mike said, "There's a picolo player who has their picolo in a case."
5) Tamara-led Mariah Carey's We Belong Together
6) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - she had a monologue with the women in the audience, She said "Shake your emotions, can't all wait around"
7) Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy
8) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
9) Percussion solo - Donnell sang, "Sweet Chelle, my belle"
10) Donnell starting singing Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane, then Halima did.
It's getting hard determining which is her best performance.
Donnell said, "Back all the way to Eastside"

Darrell, Mara, James and Sharmba Mitchell were there. I went over to Michelle, and sat between her and Val in the booth, with Halima across from us.

Michelle and I got out of our seats to go outside. A number of people, including Packy came by and said they didn't know she was pregnant. She joked about swallowing a number of watermelon seeds and a watermelon kept growing inside her. DeeDee came by. Mike joked that he too was seven months pregnant. DeeDee said he was eight months and I was four months. Jauhar said I came by it honestly with the size of my clothes. He had also been in Miami last weekend.

Doc talked about how he hated the political stuff in In the Pocket. I talked with Mike about how Halima said his daughter sings. He said she sings better than he does. I asked what she sang, he said everything off the radio. Mike started singing a song that was familiar to me, but I didn't recognize it. He asked me if I knew who sang that. I said I didn't. DeeDee said I should know, that it was a disgrace that I didn't. Mike said, "Barry Manilow." I said that I thought it was poetic justice that his character got shot in the movie Copacabana (which I later looked up was the name of the song Mike was singing). Mike said he likes Barry Manilow.

When we went in for the second set, I went on the dance floor for the set.

Second Set
Donnell said he had been in Miami auditioning dancers for the video shoot. He talked about how people should dress for the different parts of the video shoot.
The crank started right away with
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
3) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
4) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
5) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease) / Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
6) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
7) Alternating Mike-led Rare Essence's Lock It / Sam Cooke's Chain Gang (same music) / Percussion solo
8) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
9) Donnell-led Tupac's Hail Mary (tease)
10) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
11) Donnell-led Hold the Note
12) Percussion solo - the crowd shouted, "Go-Go Smoke-ay!"
13) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?"
14) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Donnell did the regular bananas line
15) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
16) Mike-led Lap Dance - Donnell chanted, "Swing your body" and Mike chanted, "Swing"
Donnell kept restarting the final solo, sayin a girl who sang along and Stomp messed up
17) Donnell-led Common's The Corner
During the set, Angie danced back to back with me.
Robin and Tracy were also over by me.
Sharika was there.
DP came over to Michelle with his trumpet, about to play. She said, you're not going to blow that at my baby? He played a lullaby for her. He talked with her about his unborn baby acting up right constantly when he would get back from the GoGo. So he would play a lullaby. Michelle talked about how her baby reacted to the bass making the bench vibrate. She asked how old DP's daughter was, he said three. His said his wife got the lullaby tape in the divorce.

I sat down at a table with Michelle and DeeDee. Halima said goodbye to Michelle. Donnell had talked about the possibility of filming the making of the video instead of paying Nephew the fee, he told me to call him on Thursday. I told DeeDee and Michelle the two stories about my friend Craig in Miami. I asked if DeeDee was going to get topless, she said, "only in foreign countries". I told her that Miami is a foreign country. Stomp asked the sex of the baby, said the kid would be a drummer. I told them about Cindy Blackman and Susie Ibarra.