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

A guy appreciated Donnell's play during his warming up. He said, "That's a musician; a bad man."

Tim (LJ), Tamara, Nikki, June and his wife Shadonna, and Sharika were there.


Halima, Stomp, Donnell, DP, Godfather, Lorenzo, Dwayne


Smoke, Packy, Mike, Jacques, Halima, Doc, Stomp, Donnell, DP, Godfather


Smoke, Packy, Jacques, Mike, Halima, Doc, Stomp

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Halima-led Beyonce's Wishing on a Star - really a sound check, but Mike sang backup as well
Mike said, "I feel it's time for us to make up."
2) Miles Davis' Tutu
3) Halima-led Whitney Houston's You Give Good Love (debut) - it was nice and came off well, I will have further comments when I watch the video I shot of it
4) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself
5) Halima-led Jill Scott's Golden - Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell and DP went on the dance floor while playing their horns

Doc, Halima, Stomp, Donnell & DP on the dance floor, Godfather, Lorenzo
All pictures taken by and Copyright Jordan Rich
Mike said, "Did you see how they marched? I was scared."
6) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - Halima walked around, used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, bounced and got onstage, excellent / Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes - Halima gave a speech incorporating lyrics from both songs, she called out to Shadonna, but said, "I didn't want to be too personal", she went out on the dance floor, she used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, both of their singing was excellent / Halima-led Lionel Richie's Hello (tease)
Lorenzo said, "Dwayne Lee."
Donnell joked, "Who's that?"

Yaquim and Mike Smith were there.

I went outside during the break. Because of my cold, this time I went with Doc, Dwayne, DP, Godfather, Mike, Lorenzo, Telando, and a couple of guys I don't know to the BP gas station store (I got a Gatorade). Doc said that it must be serious with DP coming with them. Mike said that he wished Red Bull came in bigger cans. I told him that when I moved to LA, and had my stuff in storage that Red Bull ran their LA operations from a storage shed on the same floor as where my stuff was. They had maps, a phone bank and plenty of Red Bull. I told him he should get one of those Red Bull cars. They also taled about milk and being lactose intolerant. I told them that my brother was once told to not drink so much milk. After we left, they all joked about the attendant not scanning all the items, just making up prices. I said, "How much for one rib?" - a line from I'm Gonna Git You Sucka.

They joked about Donnell already calling, "Let's roll" - he hadn't, but last week the start of the second set was much earlier than usual.

An old man came by, carrying a bamboo stick. Doc joked that he was going to jump someone. He later joked that that would be Godfather in ten years.

They started talking about ages - Godfather insisted that Doc was the oldest one in the band. Actually Godfather is. Jacques, Smoke, and a woman crossed the street. Godfather went after them. Dwayne then said, "Godfather went to school with Chuck Brown." Telando and Doc went to school together. The talked about being saved by playing football as kids.

I told them that my friend Clarence "Blowfly" Reid was performing in DC that night. They asked me where, but I couldn't remember – I looked it up; it was the Velvet Lounge.

I talked about looking for a girlfriend. Doc said, "Which kind? The kind you know you have to pay up front? It's more honest..." I told him about a gorgeous woman who worked at the Red Cross when I worked there. Every temp who came in wanted to date her. She insisted ahead of time on going out to dinner at least four nights a week and if she paid a cent, you got nothing. Doc said, "You've had quite a lot of adventures, the Red Cross, you've been to the moon..." Telando said, "The moon?" I fake mooned Doc - the Randy Moss way. They laughed.

Doc talked about how late they would play until. He talked about how, back in the day, they would be done as the sun was coming out.

Dwayne confirmed their performance schedule for this week. I reminded them about Monday at Cranberries. Doc joked that he would wear a Cowboys helmet to the show. I joked that we should jump him after the show.

Stacey, Tiffany, and RE Angie were there.

Second Set
Donnell said, "After the Redskins win, you will have my money. It will be a massacre." He mentioned Derek Francis, Genard and Jauhar.
Packy played the tambourine
1) Instrumental prelude / not sure – it was brief / Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down - nice percussion
2) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house"
3) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Donnell did announcements, Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, moved around, and bounced, the rest of the frontline danced
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
5) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" - Halima and Mike posed at the appropriate times
6) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot - Halima danced onstage, the frontline danced during the "bounce bounce" line, nice percussion
8) Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - Donnell said to a woman, "Don't do that girl" - the frontline danced, nice percussion / Notorious BIG's Warning - Donnell went onstage, nice percussion / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) - Donnell did a shout out to Charles Smith (ex-Hoyas and ex-Celtics player), Tim said, "Here we go!" / "Wait a minute" echoes
9) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?"
10) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Halima moved around, she sang very energeticly, nice percussion
11) 6 Minutes percussion solo
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's One on One - nice percussion, the crowd shouted "GoGo Smok-ay"
13) Mike-led Michael Jackson's I Can't Help It - nice percussion
14) Mike-led Lap Dance - Halima danced, Donnell chanted "Swing your body girl", Mike chanted, "Swing"

Shawn, Shaun, and Los were there.

Donnell said, "I'm forty-one, a grown man. I am scared about what Monique just said." Then he said something about "oh, going on twenty-five…" Then he said, "Tuesday is take your man to dinner night. Ruth's Chris, Mo's... RE Angie send him on his way. Don't hug Nikki too long. We need bets, that's going to take us out Tuesday. Halima, have you ever been to Ocean Air?"
Halima said she's been there.
Donnell continued, "We are not accepting Outback or McDonald's. We got the movie, you got the meal. Jermaine was partying in Dupont Circle lately. You were coming out of Stetson's".
Jermaine laughed at me writing this down.

Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private location

Familiar Faces
I walked in behind Charlie and Stomp. There was an event going on the main room, the woman asked us if we were in the band before letting us go through.

Doc, DP, and Donnell were in the rehearsal room. Donnell joked to Charlie, "Are you lost?" Charlie responded, "I'll pull out your eyes and piss in your…"

Over time, Halima, Mike, Duane Face, Dwayne, Jacques, Godfather, and Lorenzo arrived.

Doc talked about Duane Face's thread on TMOTT about the Korg Oasis. Doc asked what he would do with all of those functions. He asked him if he was going to buy it. Duane said no since it costs $8K.

They went over Stevie Wonder's As.

Halima pointed to the fan for Doc to turn it on. I told him "Turn on the fan." He said, "I didn't know what she was pointing at." I said, "What did you think she saw a spaceship?" (Doc sat in front of the window). He said, "I hope not."

They went over more on Tony Terry's Freaky Little Game.

Dwayne said MVP was a major success.

They talked about the white collar vs. the union.

Doc talked about an upcoming Petworth reunion with virtually all of the original members.

Donnell talked about approaching all shows the same regardless of the size of the audience. They discussed the lack of audience in the first set of the Virgo Bash 2005. Someone said it must have lost money, but Jacques said that wasn't true; they had five hundred people there. They talked about pacing yourself for double gigging.

Donnell said, "Sometimes we don't get to where we want to be". He said that Ludacris' Number one Spot is sometimes too fast.

They spent a while going over Whitney Houston's You Give Good Love, which features a different arrangement from the original.

Duane Face played something with bird sounds. When people looked at him, someone joked that he was a "Victim of the system."

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

Omar asked me how I got there so fast, was I speeding? I told him that I gotten directions ahead of time and driven straight there - I-295 to Suitland Parkway to Branch Avenue.

Ray, June and his wife Shadonna, Val "Tina Turner", Archie Paige, Tracy, James, and JoJo were there.

A woman who saw me writing asked me about it. She put my website into her cell phone.

DP definitely had a portable mic set up for his horns tonight.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Line up: Mike, Halima, Donnell, DP, Doc, Dwayne, Godfather, Lorenzo, Stomp, Smoke, Charlie, Packy (tambourine)
Donnell said, "It's alright if you want to turn the air conditioning on."
Halima said, "Breathe, count to ten."
Mike said, "I feel like break dancing."
Donnell said, "Settle down."
Mike said, "We're going to do it for Nephew because he will be celebrating his birthday all night long."
Halima sang something I didn't catch
1) Instrumental prelude / Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You
Mike called out to "the sweet lady in red"
Tiffany F. and her friends said hello to me.
2) 6 Minutes percussion solo
Donnell said, "I thought they was going to take some time getting warmed up, but I think they're already warmed up."
3) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Donnell adjusted Halima's mic, Halima moved around, Donnell, Mike, and DP danced, Halima bounced and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures
4) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh" - Halima did gestures
5) Donnell-led "Do if for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" - Halima & Mike posed at the appropriate times
6) Donnell-led Kanye West's Gold Digger - Doc was on backup - I hadn't recognized his voice as the back up on Friday, but tonight I could clearly see it was Doc, Halima danced
Donnell did shout outs, including calling his cousin "Sweet Archie", the first time I have heard him call a guy sweet
Donnell joked about a bald man up front, "Ray, is that your brother?"
7) Donnell-led "Da na ah"
8) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U - Donnell & DP danced
9) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot - Donnell chanted "Bounce, bounce", the frontline danced, and the crowd bounced
Tiffany F. was behind me
Donnell talked about going to the "Capital Centre 1986, sixty pounds ago for Mike".
Mike said, "A thousand hairs ago for you".
Mike talked about "making twenty minutes seem like an hour and twenty minutes".
Halima asked, "Twenty minutes?"
A lot of women moved to the front
10) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself - nice Dwayne solo

One guy asked me about my writing. He said that more people need to write about GoGo that it doesn’t get the respect it deserves (I agree).

Yolanda, Sanisse, 6'9, and RE Angie were there.

Doc, DP and I walked in the kitchen. Doc and DP discussed how loud it was. DP said someone put their drink on a speaker and the drink jumped out of the cup.

I told them about a road worker being struck by a car and killed on Annapolis Road by Safari last night. DP said that they should use lights and separate themselves from the traffic more.

Slick Rick was in there.

Tiffany F. came in and called me "her husband." I told her that I was warned about her, told that she's crazy. She asked me who told me that but I wouldn't say. She assumed it was Donnell, but another guy told her it was Archie.

Dwayne asked me to get him a napkin. I said, "Can't you just lick your fingers?" He said, "I'm the only one who can't do that." I said, "What about guitar licks?" He laughed.

One of the guys asked if Charlie had been fed enough before he came since he ate so much chicken.

A guy said hello, he recognized me from the Fur performance. Another guy came over and said he knew about my planned thesis on GoGo. He said he wanted to read it when it was done.

Second Set
Donnell said, "Remember when the Redskins beat the sh*t out of the Cowboys, I want my money, Ray, all you 'Bama ass Cowboy fans."
Ray protested, saying he's a Redskins fan.
Donnell said, "Cowboy fans, this is the last time we're going to talk to you until the game. Our motto this year is whoop some ass."
1) They started performing the music to Bobby Valentino's Slow Down / Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Christina, It's Your Birthday" / Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down - Halima, Donnell and Mike danced, nice percussion solo, different keyboard sounds than usual
Donnell said, "We're going out ready together and underway, Virgos raise your hands".
2) They started performing the music to Faith Evans' Again / Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?" / Halima-led Faith Evans' Again - Halima went onstage, Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures
3) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Halima held her mic to Sanisse during it / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa - Halima did heavy breathing, Donnell said, "She's almost there fellas".
4) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - Halima conducted the ladies in the audience, the frontline danced
Donnell said of a woman in the audience, "She made me an indecent proposal and I think I'll accept it."
5) Donnell-led Hold the Note - Donnell got on stage
Donnell chanted: "This is for my man skin"
6) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - the frontline danced / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes - Halima mimed onstage
7) Donnell-led "If you look and you see..."
8) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Halima sang energetically, she bounced, Donnell, Halima, and DP danced
9) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me
10) Donnell-led DIP - I realized the line is "let me hear the whoa, not let me hear the wall"
11) Mike-led Ruff Endz' Someone to Love You - Halima gestured to me (I was right up front since a number of people cleared out after DIP.): she wanted me to move my arms as I danced
A guy said Mike was a show off.

Robin and L-Boogie were there.

Doc said to the rest of the band, "Go home and work on your sh*t."

There was a fight at the front door, so those of us left all went out the back.

Saturday at Virgo Bash 2005
Holiday Inn, Columbia Ballroom, 550 C Street SW Washington, DC 20024

When I parked, Lorenzo walked up to me. Dwayne looked for a parking spot nearby. I went to the front desk to ask where the show was. There were two ballrooms for the Virgo Bash 2005, listed as "dance party" - Discovery and Columbia.

On my way there, I ran into Jacques - I helped him carry equipment into the Columbia ballroom.

Most of the band was already there.

When Godfather walked in, Donnell joked about starting playing before Godfather could get to the stage.

Stomp, Dwayne and Donnell argued about who's in the union. When Doc walked in, they asked him where he stood, he said, "There's management, the union, and then there's Doc".

Candy and Michon were there in formal dresses. I didn't know this was a formal affair.

Donnell, Mike and Dwayne talked about Sly, how he doesn't perform anymore. I told them about his appearance for his Sister's Sly & the Family Stone reunion band Phunk Phamily Affair. (There is another one as well, Family Stone Experience). Mike said he wanted Sly and Larry Graham to get back together. I told him that according to the Sly and the Family Stone: An Oral History (For the Record), both Sly and Larry took out hits on each other. Mike said that Larry is religious now. Both he and Dwayne agreed he'd probably believe Sly is the devil. Dwayne joked, “Sly is the devil.”

There was another Lorenzo there - a vocalist. He assisted with set up. Mike said he went to Duke Ellington and sang with them at Cranberries.

Lorenzo asked if Michon and Candy were singers. They said no. He said, "Musician's wives", Michon said only her. He said something to Candy and I joked about her missing her chance to be a musician's wife.

Donnell joked, "Mark meet Dwayne, so your solos don't conflict."

During the sound check, Godfather and Halima performed Stan Getz' Girl from Ipanema.
Donnell joked about finding another place for Godfather.
Donnell sang, "I will praise you" during the sound check.

Familiar Faces
First Set
It started at about 9:40 PM. They were in the Bike Week configuration, except that Doc was on the frontline.
There was hardly anyone there yet in the audience, about six or seven people, including Michon, Candy and I.
Line up: Mike, Halima, Donnell, DP, Doc, Dwayne, Godfather, Lorenzo, Stomp, Smoke, Jacques
1) They started to perform the music to Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - Donnell said, "Give me something Godfather, get it out of your system" / Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, she also did a lot of echo vocal techniques, nice and different
Mike said, "Welcome to everyone who is here. The only pretty people - Halima, grab her. That's the closest thing."
2) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself
3) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You
Donnell said, "I don't know what's going on with the PA, it's going in and out." Unfortunately, this problem persisted throughout their performance.
Donnell did shout outs to Sweet Candy, Sweet Michon, Telando and I.
He said, "Everyone couldn't make it, everyone is on their way."
Donnell said "Work it Candy, Work it."
Donnell and Halima danced
Donnell said, "Come on and party baby, it's alright. I think they're on their way, I feel them coming. My baby Halima, yeah, she's looking lovely tonight."
4) Halima-led Jill Scott's Whatever - Halima moved around, both Donnell and Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, there was a nice percussion solo
Donnell said, "I don't know what's going on with the PA, but we're going to party anyway."
5) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down - Halima and Donnell danced
6) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U - the frontline danced
Mike said, "One more time for Lorenzo on his birthday."
Mike said at the end of the song, "Give it up for Randy Watson, Sexual Chocolate"
7) They started performing the music to Fantasia's Free Yourself - Donnell said, "We're going too slow, we're going to take a break and figure out this PA system" / Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - Halima's singing was excellent, Halima bounced and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures
Despite the small audience, the set was good other than the PA problems which were most annoying for the vocals.

I asked Doc if he had bought PFunk's new album, How Late Do U Have 2 B B 4 U R Absent? He didn't know about it. We went out to the hallway, where food was served. I also told him that Bootsy's next album is a Christmas album. There was an ice sculpture at the end of the food table.

I noticed Kevin, one of the owners of Club Levels, was there.

Mike said that Lorenzo was in a four man vocal group with him called Avantgarde. He said Lorenzo's band is backing Raheem DeVaughn. He said something about En Vogue.

Exquisite was the closing band.

Mike's daughter is 12. He wants everything to go right the first time because the music industry is so hard. He talked about Jesse Powell. Mike said that Mark Dawson sounds like Donny Hathaway, but he has had trouble finding an audience, so he has struggled finding a recording contract. I talked with Mike about Right to Rock and the Black Rock Coalition. I told him there was a music conference “The Word on Music” going on that day in Durham – the author of Right to Rock, Maureen Mahon was to speak, and Burnt Sugar, Greg Tate’s band that I am a fan of was supposed to perform. Many of the members of the Black Rock Coalition are middle class and grew up with whites and developed a taste for rock (much like "Whiteboy" of Rare Essence). Industry executives tell them whites don’t want to listen to them nor do Blacks. I said there are a lot of parallels between the BRC's struggles to find an audience and GoGo’s. I also told him a little about Rhythm & Business, a book about the Black music industry. (Another related book is Rip It Up!)

Second Set
There was now a crowd of about thirty-some people and by the end of the set, the place was packed.
1) Doc solo leading into / Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You - Halima and Donnell danced
Donnell said, "Gimme the top"
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, the frontline danced, there was nice percussion
Donnell said, "Where all the Virgos at celebrating here"
The crank started with
3) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - really energetic performance by Halima, she bounced and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Dwayne touched her and she called out "Dwayne Lee"
4) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa Donnell said, "We got some old school, let's take it back to the Howard Theatre".
5) Mike-led Rare Essence's Lock It - Halima danced
6) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures
7) They started performing the music to Trillville's Some Cut / Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Virgos, It's Your Birthday" / Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - the frontline danced / Notorious BIG's Warning - Halima did nonverbal arm & hand gestures with Donnell / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
Donnell said, "Is it back yet Junior (the sound man)? We got to go. Exquisite right here on this stage."
He said they would play before, during half time, and after the Redskins game against the Cowboys on the 19th.

I left and drove straight to Tradewinds. Jacques didn't come along, as Charlie plays at Tradewinds.

Nephew's Birthday at Safari
Safari Steakhouse, 9430 Annapolis Road Lanham MD 20706

They did work on Annapolis Road as I drove up - only one lane was open in each direction for a bit.

Donnell Jr. stood out front as I walked up. He said hello as I passed him. The policeman who is there practically every week in uniform stood out front talking to the cover taker, Nicole. He wasn't in uniform: he wore a tan suit.

There was a long table set up by the bar for Nephew's birthday guests, of which there were many.

The band was set up in the Bike Week configuration, but DP stood in front at first.

I talked with Doc and Dwayne about Marquis Melvin and the blurb I emailed them.

Donnell was not the only one in the band with a portable set up - Doc warmed up standing by me, on the opposite side of the stage from where his amp is. I think DP had a portable horn mic as well.

Jacques asked me if I was coming to the Holiday Inn show. He said it was for his birthday and he was promoting it.

Familiar Faces
First Set
During the set up, Donnell talked about the horns on the monitors. Paul said, "Googie, don't argue with Donnell, you know he's always right."
Donnell did a joking shout out to Tim (LJ): "it must be a special occasion because LJ never comes out on Fridays." (Of course the special occasion was Nephew's birthday).
1) Miles Davis' Tutu
Mike, a trombone player, arrived and sat in for the rest of the show - I talked with him after the second set
2) Grover Washington Jr.'s Lock It in the Pocket
3) Parliament's P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up) - instrumental
4) Instrumental
DP moved back, so that they were in the normal bike week configuration
Halima said, "How y'all doing. Make sure you tip the bartenders extra."
5) Halima-led Brand New Heavies' Never Stop
Mike said, "Welcome to Safari Steakhouse this evening."
Mike then said, "Ladies, in your search for the real man, you may have to ask yourself if you have a man who can make you believe twenty minutes is an hour and twenty minutes"
6) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself
Halima said, "This is for us ladies. You ever had a man..."
The audience yelled, "Yeah, Yeah"
Halima continued, "We go to heaven, we get back on this Earth and we really know what's going on"
7) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - excellent as usual
8) Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes - both excellent / Halima-led Lionel Richie's Hello (tease)
During the performance of Say Yes, Halima said, "Sometimes it's just a song, but sometimes it's personal. Get on with it, come on out of here, I'm sorry, let me get on with it. They don't sing like this (like Mike), I want but wish"
She specifically addressed a man in the audience, encouraged by women in the audience: "You may never have been put out, but you ever had to explain yourself?"
She went on the dance floor to address him up close.
She thanked the audience for their applause.
Donnell said that Colleen Rowe was there celebrating her birthday.
Donnell said, "I'm putting this tape out." (To prove it?)
Donnell joked about Tasty, "I'm the Pappy!"

June, Delano, Archie Paige, Keisha, Angie, 6'9, Shawn, Shaun, Lisa of the World, and Ytee were there.

I talked with Keisha, I asked her about how they were supposed to be filming Sunday at the Fur. She said it was switched to an event in December. She said because of that, she went on her planned vacation in Miami. I told her how good the show was, she was disappointed that she missed it. She said it is hard for them to film where the audience is more than three hundred people because of the people in the way of the film crew. She said that it was would be hard to film here (at Safari). I told her about the other documentary people who had met with me.

Second Set
1) Instrumental Prelude / Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You
Donnell said to Stomp, "Don't make me go back there".
He held his mic stand horizontally so that the mic pointed right at Stomp.
2) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U - the frontline danced
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" - Halima and Mike posed in the appropriate times
5) Donnell-led "Da na ah"
6) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima bounced and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, the frontline danced
7) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot - Donnell bounced during the "bounce, bounce" part
8) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - the frontline danced
9) Donnell-led Hold the Note - the band held fists up
10) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Nephew, It's Your Birthday"
11) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - the crowd shouted "That's my sh*t!" / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa / Donnell-led Kanye West's Gold Digger (tease) "Go down baby, go down"
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (tease)
13) Donnell-led "Back in the day, when I was young, and not a"

Net Boo, Tracy Smoot, Tasty, Keta, Love, Yolanda, Sanisse, Tata, Tijuana, Michon, Candy, Shadonna, and Blak were there.

Stomp had no shoes on, only his socks. Doc said, "Stomp is a big twelve year old." He also told me that Mike, the trombone player, was an original member of EU.

RE Angie, Nikiya, and Sixx were there.

Third Set
1) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
2) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - the frontline danced / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a Minute" echoes / "Brandywine" Chant
3) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Halima bounced and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, there was a nice percussion solo
4) Donnell-led Kanye West's Gold Digger - strong percussion
5) Donnell-led Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp (tease)
6) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time "aya awa-ah"
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda (tease)
Donnell said, "Lorenzo stop"
9) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls
10) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Nephew, It's Your Birthday"
11) Mike-led Lap Dance - nice percussion, Donnell chanted "Swing your body", Mike "Swing"
12) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - just the sample and Donnell rapping, Jay Gotti also sat in and rapped
Donnell thanked Mike for sitting in. He said, "He goes all the way back to Black Love, we busted Reality's ass!"
13) Donnell chanted "Brandywine, friends of mine"
Donnell said that Nephew may have set a new record. Donnell said, "Back then they didn't want you. I need to get some cake back there, me and Stomp."
Dwayne said to Donnell, "Don't leave the stage!"
Donnell talked about people being missing, "Now on milk cartons, Stomp is missing. Gone so long like the Bar-Kays or Sly Stone."

I talked with a woman who had been at every show since last Wednesday except the Katrina Benefit. Her name is Nikki.

Wednesday at the WPGC Katrina Benefit Show
94th Aero Squadron Restaurant, 5240 Paint Branch Pkwy College Park, MD 20740

I got to the 94th Aero Squadron a little late. As I walked in, I could hear Halima singing, so I could tell they had already started. Chi Ali walked out as I walked in. He said hello and I told him nice show Sunday.

Tim (LJ) was there. I asked him when they started, he said a little before 8 PM - I got there a little after 8. I later asked him if this was the first song. He said no, but he couldn't identify the first song. This was the first time I had been here since I graduated from the University of Maryland. There was a diverse crowd.

Familiar Faces
The line up was: Halima, Donnell (wearing a black riding cap), DP, Doc, Dwayne, Chris Wright of Suttle Thoughts on keyboard, Stomp, Smoke, and Jacques
2) Halima-led Jill Scott's Golden - Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures including arm waving by Halima
Donnell said, "If you want to party, if you want to watch, that's okay too."
3) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva- Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, the frontline danced
4) They started performing the music to Faith Evans' Mesmerized started - Donnell said, "On behalf of the flood victims in New Orleans, we're going to do something." / Halima sang "We're going to do something..." / Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized
Donnell said Broadway is everywhere we go, and LJ (Tim), and Jordan
Then he said, "I wasn't sure if we were going to party or parley. We got about six slow songs, you can sit back."
5) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - Halima sat down on the partition that holds the lights. Tony Redds (wearing a white WPGC collared shirt) brought her a chair, but she told him to sit in it. She then proceeded to address him throughout the song and the next song. She talked about "She wanted you to do a little more than you was doing...” She then stood back up and later walked down the steps onto the dance floor. Doc was on backup vocals. She said, "She didn't tell you, but I'll say it for her..." Tony started to get up, but she told him to sit down, "She wanted to get her breath". He got her water bottle for her. She said he was a gentleman. She then said, "Sometimes we say what we have to say, you have pissed us the hell off one too many times, anyone know I mean out there?" It was an incredible performance - I am sure Tony enjoyed it the most!
6) Alternating Halima-led Floetry's Say Yes - Halima said, "Say yes, that's what they want you to say and mean. Rico, she says get the hell out, but she don't mean it. We're not up for an excuse, we don't believe it." Donnell laughed / Halima-led Lionel Richie's Hello (tease)
Halima said of Tony Redds, "Give him a hand, he's been so wonderful. Ladies give yourself a hand".
Donnell said, "We're not interested in all this man bashing. If we tell you lie, accept it."
Donnell called Tony Redds to come onstage
7) Alternating Tony Redds & Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Tony Redds started on the vocals and rapped, Halima at first backed him up, then sang lead / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
Tony Redds left the stage
8) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Halima bounced a lot
Donnell said, "That's all their time."
He thanked WPGC. He then said that, "(DJ) Rico used to be a stripper."
DJ Rico said, "Familiar Faces were the first people we called, they did not say no. They did this for free. 94th Aero Squadron put this together. It took a $10 donation, they will take more, I donated $300."

I looked to see who was playing keyboards, because I could see it was not Lorenzo or Godfather. Omar asked me if I knew Chris, I said I did.

Doc asked me about where to find a place to eat. I told him to just drive up to Route 1, that there are plenty of fast food restaurants there.

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

Tamara, Angie, Tim (LJ), and Ray were there.

Nephew started celebrating his birthday tonight. Friday is his actual birthday (he’s exactly 28 days older than me).

Familiar Faces
First Set
Packy played a tambourine
Donnell did a special dedication to the people who went to the Katrina Benefit Show.
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Lock It in the Pocket - very long. Donnell called out hits, "Let's see if I have Stomp with me." He chanted: "Double snare right there, four hits right there..."
Donnell said, "It took me a long time to train my drummer, he's a big old... I didn't mean to kill Halima earlier. Mike snuck in..."
Halima said, "Good evening, I want to take my jacket off (I can vouch that it was pretty cold at Takoma Station), I'll drink this (her tea)."
2) They started performing the music to Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - Halima said, "I just want to say... Okay, I'll sing it for you because the music is so good / Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know
There was applause, Halima said, "Thank you."
3) Instrumental Prelude / Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You - there was a nice percussion solo at the end
4) Mike-led Tony Terry's Freaky Little Game
Mike said something about women, "I might have to touch their neck." He continued, "Donnell got mad when I said a man who tells you he can last all night is lying."
Halima said, "How long can you last?"
Mike replied, "I'll tell you later"
Halima said, "They want to know."
Mike said, "Six and thirty minutes, but it feels like fifty-six minutes"
5) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself - Mike reached out and touched the back of the neck of two women at the front of the dance floor, Dwayne had a nice solo
Nece came in. Donnell said, "That's my ex-wife, get off her Nephew."
6) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's As
Donnell said of Nece, "Michael Muse's current wife".
Donnell said of As: "My man Stomp is too young to know that song. He's waiting for Jay-Z to make a remix."
Donnell said, "Tamara is family, she wanted to sing, I can't tell her no."
7) Tamara-led Vivian Green's Emotional Roller Coaster - Donnell and Mike were on backup vocals
Next he called up Marquise Melvin (wearing a Kansas City Royals cap and a white Hipnosis shirt) to sing.
Donnell said, "He said he gave up West Virginia football because he wants to sing. He gave up his chance at the NFL. He's got a Southern accent (he's from Whiteville, NC)."
8) Marquis Melvin-led Secret - the same song he sang in Miami, the band continued playing after he finished singing
Donnell said that's my man, and then joked about how Jauhar had to pay him $3 for letting Marquis sing.
Donnell said that Marquis wrote that song himself, he's a young sex fiend, a pervert.
The crowd called him up to sing it again, but instead:
9) Marquis Melvin-led John Legend's So High
Donnell said, "You switched it up on us."
I talked with Marquis and confirmed the song title and that he had really left West Virginia's team. I asked if he was staying in the area.

Shante, June, Jay Floyd, RE Angie, Tracy Smoot, Sharika, Stacey, and Tiffany were there.

I shook hands with James as I headed out the door.

Jermaine was outside - he hung outside the side door through much of the set. I told him the first time I saw him, at Club Levels on June 19th 2004 (It was definitely a 2004 Club Levels performance), I thought he worked for the venue, not the band.

Doc and Dwayne said they couldn't believe he had really quit the football team to go into music. I pointed out that some of the band members had dropped out of college to further their musical careers. Doc and Dwayne said that was different from giving up football. I told them about a set of twins on Maryland's football team that quit the team to become professional models. (I later asked around and their name was Bullock). I later looked up this blurb on Marquis.

Tijuana, Whop, DJ Rico, 6'9, and Nikiya were there.

Jermaine pointed out that Stomp just wore socks, no shoes.

A couple of women in a car called out Mike to them. He said, "You want me to come to the middle of the street?" He said he was happy whenever he could still turn on the ladies. I told him that when he performed Say Yes on Saturday, a group of women behind me said, "Yes!" to him. He thanked me and said that he could remember anything three hours ago. I discussed the movie Momento with him. He said he walked out in the middle. I said that with the DVD, I’ve read you can change the order so you can see exactly what happened.

Donnell called, "Let's roll" early - 11:45 PM.

Donnell fooling around, sang John Legend's Ordinary People (tease).
Stomp played along with Snoop's Drop It Like It's Hot, which the DJ played.
Mike said, "If all the men would take the time to wear a collared shirt..."

Second Set
1) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
Donnell said, "This is not the Black Hole, simmer down."
He did a shout out to Charles Smith (ex-Hoya and ex-Celtic), and DJ Rico in the audience.
2) Donnell-led ?
3) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
4) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?"
5) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
6) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" - Halima and Mike posed for the ladies/fellas lines
7) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima bounced and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures
8) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - Mike held his mic to the crowd, the frontline danced
9) Donnell-led Sweet child?
10) Alternating Donnell-led Hold the Note - the crowd danced harder / 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Nephew (the second verse was directed to Tijuana), It's Your Birthday"
Donnell said "Old school, hands in the air"
11) Donnell-led Rare Essence's One on One (Footz version)
12) Mike-led Rare Essence's Take Me Out to the Go-Go - Go-Go Mickey sat in on congas for the rest of the set, Donnell said, "It's a reunion"
13) Donnell-led Rare' Essences Go-Go Mickey, the crowd shouted "Go-Go Mickey"
14) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That
Donnell talked about them performing at Cranberries on September 19th, for the Monday night game between the Redskins and Cowboys
15) Donnell-led Rare Essence's We Used to Let the Pocket Ride - "funny how things have changed, can't go back, park and ride"
16) The crowd shouted, "Southeast, South, Southeast"
17) Mike-led Glenn Lewis' Don't You Forget It - I noticed James was on backup vocals
Donnell talked about Nece's new group, Divas Inc. He said she's on her third hug.
Donnell said to Don, want to bet, I love to spend Cowboy money.
Don asked if Donnell was a Cowboy fan. He said, "Hell no." He said he was a fan of, and proceeded to name every DC sports team.
Donnell did a shout out to Curtis Malone (coach of the DC Assault AAU basketball team), "Even though he wouldn't let my son on his team."
He said, "Someone let nappyhead (Vincent) in": I did.
He teased him again, "He outlived Luther, he has the Arthur Ashe, Melvin Lindsey, Eazy E..."

Arielle, Shawn, Shaun, and Nita were there.

Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private location

Familiar Faces
When I arrived, I didn't see Donnell's car, but I did see Godfather's. I went inside, but the inner door was locked. After I tried to open it, someone I didn't recognize let me in. He was part of the studio crowd.

Doc and Godfather were already in the rehearsal area. They were working on a couple of songs I didn't recognize. In hindsight, I believe one was Alicia Keys' Unbreakable.

I told them that I had never seen Familiar Faces work a crowd like they did on Sunday night.

Jacques walked in and he also talked about Sunday's show. He said that Sixx had said that until that night, he never thought anyone could outcrank Rare Essence.

Donnell and Dwayne were the next to arrive.

Dwayne said something about how good MVP was. I asked, "Then how come they aren't playing anymore?" He said sa band doesn't have to be playing to be...

Over time Jauhar, Duane Face, Stomp & Omar, Mike Muse, DP, and Lorenzo arrived.

Donnell pulled out his new portable horn mic set up. Dwayne said, "Don't leave the stage!"

Doc talked with Dwayne about buying a portable mic set up for his bass.

They had a heated discussion about what music is appropriate for the audience they are going for.

They discussed Halima's range, dropping songs that are too low that she had first sung when she replaced Adia: Erykah Badu's Danger, Alicia keys' Diary (Donnell called it Secrets). They said Jill Scott's A Long Walk was barely in her range.

They also talked about her drinking tea during performances, that if she's going to do it, they should incorporate it into her act like Erykah Badu: put some style into it.

Donnell talked about how he was inspired by the Anthony Hamilton live DVD (Comin' From Where I'm From, Live & More). He said that he lead off Since I Seen't You with an intro - "holding a note". He wanted them to have the same kind of thing. Godfather said, you mean "interludes and preludes". Donnell asked if Mike had watched it. He said, "My kids peed on it." Donnell said, "Wipe the piss off and give it back to me." They came up with one initially also to use with Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You. Lorenzo led the composing, but Donnell said that intentionally he didn't want to be something completely scripted. Doc said to Lorenzo, you stole that, I know exactly where you got it from. I later called him on it; he talked about it being similar to something on Gratitude (I assume he means the Earth, Wind & Fire album). Stomp and Donnell said that it was like church. Godfather kept referring to Lorenzo as "the tall man." Donnell asked something about it to Lorenzo. He talked about the tonal center. Donnell said he wasn't afraid to ask questions. Stomp hit the cymbal suddenly and Mike laughed because Duane Face was startled. Donnell talked about how the trumpet is a dominant voice, so it is important to keep that in mind in composing DP's part. He had them change a note that he would play on the sax because it was too close to DP's note. Stomp said, "If you can't play the trumpet and read the music (of course they had no sheet music), learn to play the trombone." Everyone laughed. I talked about the trombone group Bonerama. They talked about how they could use this prelude for songs that started with a downbeat including I Want You. Mark played something as part of it that made Mike say, "That sounds like Count Dracula." I talked about how Blacula had played the organ in the movie Blacula.

Mike Muse talked with me about Whitney Houston and Vanessa Williams, how they both said, "Kiss my ass!" I said that the In Living Color skit changing Vanessa Williams' Save the Best for Last into "You Can All Kiss My Ass" was one of my favorite Living Color skits.

They talked about what went right at the Fur show. They talked about what Halima had done; Dwayne said she had changed the game and made the other female vocalists cry. They said that they were all on the same page from the very start. Dwayne talked about "Using all their weapons" and "bringing everything they've got." They discussed listening to the recording of the Fur to see if it can provide any more insights on what to do in the future.

White Linen Party at the Fur
Fur Night Club, 33 Patterson St NE, Washington, DC 20002

I parked in the same place I had at the previous Fur show I attended. I was the first person in line. Two women came after me. They had a friend who was a bartender there. She came out to them, but they wouldn't let them in yet either. Three deaf guys came by, read the clothing rules on the walls by me and asked me what time they opened at. Since as far as I knew it would be 10 PM, I put up my hands and tapped my watch to show that. The two women said they didn't ever wait in line, so they left.

Next two older men came by. Since it was clear they weren't letting us in yet, they went to their car to drink and invited me. I declined. I saw the Fur staff let the bass player and one other member of Soundproof Band. They finally let us in at 10:30 PM. I was the first in of the paying fans. When I handed my ticket in, the guy laughed, probably because I chose not to wear white.

They let us into the club, but not the performance area. Unlike last time, all of the performances were in the larger area. The blue room stage had couches and tables on it, but it was roped off anyway.

I sat in a chair and waited for the performance area to open up. The security guard who works the front door of Takoma Station came by and talked to me.

The guy who had been behind me in line came and said hello to me again. He told me he lost his tooth.

A girl at a couch several feet away waved, apparently to me.

Packy came by and said hello. Chi Ali went to the bar.

Sometime after 11 PM, they let us in.

When I walked in, I spotted Jacques with Michon. I said hello to him. I asked him how the anniversary party that Familiar Faces had performed at earlier in the evening had gone. He said it was good. I asked if he was the only one in the band here. He said, No, that DP was here.

I went over to the bar and got a Coke. DP came by and teased me about not wearing white.

Nephew was there.

Soundproof Band came on a little before 11:40 PM. They were all dressed in white, and a number of them wore t-shirts with the band logo on them. I noticed the lead female singer from the last time I saw them was not there. I asked Packy about her (I knew that his cousin Danni is the other female vocalist), he said she had left the band. They have three male vocalists (lead talker, lead singer, and backup singer), and two female vocalists
1) Male-led ?
2) Female (not Danni)-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - not bad
The lead talker said, "Going to have a good time tonight"
The crank started with
3) Male-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down - nice harmony, but the lead vocals weren't really distinct
4) Male-led "Bad Girl, If You Want to Party"
5) Danni-led Amerie's 1 Thing
6) Male-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl (tease)
7) Danni-led "Some Guy is spending on me"
8) Lead talker-led "Bam Ban, do it like this, wait and I show you this"
9) Lead talker-led "Peek a boo to ya"
10) Lead talker-led "All the _____ in the club" - it had a repeating keyboard phrase
The lead talker did announcements then the set ended.
I thought they were not bad, but their vocals and music aren't very distinct to me.

Arielle, Angie, Tamara, Tracy Smoot, Darrell, and Shadonna were there. I told Angie that I had seen her last night. I asked her if she was along that night. She said Tracy was there too. Tamara asked me about the crowd, she said it was smaller than last time. I told her that at the previous show, the first two bands had already performed in the other area (which she didn't know), so it was too early to make a comparison.

I spotted Dey and Slim Goodie in the mezzanine level. Dey waved to me.

Mike Muse said hello to me.

A guy came and said to me, "I see you at every Familiar Faces show. Are you their manager?" I told him that I wasn't.

After Hours Band
Before they performed, the members of After Hours Band joined hands in a circle and spoke to each other (we in the audience couldn't hear what they said- whether it was a prayer, a motivational speech, etc.)
Chi Ali addressed the TMOTT members on the mezzanine level, including Blak, whom I hadn't spotted.
1) Sean (Kal'el)-led "TLE say oh no, they don't know"
Chi Ali addressed the audience
2) TJ-led (Tom Browne's) "Funking for Jamaica", "All night long"
3) Chi Ali & TJ-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl
4) Alternating Sean-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down - Sean stood at the edge of the stage / Chi Ali-led "Step front, step back" - Sean stood on the speaker in front of the stage, Chi Ali tapped his tambourine against Pretty Nikki's leg
Sean went back onstage
5) Chi Ali-led "Drop ___" - Pretty Nikki sang "oh"
6) TJ-led Jill Scott's He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat) - the band members held their hands palms up - with the index fingers up and the tips touching and the thumbs down and the tips touching making a diamond shape
7) Chi Ali-led ?
Chi Ali went on a speaker in front of the stage. He talked to a girl in the audience. Sean also stood on a speaker.
8) They played the bassline to Rare Essence's Body Snatchers / Chi Ali-led Kanye West's Gold Digger
Chi Ali and Sean returned to the stage
9) TJ-led S.O.S. Band's Just Be Good to Me - Pretty Nikki and TJ stood on the edge of the stage
10) TJ?-led Gloria Estefan's Rhythm Is Gonna Get You (tease)
TJ and Pretty Nikki returned to their regular spots on stage
11) TJ-led Michael Jackson's Thriller - TJ went onto the speaker
12) Chi Ali-led "2ing to the 2"
13) TJ-led All aboard the night train"
14) Chi Ali & TJ-led "Everybody in the club, put your hands up, make it bounce"
Chi Ali said I'm going to do a public service announcement: he thanked the crowd, for without them, they wouldn't be there.
Chi Ali would call out for TJ or Pretty Nikki to sing during the set.
I liked After Hours' performance. Pretty Nikki wore a very flattering short skirt.

Stacey and RE Angie were there. David and Jauhar walked past me, with Godfather right behind them.

I went up close to the front to watch Familiar Faces' performance. Tracy said, "I can't read your handwriting, it is chicken scratches." I said, "I can't always either."

Tata and L-Boogie were there.

Nephew played on the congas during set up.

Familiar Faces
Halima said, "A lot of things are going on"
1) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - she took off her shoes and got on the speaker - she gave a great performance, the crowd, which I noticed was packed, sang along, almost as loud as Halima on the mic, she bounced up and down, Donnell played both his soprano and alto Saxes for this song
2) Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes - Halima gave a similar speech to the night before, saying "Sometimes you need to say what you need to say", She later said, "Sometimes your man is telling you stories, you don't believe him, he won't let you out", She sat on the stage, with her legs on the speaker - again excellent and the crowd responded accordingly
3) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U - Mike stood at the edge of the stage, the frontline danced
4) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - really strong crowd response, Donnell stood on the speaker, Halima mimed some of it and let the crowd sing / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa - the crowd danced harder in a way I hadn't seen before
5) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?" - The crowd was yelling their response
6) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh" - he lead it, but the crowd was a backup singer
7) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" - Halima and Mike posed for the ladies/fellas lines
The lights went off for the start of:
8) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - the frontline danced, again strong crowd response / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / Donnell-led "Wait a minute" echoes - the crowd shouted "Go-Go Smoke-ay"
9) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - the ladies response when Donnell said, "by yourself ladies" was loud
10) Donnell-led Hold the Note - first Halima, then the entire frontline danced
11) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What? - Donnell stood on the speaker
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time - again strong crowd response
They paused, Halima bowed, but they weren't done yet
14) Donnell-led "Southeast, South, Southeast"
15) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up) - Donnell stood on the speaker, Halima mimed "I can't hear you" and danced
16) Donnell & Halima-led Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp
17) Donnell-led Kanye West's Gold Digger "Get Down" - Halima mimed
18) Donnell-led Family
Donnell said, "Good evening"
19) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
Donnell said "That's it, we got to go before I have to beat up Stomp".
20) Donnell-led chant "Brandywine, friends of mine"
Donnell announced it was Jacques' birthday.
I have never seen Familiar Faces work the crowd better than they did tonight. They controlled the crowd throughout the performance. I knew Donnell said they were going to really put on a show, but I was really impressed. Onstage with the band during the set were: Nephew, Los, RE Angie, Sixx, and Tijuana. At the end, as they were leaving the stage, Tasty and Nita were there.

JoJo was there.

I talked with Doc for a little. I asked Michon what number birthday it was for Jacques.

I helped Doc by carrying one of his basses for a bit. Tasty and Nita teased me.

This time it was easy to get out of the street, L-Boogie directed people out of my way for me.

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

When I walked up, Godfather, Googie and Vincent were talking. I said hello to Godfather, then walked in. John, the cover guy, joked with me that What? Band was performing instead.

James was there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Donnell wore a dark blazer, a dark shirt and jeans.
Mike said, "I will sing this one out to all the beautiful ladies in the house."
1) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself
2) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You - Halima sang to herself, there was a nice percussion solo
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!" - Halima posed the "do it for the ladies" part
5) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
6) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized
7) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Halima held her mic to the crowd / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa - very heavy beats
8) Donnell-led Brown & White
9) Donnell-led Ride Out - Donnell invited Slick Rick onstage, he did the Ride Out dance
10) Donnell-led Northeast Groovers' The Water
11) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - Halima was onstage barefoot, she bounced, excellent performance / Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes - also excellent, Halima said, "It's been some kind of week. I have to say what I have to say. Right ladies? That doesn't mean I feel that way. Somebody knows what I mean out there.", Women behind me in the crowd said, "Yes" to Mike, Mike said, "Ready to say yes, treat her right."
I grinded with two women separately during the set

Archie Paige, 6'9, Angie, and Chocoltchp were there.

Ebony came over and talked with me. I didn't recognize her at first - in her words, "I have hair."

I asked Donnell how often he plans to use the Bike Week configuration which he used last night. He said, "As much as possible." I asked him about wearing the blazer tonight; he said, "This is the new me." The other band members laughed.

Doc introduced me to his cousin Wes. I asked Wes if he was a musician; he said he was a rapper. I talked with Doc about Ras Lidj's review of Fatal Attraction. He had read it. I told him that Kato manages them and that he had recently brought their female singer Ms. Chevy to a FF show at Safari a few weeks ago. I had noticed her mainly because she is very attractive. He said he didn't remember Kato being with a young attractive woman recently. I told Doc about Duane Face's tenure with the band, the guitar player he introduced me to at the Northeast Groovers reunion. I also told him about the drummer Smoky Joe who now plays for What? Band.

An attractive woman named Tiffany F. hung out int the kitchen. She later walked over and gave me her number. I then asked her name. She said, "50/50" (joking about being married). She put her arm around me and said, "This is my new boo".

Los was there.

Second Set
1) Donnell acapella Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp (tease)
Donnell said to Stomp: "Go where they are beating their feet."
Donnell said to women in the audience, "What do you mean where are the men at? We're the men, you don't need anyone but us."
2) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
Donnell said to a woman in the audience, "You're making me jealous."
3) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - there was a different beat to this performance, there was a purposeful pause
4) Donnell-led Hold the Note - Mike danced with a female fan
5) Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?"
6) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - the frontline, Doc and Dwayne danced / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes - Los danced
7) Donnell-led Tupac's Hail Mary
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon? / Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease)
9) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
10) Donnell-led Rick James' Mary Jane (tease)
11) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease) - Halima pretended to play the congas
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine
13) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That
14) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - Mike again danced with a fan
15) Donnell-led Kanye West's Gold Digger - Los and Halima were dancing in sync
16) Donnell & Halima-led Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp (tease) - Doc was on backup
17) Mike-led Lap Dance - Donnell chanted "Swing your body" and Mike chanted "swing" - Stomp threw a drumstick at Halima
18) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
A guy in the crowd shouted, "Lincoln Heights" repeatedly.
19) Donnell acapella Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp (tease)
Donnell said, "We need to take a collection, since Vincent got his test results back; he's got the Arthur Ashe..." Vincent just laughed.

Yvette, Felecia, JoJo, and Tracy were there.

A woman asked me my name, she said saw me all the time there at about the same spot.

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

I asked Doc how the wedding was. He said good, the guests partied.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Donnell had them put make the configuration the same as at Bike Week: Mike, Halima, Donnell, and Smoke up front, DP further back
Mike Smith played drums just for this set
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Mr. Magic
Donnell said we got to try something
2) Halima-led Jill Scott's A Long Walk - excellent, Halima bounced and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures.
She really had a lot of energy right away.
Halima said, "Yes, I got an issue tonight. Anyone see how high the gas prices are. I went to a gas station and they changed the price sign while I was there. The government is losing their minds. There are even worse things down south."
They did a smooth transition straight into
3) Halima-led Brand New Heavies' Never Stop
Donnell said, "Thank you Lorenzo, that's alright, I've been dreaming when it's like that." He referred to the smooth transition.
4) Mike-led Ruff Endz' Someone to Love You
Mike said, "I have a unique ability to make twenty minutes seem like an hour and twenty minutes."
Halima said, "Twenty minutes?"
Donnell said, "You heard it, twenty minutes."
5) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself
Halima had a monologue with the ladies in the audience
6) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself / Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes - both very nice performances
DJ Flava (aka GoGo Rudy) set up lights on the side of the stage during the set.

Tasty, Nita, Kato, Mara, and Tyrell were there.

I saw over next to Tasty and Nita. I threw a pool cue case over in the far seat. Keisha (as I later learned her name) said, "You almost spilled my drink." I said, "But I didn't."

Later, Tiffany sat by me.

Peg Leg waved to me, he kept signaling to me by waving his arm. His friend said on his behalf that he was going to try to rap again tonight.

Shawn & Shante, Stacey, Lisa of the World, and Sanisse were there.

I said hello to the woman sitting next to me. She told me her name is Keisha. She said she had talked with me before, that I was real nice to her. I don't know why I hadn't remembered that - I am usually very good with remembering talking with people, especially attractive women. She said she's part of a film crew shooting a documentary on GoGo for MTV. She got up to play pool. When she sat down again, I asked her if she worked with Ed Stewart. She said, "Yes, how do you know him?" I told her I had met with him. She said, "So do you know Michael Flowers too?" I said, "No, but I had read about him."

Britney was there, she sat on the right speaker.

Second Set
1) Donnell sang (fooling around): "Be Cool with ya, shoot pool with ya"
2) Donnell-led "Where you at ___,"
3) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You - Halima and Donnell danced
4) Donnell-led "Brandywine" chant
5) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima bounced
6) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
7) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
8) Alternating Donnell-led "Da na aah, We got ___" - Donnell said their not ready yet / Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - Omar tapped a conga with a drumstick, the frontline danced
9) Donnell-led Hold the Note - the frontline danced
10) Donnell-led Kanye West's Gold Digger
11) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease)
Donnell said, "We're going back to Eastside."
He then had an intentional pause before going into:
12) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - Britney, who had been dancing onstage since Hold the Note, played on the congas
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Doing the Do - "Are we loaded, I got no such..., no punk"
14) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
Donnell joked, "I'm the Pappy, Let's Go Tasty"
15) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me - Tiffany, Keisha, Britney were among the girls who danced onstage
Donnell said, "Girls gone wild"
A guy asked me during the set where DeeDee was.

Keta and Monique were there.

Stomp sat next to me. Later, Stacey sat over by us on a stool.

Kato introduced me to Net Boo. She said, "Don't say I did anything." I kidded her about that.

Third Set
Godfather played while Donnell did announcements, Donnell said, "Hold on Liberace"
Donnell did a shout out to Jay Gotti, "not yet, let's try to do something for the ladies."
1) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
2) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - nice percussion solo, the frontline danced / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
Halima played a tambourine with her water bottle
3) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - she bounced, Donnell danced
4) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What? - Donnell chanted "What?" in a different way
5) Alternating Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time "aya awa-ah" / Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads up) - Donnell chanting "It's Like an Eastside Party"
6) Donnell-led Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp / Kanye West's Gold Digger (tease)
7) Jay Gotti rapping
8) Mike-led Michael Jackson's I Can't Help It - Donnell said, "Double snare, right there" - there was a nice percussion solo
9) Godfather played the music to Rare Essence's Body Snatchers
Donnell said, "I forgot Omar's birthday"
10) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Omar, It's Your Birthday"
11) Rare Essence's Body Snatchers - instrumental
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
Mike said, "Kites do not fly in the projects"
13) Godfather started playing, Donnell said, "Thank you, Godfather", then he said to Googie, "Make sure you turn Godfather off"
14) Donnell did some acapella rap to Monique "All night, all right, play the congas if you're able, RE Angie"
15) Monique did a rap on Familiar Faces, she danced all over the place

RE Angie was there.

When I went to the Mobil by Safari after the show, there were notes with "Out of order" on all of the 87 octane nozzles.

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


Mike, Smoke, Packy, Jacques, Halima, Tamara (back to camera), Stomp (only arm visible), Donnell


DP, Doc, Godfather, Lorenzo, Netty (in white), Dwayne

Yvette was there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Donnell said, "Lincoln Heights is in the house. Adia must have cut them loose."
1) Blueprint - instrumental - nice playing all around, Packy played second percussion
Mike said this is an old fashioned love song off of Evolution.
He repeated that you can pick it up online at TMOTT or Amazon.com.
2) Mike-led I Dreamed You
3) Mike-led John Legend's Live It Up
Mike asked "How many of you are living it up? I don't see anyone smiling.
4) Mike sang something about "Sun, the rain, the Mountains" - he just played around
Mike said, "Sometimes I'm political." He encouraged people to donate to a local charity if not to the people in New Orleans. He then kidded, "Or you give the money to me, I'll give it to them."
5) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People
Mike said, "Who sang praise the lord", then he said something about Sexual Chocolate, then he said, "Don't make me do my Elvis impression. Welcome to Takoma Station where we bring real music to you."
Halima responded "Good."
6) Halima-led Brand New Heavies' Never Stop (debut performance)
Mike said, "That takes you back to 1992."
Halima said, "Is that where that's from?"
I worked on a Brand New Heavies compilation when I worked at Rhino. I found their music to be too light (not crankin' enough) for my taste. I like FF's cover though.
7) Halima-led Jill Scott's A Long Walk (debut performance)
The dance floor filled during
8) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - the frontline danced
Donnell said of Halima, "We're going to rename her Hair Everywhere."
Halima said, "Don't do that; it might change next week."
Mike had a speech I didn't catch leading into:
9) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself
10) Donnell-led ?
Donnell said that Kwame was the enemy, he played for a different summer league team.

Adia, Netty, Tim (LJ), Darrell, Tamara, June and his wife Shadonna, Keisha (Halima's stylist), and Stacey were there.

When I walked out during the break, a woman asked me why I took pictures. I told her. She told me she was a promoter. She gave me a card and asked me to call her. Outside, she told me about a Gospel group. Lorenzo asked me about getting copies of the photos with him in them.

I talked about my car problems - they had Googie talk with me. He said it was probably the battery. I told them how Godfather caught me on the highway on Friday. He said that that was the worst night for him. They talked about the Wedding they would be performing at the next day and the anniversary they would perform at on Sunday.

RE Angie was there.

Second Set
1) Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You
2) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again
3) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
4) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
Halima took her shoes off and went onstage
5) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - one of her best performances ever of this
6) Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes
Donnell said John Thompson III (Georgetown's men's basketball head coach) was somewhere in the house. He praised him, especially his turning around Georgetown. While I respect his ability as a coach, I can't applaud him. Georgetown being successful is not good for Maryland basketball.
Donnell said, "The Bulls drafted Keith Booth and Lonny Baxter; they ruined them."
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
8) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - the frontline danced / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) - Go-Go Mickey played timbales
Go-Go Mickey got off the timbales
9) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Halima bounced, Stephanie from EU rapped (in the second go round) / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa - Go-Go Mickey got back on the timbales
Security kicked out a guy.
10) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That
I danced grinding back to back with a woman. When we were done, I looked to see who it was - one of the female bartenders.
11) Donnell-led DIP
12) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - the frontline danced
13) Donnell-led Hold the Note
14) Mike-led Lap Dance - Go-Go Mickey had a nice timbale solo, Donnell chanted "Swing your body, girl", and Mike chanted "Swing"
Donnell said to Go-Go Mickey, "I thought you was the one to f*ck up"
15) Mike-led Prince's Purple Rain - Ron Sutton Jr. sat in on Saxophone - Ytee threw money down at his feet

Doc, Godfather, Ron Sutton Jr., Lorenzo (only arm and body visible), Ytee (back to camera), YC, DP
All pictures taken by and Copyright Jordan A. Rich
Donnell said, "This is why I almost dropped out of school right there."
Tim said that all the great players like him can play off the beat
Donnell continued: "They didn't let me in the room. His father is a pioneer at WPFW, his massive record collection."
Tim said, "Next time take him with you to Miami."
Donnell said, "No, he'd make me look bad; he'd take my job. I'm going to have to put something in his gas tank."
He talked about other players who were too good: Marshall Keyes and David Rudd.
Donnell said, "I can't say no more, start the bus"
He also teased Halima.

Ytee, Tracy Smoot, 6'9, Sharika, Shawn, Tracy, Slim Goodie, Dey, Tata, YC (he had his flute with him, but did not play it) with Ron Sutton Jr., and Michon were there.

I said to Ytee I hadn't seen him in a long time. He said he was there on Friday, he had tried to get my attention.

I explained some of the analogy that Donnell said to Slim Goodie. (When one team is sure to win, the announcers will say "start the bus" because the losing team might as well leave - "the game is over".)

Jacques and Godfather asked me if I knew where the wedding was, I didn't. I asked Michon if she was going to the wedding. She said maybe. I asked, "Are you going to wear white?" She said she didn't want to show up the bride.

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

When I arrived, the Redskins preseason game against the Steelers was still on. Yaquim came from the game to Safari. The Redskins won 17-10. L-Boogie and Arielle were there.

Halima played congas during set up.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Line up: Mike Muse, Halima, Donnell, DP, Doc, Dwayne, Lorenzo, Godfather, Mike Smith, Smoke, and Jacques.
Packy played third percussion as well.
1) Instrumental
Halima said, "Hello" - laughing.
She then said, "Good evening" and got a crowd response.
She then said, "Anyone out there?"
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - really laid performance by Halima, very different from usual, Doc sang some back up
Halima said, "Y'all alright. Thank you for coming out. It's always a pleasure to see everyone."
3) Halima-led Alicia Keys' Diary - Halima really hit some high notes
4) Halima-led Jill Scott's Whatever - Omar played on the one conga drum as the song winded down
Donnell said to Mike, "Good morning".
Mike said, "Welcome again this Friday evening."
5) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself
Halima complimented Mike. She then said, "We're going to do it for the ladies."
6) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - Halima's singing was excellent, she used the most nonverbal arm & hand gestures of the set, she leaned to the edge of the stage during it -> Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes

Adia was there. Adia wore a black Hooters t-shirt. I kidded her, asking how she had the time to work at Hooters, sing and keep her day job. She said, "Okay, Packy". Packy had said the same thing to her. Actually Hooters merchandise has huge fans among women. I remember there was a couple who murdered another couple (in Maryland's Eastern Shore) in the midst of their crime spree of breaking into Hooters due to their obsession with Hooters. In the same article, there was a girl who said Hooters was her favorite restaurant, even though she lived 400 miles away from the nearest Hooters.

Second Set
As Smoke returned to the stage, I asked him about the "Sir" joke. He and Omar laughed. He said it was an inside joke going back to his days in Northeast.
Donnell said, "Somebody check Godfather's car, it don't smell right. Welcome everyone from the Redskins game."
1) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down - Donnell said, "I want to watch this girl do the shimmy shammy; right there, Smoke."
2) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures
3) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
4) Donnell-led Hold the Note
Donnell said, "Adia, are you working tonight?"
She sat in.
5) Adia-led Erykah Badu's Danger
6) Donnell-led "Da na aah, We got ___"
Shorty Corleone from Rare Essence sat in (He wore a white t-shirt, jeans, and black sunglasses)
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine - Shorty drew it out very slowly
8) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease) - Donnell did the keyboard effects vocally / Rare Essence's Spotlight - Mike hit some really high notes / Rare Essence?s Get on the Wagon?
9) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease) - Shorty didn't sit in on this song, but came back for the rest of the set after Donnell said, "One more thing"
10) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Body Snatchers
11) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - Dave "32" Ellis from Rare Essence also joined in for the rest of the set (he wore a Miami Heat Shaquille O'Neal jersey, appropriately numbered 32, a baseball cap, and sunglasses)
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time
14) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up) (tease)
15) Donnell-led Slick Rick's La Di Da Di (tease)

Tyrell, DeeDee, and 6'9 were there.

During the break, I finally introduced myself to the two lady regulars who hang out by the monitor board at Safari and Tradewinds. Their names are Shawn and Shante (spelling). Shawn said she and Donnell go back to his days with Rare Essence.

RE Angie was there. She played congas during the break.

Third Set
Donnell did a shout out to John Turner, the former Georgetown basketball player.
He then said, "The boat ride is sold out, don't come and ask me anymore."
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures
2) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a Minute" echoes - the crowd shouted "Go-Go Smoke-ay" - Halima played a cabasa, Donnell added the verse "___'s in here"
3) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
4) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club - "Go Aria, It's Your Birthday"
5) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Halima bounced up and down and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell inserted a "Wait a Minute" in it for the first time
6) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me - People put bills on Pocahontas' butt as she danced
7) Percussion solo
Someone in the crowd requested a Mike Smith solo
8) Mike Smith drum solo
9) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - the band played with the sample, RE Angie played the congas, Jay Gotti sat in and rapped, RE Angie also rapped, at first not on the mic, then on
Donnell said, "Andre, I haven't seen you since you used to deliver pizzas in Palmer Park. Robbie, I'm going to take you off probation" if she keeps coming out. He continued, "You must have fallen in love".
10) Donnell did the music to the Odd Couple theme vocally
Donnell said, "Mike Smith was stealing time on the video."
Donnell said that Googie would be leaving them tomorrow, "He just loves Pops (Chuck Brown, who is performing at the 9:30 Club tomorrow night)."

Los and Blak were there.

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

Donnell said hello to me as I walked in.

I went and talked to Candy. She said, "Did you miss me?" I said, "Yes." I asked her how Michon was doing. She said she was good and was going to be there tonight. I later talked with Michon and she asked me how Miami was. I told her that it was an experience - hot for Miami and that it killed my appetite.

I said hello to Doc, back from his vacation.

Yvette, Tamara, and Felecia were there.

Junior worked the sound.

Familiar Faces
First Set
There was a nice crank that started during
1) Grover Washington Jr.'s Lock It in the Pocket - a very long performance, Lorenzo played a mini moog (he later said tonight's show was a tribute to it's inventor, Bob Moog, who died a few days ago) - it sounded really good
During the performance above - Donnell said, "My man Doc on bass, Welcome home Doc". Smoke had a nice conga solo
2) Mike-led I Dreamed You - Mike said, "I'm trying to get skinny again. This is a song about love that is wished for; the perfect love that comes once in a lifetime."
Mike said, "This song is from Evolution. You can order it from TMOTT or Amazon.com, I don't think it's in the stores anymore."
Donnell said, "We're going to try to learn this song off the radio."
Mike said, "If a man tells you he'll make love to you all night, he's lying."
3) Mike-led Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself (debut)
The dance floor filled during
4) Halima-led Jill Scott's Golden
Halima kidded, "I want to thank my saxophonist". She laughed.
5) They started to perform the music to Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima said, "It's a nice night. We came to party! Everyone have a good time with us.", Donnell said, "Ras Lidj is here celebrating his birthday.", He called up Ras Lidj to perform / Ras Lidj rapped / Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima added a chant of "Baby, Baby!"
6) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - Halima's singing was excellent as usual, Halima made the lyrics transition into / Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes
Halima said, "I like it when I take my shoes off". She laughed.
Donnell said, "Donny Ray, where you at? Donny Ray knows I can sing."

Sharmba Mitchell, Angie, Donny Ray, Tracy, James, Tata, Tim (LJ), June & his wife Shadonna, 6'9, and Sharika were there.

I went outside. I asked Mike the name of the song that is Raheem DeVaughn's Ask Yourself.

DeeDee and Nikiya walked in while I was outside.

I walked in behind Doc, Dwayne, and Stomp. Tasty and Nita were there. Tasty asked jokingly, "Are you in the band?" Nita said, "Because you walked in with the band."

Second Set
Donnell did announcements, especially for Saturday's boat ride. He said $50 is the no knucklehead price. He then said, "Ray, you know you can't afford that. You'll probably go to the Tradewinds on Saturday". He then said, "All the other bands in the city are going down to Puerto Rico (for Labor Day weekend) to perform for the Puerto Ricans (he pronounced it Rick-ans)
Mike made fun of his pronunciation, said he's probably the type to say Eye-talians...
Darrell corrected my spelling of his name. I asked him why he waited so long. He said, "I know who I am and you know who I am, what does it matter if everyone else does?"
The crank started during
1) Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
A woman who had danced with me at Takoma Station a few weeks ago said hello to me. She kept trying to give me tips during the set.
Donnell told the men to leave their shirts on, "This is not the Black Hole".
2) Mike-led Rare Essence's Take Me Out to the Go-Go
Mike said, "We've got two Iraq veterans, real heroes, I want to thank them."
3) Mike-led Rare Essence's One on One (Footz version) - Mike held his mic to the crowd during it
4) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Roll Call
5) Donnell-led "Hey ah, Ho oh"
6) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
7) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
8) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - nice percussion solo at the end
9) Donnell-led Hold the Note
10) Alternating Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Halima bounced up and down / Donnell-led "Tired yet, ready to quit?"
11) Donnell-led DIP - Halima added "Who?"
12) Mike-led Glenn Lewis' Don't You Forget It
13) Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut (tease)
14) Donnell acapella (but later Stomp drumming) Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp
Donnell started joning "Tasty is having a baby. I'm the Pappy! I'm just joking, I don't know or like her. I know her, but don't like her."
He then picked on Ray, "Langston Lane is like the Bermuda Triangle. Ray, I know your real name, I don't know where Ray came from. I don't know how you came out of Langston Lane so soft; soft as Cottonelle. You must have had a bodyguard to take you to school. 6'3 and no basketball skills. 6'9 played for the state championship, but Ray 'Hi, can I take your order, Welcome to McDonald's.' Meet me at the police station."
He then noticed Keta for the first time. He said to the band members who were still there, "One more song - Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me. If you leave, you're not going to be paid."
He said, "Both Ketas are here. I have an indecent proposal for you."

Saturday at the Pool Party
Oxon Hill Rec Club, 1661 Tucker Rd, Oxon Hill, MD 20744

The pool party unfortunately did not have a large audience. Very few of the people who did come actually swam. I arrived at about 7:20 PM. A number of the band members were there already. Charlie, Los, and Tony (the security guard) sat at a picnic table. I asked Charlie if he was at the Northeast Groovers reunion. He said, he was and that he saw me there inside. Ray was there.

Jacques said he had heard Charlie was in a band. Charlie said that wasn't true.

When I went to get something to drink - I went over to the snack bar. Bartenders from Safari Steakhouse ran it, including Shonda who talked with me at the Fur. She laughed when I ordered a Coke. They didn't have any. They asked me to go get some. I said are you going to give me some money? They said, we don't have any either. I asked if they had any other soda, they said grape and ginger ale. I ordered a ginger ale.

I asked Mike how the crowd was at Safari last night. He said it had shrunk a little, but nothing either way surprises him anymore. He wore the same Green Lantern shirt he wore Tuesday. I went back to the picnic table.

Later, they had food on two long tables - hot dogs and hamburgers and later chicken. Donnell said Little Sam had organized this pool party.

DeeDee showed up later.

All of the pre-recorded music Googie played was Chuck Brown's music. Nephew laughed about something that he didn't think was Chuck. He had asked Googie, Googie said it was Chuck, "But I didn't mix it." Nephew laughed.

Familiar Faces
First Set - started at 8:40
The lifeguards set out chairs so they could watch
The line up was: Mike Muse, Halima, Donnell, DP, Dwayne Lee, Bobby Smoot (Bass), Lorenzo, Godfather, Stomp, Smoke and Jacques.
Googie said there was a problem with the snare mic, the cord needed changing.
Donnell said, "Put the chicken down, Vincent. Next time he's going to have to pay at the door".
1) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - Mike's background singing was really high pitched
2) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You - Dwayne had a really nice guitar solo
3) Mike-led Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You - Halima beated her tambourine against a water bottle, Donnell said, "How much are you going to eat, Charlie? You've had at least three plates.", Charlie said "Five.", Donnell said, "I've been waiting to interrupt Michael Muse for years. I don't know what it is."
Mike started to sing again, but Donnell interrupted him with "Wait a Minute", Donnell said, "Since 1983, I've been waiting to set him off.", He started to do a special shout out to Ray for being at Safari last night, then he said "Ray wasn't there", Donnell said, "DeeDee where's Cookie?" He joked that she didn't come because of the small turnout, Donnell said, "This is the last night we got to tolerate my man Bobby Smoot."
4) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again - Donnell played with her hair
5) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U - Mike suggested that either Ray or Los start the party, grab one of these ladies by the hand and start dancing, Halima danced
6) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa - Donnell said, "Don't shake too hard, Halima"
7) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - Halima's singing was excellent, Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures.
Mike left the stage, but Halima called him back to do:
8) Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes - during the line "So" Halima said, "I can't do that"
Mike said, "Sexual Chocolate"
Halima said, "Thank you". She raised both her arms from her sides and dropped her water bottle.
9) Donnell acapella Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp
I smelled Marijuana - I have no idea who in the audience smoked it, during the set.

Nikiya was there.

Jacques left after the set.

First two male rappers and later a third performed during the break. I believe there names are BDR, Pablo and Zach. The first two were BDR and Pablo, they said they be dropping an album soon.

DeeDee tried to push Mike in the pool. He later changed and swam.

Second Set
Charlie replaced Jacques on percussion
1) Donnell & then Halima acapella Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp - Donnell added chants of "Cannonball" to tease Mike
Donnell said, "I think she's ready"
2) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Mike danced
3) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - the frontline danced
4) Donnell-led Hold the Note - the frontline danced, there was a different beat at the end
Donnell said, "Somebody wake Bobby Smoot down there."
5) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - during the performance one of the guest male rappers sat in and rapped (Pablo I believe because he referred to Zach and BDR) - his performance drew a crowd on the dance floor, he obviously had a number of supporters there
6) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls - Donnell added the lines "yes, yes", Halima danced
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What? - they played stronger hits than usual
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up) (tease)
10) Donnell-led DIP
Donnell said, "Do that dance, Mike"
11) Halima (sang not rapped) Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp - she did some improving, Clint sat in on congas
12) Donnell-led Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp
Donnell said, "You getting back in, Aqua Man? I'll race you."
The show ended at about 11 PM. It was just a short distance from the Tradewinds.

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

The security guys didn't look at my ID, they recognized me as a regular. The cover guy asked me what was up. I told him I just came from a pool party where they performed two sets. He asked if they had more to go.

Stomp was in the back, talking with his friend Kenny. Virtually all the members of Familiar Faces wore different outfits than what they wore to the pool party.

Ray (also in a different outfit from what he wore to the pool party), 6'9, Los, DeeDee, Tijuana, and Val "Tina Turner" were there.

Halima was playing the congas during set up.

Familiar Faces
First Set
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized
2) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
Mike said, "All those fellas who don't know how to treat you, I'll treat you right"
3) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
4) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot - they had some technical difficulties per Donnell, the frontline danced, Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell chanted, "Bounce bounce"
5) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Halima held her mic to the crowd during it / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
Mike did a shout out to Pee Wee in the audience (he was the same hat he wore at the Little Benny reunion)
Donnell called him onstage to dance (members of FF smiled at his dancing)
Donnell went with old school songs for him, his dancing was definitely old school style
Los tried to compete with Pee Wee's dancing to the left of the stage
6) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love - Donnell did the keyboard sounds vocally / Rare Essence's Spotlight - Mike held the mic to the crowd / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
7) Donnell & Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
8) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
Donnell introduced as Pee Wee's song:
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Lock It - Donnell called out, "Hey Smoke, hey Halima"
Donnell said, "Hey it's like the Eastside Party. Back in the day, the song wasn't hot unless Pee Wee was at the spot."
Pee Wee left the stage
10) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - Halima stood onstage instead of on the floor, women screamed at the start, Halima's singing was excellent as usual, Halima bounced up and down, Halima said something to the ladies, but I didn't catch what it was, Halima said, "Sometimes it gets a little personal; that was personal. Don't talk to me; I'm okay inside."
11) Halima & Mike-led Floetry's Say Yes - Mike sang really hitch pitched, Halima said, "Why you got to do all that?", later Halima said, "That would do it to me" (smiling as she spoke), Halima said, "I can't do that", Mike said, "If you could", somehow she did, Mike clapped
Donnell said, "Don't play anything".
He then asked for applause - it was much deserved; their singing was excellent.

Tracy (not Tracy Smoot), Nikiya, Slim Goodie, Mama Michelle (aka Chellley), March, L-Boogie, Archie Paige, and Nita were there.

I talked with Mike about the conversation at rehearsal on August 3rd: "Halima said that men can't sing female background and sound like a woman, they have different timbres. Doc said Mike is close." I said with his singing in Say Yes, he did. He laughed.

I told Packy how Pee Wee had danced on one leg at the Little Benny reunion.

Nephew said it was pretty good that they only lost 50 people to the Northeast Groovers reunion.

Archie, DeeDee, DP & his girlfriend Arielle, and I had some conversations. DeeDee talked about how the pool party wasn't successful because it was so late and that people get lost going there. She said even she got lost going there and she had been there before. Archie talked about giving Arielle an unpowered mower. She was interested - it would lead to good exercise.

Black Heart and Tasty were there.

Second Set
Halima said, "Ladies and gentlemen."
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Again - Halima said, "Hey 6'9"
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
3) Donnell-led "Can we do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
4) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
5) Donnell-led Hold the Note - Donnell said, "I've got brand new friends", the crowd shouted "Wind me up, Smoke"
6) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease)
Donnell did shout outs to Slick Rick and Charles Smith (former basketball player for Georgetown and the Boston Celtics)
7) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Halima again stood onstage instead of on the floor
8) Donnell-led Hey Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me (tease)
9) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Rare Essence's Work the Walls
Donnell did a shout out for Bojack's birthday (which started after midnight), even though Bojack wasn't there.
10) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Bojack, It's Your Birthday"
11) Mike-led Lap Dance - Donnell said, "Is that you Nikki, oh my God!", Donnell chanted "Swing your body, girl (directed specifically at Nikki)" with Mike chanting "Swing", Mike said, "You need to stop doing that, if you won't do it with me"

RE Angie was there.

I was talking with Slim Goodie and Mama Michelle. I was telling them about the Northeast Groovers reunion. Slim Goodie introduced me to Jessica, but Jessica said we already know each other. Slim Goodie said I needed to put all the details in. I told her no one criticized my blog like her. She said, "There's only one Mo". That's right, Monique is unique.

Donnell started joning. He said, "Be careful of the bartenders at Tradewinds they will roll you out on a dolly. I'll have a Bacardi and a barf bag. Googie, can I have one of those t-shirts that says I survived Bobby Smoot."
Vic said of Bobby Smoot (who was standing next to Googie), "He looks like a crackhead Jamaican."
Bobby Smoot responded, "Your hair will soon be gone. You'll be shaving your head like Donnell."
He also claimed his own hair was 12 inches long.
Vic responded, "All I see is forehead."
Bobby Smoot replied, "My forehead has been like this since the 6th grade."
They continued to go back and forth.

I thought I spotted Chris Wright from Suttle Thoughts talking to Omar. Omar asked me if I had had a good time last night. I told him, "Yes."

Northeast Groovers Reunion at the DC Tunnel
DC Tunnel, 2135 Queens Chapel Rd, NE Washington DC 20018

I arrived at around 9:45 PM. Duane Face was there; he said, "So you made it!" He introduced me to Larry, who had played guitar for Fatal Attraction with him. I went around the corner to call Stomp. When I came back, I spotted Tasty and Nita in the line. I asked why they were there since they said they won't be going out much. They said, "It's a reunion."

Jammin' Jeff came out and I talked with him. I told him how I knew Zachary Cutler. He said, "Zach's my man." Rah Rah and Stomp had separate limos and each had a male guest (Stomp's was his friend Kenny). I also spotted Black Heart in the line and said hello. At one point, they carried out some percussion equipment out, a guy in the line said - that's a bad sign. I said hello to Red as he walked in.

This was my first time at the DC Tunnel. Inside, I checked out the stage. There were two separate drum kits set up for Stomp (on the left side), and Jammin' Jeff (in the middle). The timbales and roto-toms were in the middle between the two drum kits. The keyboards - three sets of double keyboards, were on the right side, along with the guitar and bass (not yet set up). The congas were in the middle, but at the very back of the stage. Banners were hung up outside and in for WPGC. They let people in at a little before 11 PM.

Duane Face talked about the previous reunion also had both Stomp and Jammin' Jeff playing at the same time. He said Jammin' Jeff had told him they would both play all night, but he didn't tell him how they would work that out. Duane also told me how the 808 / sub-woofer sound all night he likes is done by the Northeast Groovers. He wondered why there were four mic stands and hoped the fourth was for a guest, possibly (Gene) Pratt, whom he said was with the Northeast Groovers in 1998. He said that this would be the first time many crews who were fans of Northeast Groovers would be together in the same place since they broke up. I asked how many sets there would be. He said they'd probably like to do three sets to prove a point, but would only do two because of fights. Unfortunately, this came true.

Black Heart teased me about being here. He said, "Donnell let you out?" Nita also came by and said, "You're cheating on Familiar Faces?" I pointed out to them that part of Familiar Faces was here...

I talked with Duane Face over by one of the platforms that had tripods for video cameras. Rah Rah stood nearby and teased me. He asked if I would be working the camera. Someone told me that Charlie and Los were out front.

Rah Rah said on the mic, "This is the best band in the city. It's been three years. The lack of originality is killing us in GoGo. We're going to make sure you get what you want because it might be the last time you get it, right here at the DC Tunnel. Someone was blessed today; he wasn't supposed to be here today but was able to make it." He wouldn't say who. He called up everyone "associated with Northeast Groovers" to the front of the stage. He said that Jammin' Jeff would lead a prayer and invited up Smokey Joe (drummer for Rah Rah's What? Band) to say a few words as well. He further said that Jammin' Jeff would lead a prayer. He then said, "You don't need to bow your head and close your eyes, but open your ears and your heart." Jammin Jeff's prayer: "Thank you God for anything we might have done and for bringing us together." He also hoped for "nothing to happen outside or inside tonight." Rah Rah then said, "Let's Party. Established 1988, the Northeast Groovers"

All song titles provided by my friend Duane Face and from OneManBand's post on the TMOTT board.
I am not 100% certain of the track order in my notes.
First Set (Started at 11:45 PM)
Rah Rah, 32, and Hugg on the front line, Stomp and Jammin' Jeff on drums, Smoke on Congas, Red on guitar
Rah Rah said, "I don't know which drummer will play first."
He then did birthday announcements
1) Lovely Day, lines "In love with me, Gonna be"
2) Ms. Piggy Beat, lines "Keep your head on"
3) ?, line "Stay"
Pause - Rah Rah "Not tired?"
Rah Rah said, "32 Beg Pardon."
32 said, "Yes, sir."
Rah Rah said, "Some of you are stirring up sh*t. I will kill the rumors, watch me."
He then hugged 32.
32 said, "Where did that come from?"
Rah Rah repeated that he wanted to "kill the rumors."
4) Lines "Dig Dug, He Hay, 58 yeah, F*cking Good" - the front line danced "what about, what y'all do, Southeast the real deal" The singer held the mic stand to the crowd so they could respond
5) Like Mike, lines "It's alright to be like Mike, against the ___, you knows me, one must __ to me" the crowd responded
I noticed then that they had a cowbell player
6) The Water
7) Lines "Y'all, lets rock on" - frontline danced A Pause
8) Nike Song - keyboard intro
Smoke switched from Congas to the frontline mic (Rah Rah's mic)
9) 2 Ya Head, Smoke rapped, lines "Feeling, Smoke, two tears on your head, realize?"
10) Lines "Gimme that beat, don't know what"
11) Booty Call - Smoke went back to the congas - long percussion solo
Rah talked about an @sshole on the radio on Thursday - they went back to a percussion solo
12) Gallop & Double Barrel Shotgun - percussion solo
13) Lines "DD Doc, listen to us, DC socket"
14) Familiar Faces' DIP - Rah called out "DIP, Stomp"
Rah Rah said "I want you to see the difference. It sounds different sicce to me, Familiar Faces."
15) Come Home?, lines "Woo, woo hoo, socket ___, Kari, Come Home"
16) Sound of the Police
17) 20 Minute Workout, lines "Stop yourself, put it in, come on baby, what's up" - the crowd responded
18) Funky Hump, lines "Bone dance, all the time"
19) Lines "Give it that, hey come, be real, hu-ah"
20) Lines "who what" - front line dance
21) Take It Off, line "Put that in all of the light, watch the __"
22) Lines "Yeah ___ smooth, toothache"
23) Line "Let me on?"
Rah said they were going to break
32 left after the first set because he had to perform with Rare Essence. Hugg also left after the first set.

During the break
1) NEG rapper (not Rah Rah or 32) - Trillville's Some Cut to pre-recorded music (not the regular music to the song)
2) Same rapper - unknown rap
Rah Rah talked for a bit

Land-ova said:

Damn, My man Draus perform @ the halftime show, I wanna be there to support my p.t.a. (Phamly Tize Affiliated) members but couldn't and glad.

Two other rappers performed during the break.

Stomp did his "Sir" joke he often does with Smoke, I don't understand it, but Smoke laughs

A guy behind me in a Barry Atwater jersey asked me if I felt out of place. I said, "No." He asked me if I had heard the Northeast Groovers before. I said this is my first time hearing them live. He said he'd been following them since he was 16-17, he's 25 now. He said it broke his heart when they broke up. He knew Duane Face as they later greeted each other.

Another guy said during the second set that it was good that I was there, taking in the GoGo culture.

A woman asked me why I was taking notes; she asked if I was a cop. I told her what I was doing.

Supa Dan came by and said hello.

Second Set
Michelle Blackwell and Kay Kay were among the people onstage. There were a lot more people on the stage for the second set.
Rah Rah said, "What are the words to that song, 'she gave me money'"
1) Strong crowd response - "You ain't f*cking with the ___ n*gger"
2) Probably sound check - Rare Essence's Take Me Out to the Go-Go - instrumental
3) DF - Bounce to This?, lines "Oh oh oh, all my ___, ain't no more" Michelle Blackwell? - "Ladies, Da Da, Da
4) Line "someone"
5) Kick It, lines "Whoever?" - the frontline danced
6) Bout It, Bout It, Rah Rah said something about 6'9 calming down - I never saw 6'9, Los was onstage, as were many women, lines "DC N*gga?" they performed the music to Survivor's Eye of the Tiger
There was a pause
7) The Basement, lines "That's 1, 2, 3, let's get, let 'em work, one more time, da da"
8) Rah Rah said, "Let's do it real slow" - not many lyrics, lines "Doo da doo"
9) Pop that Coochie, keyboard made sound like da da da, line "Pop that coochie?"
10) Lines "Water, jam on it" - prominent keyboard
11) Van Damme - nice long percussion solo
12) Rah Rah said, "Hands up" crowd responded (could this be Get your Hands in the Air?"
13) Goosebumps
Pause
Rah said that's it
14) Someone played the Inspector Gadget theme on their keyboard(s)
I noticed a number of people onstage drank directly from Champagne bottles
15) DF - Pop That Ass, lines "I don't know"
16) Line "Fill it up"
17) Lines "D*ck on ___, freak your baby"
18) "Stomp dog something"
There was a fight
Rah Rah said, "We don't do that fighting here"
Rah Rah said, "88 is pissing me off, making me go hard"
19) Southside, Southside, "Southside, let it roll" Rocky theme music, "We are the Southeast Groovers"
Rah Rah stopped them
"Give me some money"
Rah said, "If you don't want us to leave, stop fighting"
"Bigger d*ck", they performed the Rocky theme music
20) Drop the Bomb, lines "I want to fly away"
21) Crank That, the guy behind me insisted I put down my pen and paper and clap
22) Lines "Grease that crack?"
Rah Rah said, "The keyboard players ain't getting nothing on me"
Supa Dan told me to do a good write up, this is his favorite band
There was a real long pause
23) Da Rocket interrupted by a fight, keyboard made a sound like "hoo"
Rah Rah said, "Y'all need to settle down"
I said to Duane Face that it's too bad, he was right. He said, "I wasn't guessing, I knew this would happen".
The lights came on and stayed on
24) The Fight, lines "This fight, yeah hands up, fight, fight, to the jail" - interrupted by another fight
Rah Rah said, "Stop this"
25) Ruff Rider
Rah Rah said, "They say we gotta go!"
"Boomp, boo bo da"
Rah Rah said, "Smoke be playing the beat"
Another fight
26) Basic Beat
27) Drop the Bomb
Duane Face pointed out that Smokey Joe, formerly of Fatal Attraction, played drums on Jammin' Jeff's drum kit

When I went outside, two cop cars were parked outside, one with its sirens on. Cops were breaking up a fight by two of the cars parked across the street. I noticed walking to my car, that a number of cars had tickets on them - a cop wrote them up as I walked by. Black Heart said good bye, his car was behind the cop, hopefully he didn't get a ticket. I was relieved that I didn't.

Other than the fights and the massive amount of cigarette smoke (making me cough and irritating my eyes), I really enjoyed the show.
Apparently according to Duane Face, OneManBand, and YoungOne, I am also missing:

NE In Da House
Hey Hoe!
We Came to Party!
Grab a Girl
Dip
Horny Horns
Rumble
Off Da Muscle
Generation X
In my Automobile
DJ Screw version of Walk

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

Ray, Angie, Tracy, Tim (LJ), Tamara, Darrell, Mara, 6'9, June and his wife Shadonna, and Stacey were there.

A guy sitting next to me asked me what my affiliation was with the band.

Familiar Faces
First Set
The line up was: Mike Muse, Halima, Donnell, DP, Dwayne Lee, Bobby Smoot (Bass), Lorenzo, Godfather, Stomp, Smoke and Jacques.
Bobby stood in a different spot than Doc would normally stand - on the right, in front of Godfather so he could hear better.
1) Instrumental
2) Grover Washington Jr.'s Mr. Magic
Donnell said, "Give a second for the bass player to get it together."
Tracy (Bobby's younger sister) said, "Don't do that."
Donnell replied, "What you say, little sis?"
Halima said, "Good Evening. Hey Mike. Y'all right?"
3) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Didn't Cha Know - she did some nice improving. Donnell said to Halima, "Just a little more." So she did.
Halima said, "Happy Birthday Charles"
4) Halima-led Rodgers & Hart's My Funny Valentine - excellent as usual
Mike used the same mic as Halima had
5) Mike-led John Legend's Ordinary People
The dance floor filled during
6) Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy
7) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You - long percussion solo
8) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima used some very different nonverbal arm & hand gestures
9) Mike-led Prince's Purple Rain

Cherone, Cookie, Sharika, Yaquim, RE Angie, Go-Go Mickey, and DeeDee were there.

The DJ said that Mike would wear a speedo to the pool party and that Donnell would wear a halter top.

Rah and Nikiya were there.

Second Set
Donnell did announcements including the one for the pool party.
He said, "We're going to lie, it is at Oxon Hill Country Club."
Donnell said something about Cherone tolerating Mike
Mike said, "Can you say professional 'Bama?"
1) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down
Jazz was there, he took pictures
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
3) Donnell-led "Do it for the ladies/fellas, Oh my God!"
4) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva - the frontline danced during it
5) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You
6) Donnell-led Hold the Note
Donnell did a shout out to someone from L!ssen (possibly E who I saw later on) and to Blue from Y2K in the audience
7) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Stars Be Partyin'
8) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut / Notorious BIG's Warning - Go-Go Mickey sat in on congas (and stayed there) / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes
9) Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Go-Go Mickey played timbales / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
10) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That
11) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease) - with Donnell doing the keyboard sounds vocally / Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
12) Donnell-led Vinnie D's Porno Star?
13) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine - Donnell initially did the keyboard sounds vocally
14) Go-Go Mickey solo - the crowd shouted "Go-Go Mickey" - Jacques played cowbell
15) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Twenty Minute Workout - Mickey played congas and timbales at the same time - a female fan rapped
16) Donnell acapella Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane
17) Godfather played something I didn't recognize - I asked him later what it was, he said "Slap that bitch, whip that trick" - Djayz' Whoop That Trick
18) Donnell-led 911 (tease)
19) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up) (tease)
Donnell joked, "Go-Go Mickey's not playing well. That's it give him a drink".
Despite what Donnell said, Mickey kept playing.
20) Donnell-led Common's The Corner - there was a guest male rapper - it might have been Whitie, but I'm not sure
21) Donnell & Halima-led Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp
Many of my favorite Familiar Faces shows are the ones Go-Go Mickey sits in on and this was no exception.

I went over and talked with Dwayne and Blue. Blue asked me my real name, she only knows me as FunkMasterJ. I told her - Jordan. She then asked Dwayne his name, she only knew him as DL. He said it stands for Dwayne Lee.

Los and Chi Ali were there.

Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private location

Familiar Faces
I walked in behind Godfather and his son. Donnell was there.

DP and his sons Derek Jr. and Darrell, Doc, Bobby Smoot, Stomp (who only stayed for a short time, wearing his Raw Image Under Construction shirt), Mike Smith, Dwayne Lee, Duane Face, Nephew, Mike Muse and his son Michael, Halima, Smoke and much later, Lorenzo all arrived.

At one point Bobby had Nephew hold his bass while he left the room. When he came back, he said, "You didn't touch the keys, did you?" Nephew said, "It would sound better if I had."

The younger Michael Muse had photos from the Miami trip. I gave up my seat for Halima - I realize I'm only a guest. She spent some time cutting up a pair of jeans. Mike Muse said his son could take that and make it into a Volkswagen.

The older Michael Muse wore a green lantern shirt. I asked him where the ring was. He said to Doc, "Did you know the original Green Lantern was black?" Doc said, "I only knew the white one I grew up with."

Bobby Smoot asked about the song from the video. Donnell said that was actually a remix of Lap Dance. They joked about how it is different, changes in every performance.

The rehearsal was spent going over songs already in their repertoire for Bobby Smoot and Mike Smith (who was going to be subbing for Stomp on Friday). Donnell asked Bobby what he knew how to play and they went over what he didn't. He said he knew the Stylistics' People Make the World (Go Round) really well even though he hadn't played it. They went over: Erkyah Badu's Didn't Cha Know and On & On, and Bobby Valentino's Slow Down. Next they went over Toto's Georgy Porgy. When Godfather brought his son the week before, his son didn't say a word the whole time. This time he talked a lot.

They next went over Faith Evans' Mesmerized and Again. They laughed that I knew all the song titles. Donnell said she could go straight to the verse, didn't need an intro. Halima said, "I'm waiting for you to stop talking (during performances)." Nephew said, "You'll be waiting all night." They next went over Gwen Stefani's (Donnell said Gloria Estafan) Hollaback Girl.

Bobby said they hadn't gone over Mariah Carey's It's Like That. I said, "Oh, yes you have". I especially remembered that since Nephew asked me the title of the song while they were working on it last week. Halima called me "the GoGo stenographer". Mike Muse laughed. I told him that Donnell had called me that before she did. He called me that when he asked me to take down as he told the people at Tradewinds that if they went to Miami and didn't use their package, that they would have to pay to attend the events. Mike said they should get me a stenography machine.

Doc re-iterated that they should make a website about me. He left early because he was going from rehearsal to the airport for his vacation. I am not sure when chronologically in the rehearsal he left.

Donnell told Smoke that he could leave since he wouldn't be at the performance that Mike Smith was sitting in at (because he and Stomp would be at the Northeast Groovers reunion). They next worked on Fantasia's Free Yourself. Donnell said that they kept getting slower and slower with the performances of it. Donnell said that Halima needs to indicate the temp to Godfather, who starts off the song. I don't know if she is supposed to indicate the tempo in performances as well - I haven't noticed it, but I haven't been watching for it either. She uses hand motions and snaps her fingers to indicate the tempo. They went over the method so that she can indicate the one. I then asked her the name of the Floetry song. She didn't know. Mike Muse said was Say Yes. They discussed the vocal methods in it. Mike said he used to be able to sing that high when he was ten years old, but it would kill him now. He said that Tamara (whose name he couldn't recall) could do that. Since they were done with Halima's songs, Donnell said she could leave. Halima asked me to walk her to her car so she wouldn't get jumped. I did so.

I went back in. I told Donnell that they had gone over My Funny Valentine with Halima last week. Duane Face wore a thin bandana - perhaps emulating Donnell? When Lorenzo arrived, Godfather left and allowed him to take his place. They went over: Marvin Gaye's I Want You, Anthony Hamilton's Since I Seen't You - They did one of the changes like Bobby Caldwell's What You Won't Do for Love - the actual change was similar, but still different, Bobby Caldwell's What You Won't Do for Love, and The Stylistics' People Make The World (Go Round). Bobby already knows John Legend's Ordinary People. Lorenzo suggested Ruff Endz' Someone to Love You and I Dreamed You. Duane Face went and played the congas.

Bobby said he knows Prince's Take Me With You. Lorenzo said he knows Prince's Purple Rain. Donnell said he didn't know Lorenzo knew that, that's why he hasn't called it lately. They decided to go over Ordinary People anyway. Finally, they went over Rare Essence songs - Marinda, One on One, Take Me Out to the Go-Go, and Lock It. I told Donnell I had emailed him the lyrics to Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp. He said it was hard to reply in emails. I talked with him about the two emails I forwarded to him. He said he played in Petworth with Sayers. They said if necessary, they would have another rehearsal on Thursday.

When Duane Face went to leave, I talked with him about us both going to the Northeast Groovers reunion. He said he went to the HOBO shop to get one of the old iron-on shirts to wear to the occasion. He said they had to look in the back and dust off the shirt. I asked if he could help me with track titles. He said yes, but he'd be partying and that was his first priority.

DJ Rico's Birthday Party at Tradewinds
Tradewinds Night Club, 5859 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20748

There were camera men using still and moving cameras throughout the show.

Spur of the Moment consisted of Bryan Mills on Sax, a guitar player, a bass player, a drummer, a percussionist and FF's Lorenzo on keyboard.
In the middle of their set, they called up a guest vocalist Stoney Ellis. Prior to that, all their songs (none of which I recognized) were instrumentals. One of the songs Stoney sang was familiar to me as a song that Mike sings, but I didn't recognize it. Stoney went to break. Next they performed Earth, Wind & Fire's Shining Star. Donnell was the only one dancing on the dance floor until close to the end. Stoney came back for a final song.

I said, "Double dipping" to Lorenzo.

Los, Angie, Shawn, Tim (LJ), Tracy, Felecia, Tyrell, and Salih "E" Williams of the L!ssen Band were there.

Familiar Faces
First Set
Charlie played again tonight.
A woman named Kim Nightingale danced in front of Mike for the entire set
1) Halima-led Fantasia's Free Yourself - the first time this has started a set, excellent as usual
2) Mike-led Marvin Gaye's I Want You
3) Percussion solo
4) Halima-led Erykah Badu's Cleva / Stevie Wonder's Superstition bassline - the frontline danced
Donnell called Angie "FF Angelica"
Mike said "This is for Rico on his 47th birthday"
5) Mike-led John Legend's Used to Love U
Mike said something to Kim and then said, "That's what Sugar Bear would say"
6) Donnell-led Ludacris' Number One Spot
Donnell called E up to the stage
7) E rapped a free flowing medley - 4 Bones/Balls, Dayz' Whoop That Trick, DIP, Common's The Corner, DC Crankin', Tradewinds Swerve with D-Floyd, 50 Cent's In Da Club, D-Floyd always making new toys, Hold it"
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
DJ Rico went on stage - Donnell called him "Rico Suave"
DJ Rico got on the mic and talked for most of the break - I was in the kitchen so I didn't hear what he said, but Doc said he was telling stories.

L-Boogie was there.

E was also in the kitchen with FF (James was there - the first time I saw him tonight). There was a lot of woofing between and about E. They teased him about his sandals. Donnell told him to stay in the kitchen to keep them honest.

I talked about Lorenzo douple dipping, they didn't all know he had played for Spur of the Moment tonight. Godfather asked him if he had played for a woman on flyers in the kitchen, he had. Doc talked about how he would get confused playing that many gigs. Dwayne said he had played in another gig earlier that night. He had played with Heaven Sent; Ayre Rayde and Prophecy had also performed. Ayre Rayde has most of the original members, but Prophecy doesn't have Kevin, who hasn't performed since he founded Night Flight. Kiggo had performed with Prophecy because his cousin is in the band.

Doc said they should put more about me on the website. I told him Halima had said she should interview me and have me put that on my website. He asked how I got into GoGo. I told him it was a bit of a long story (you can read it here). He said it must have been a while ago, since he knew of my website years ago. I said I became a GoGo fan in 1995. I started my website in Fall 1998, when I learned HTML in a class at the University of Miami. He said he had thought I was black based on my website. I told him that a lot of people have thought that. Even one of the grad schools I applied to in 2002 thought I was even thought I checked the Caucasian box on my application.

They talked a little more about my dancing the night before. Packy said I thought I was at a rock concert, I didn't let go. Lorenzo asked me if I had asked her to dance. I told him that she had actually just come up and started dancing with me.

RE Angie was there.

A girl asked me if the guitar player was single, I told her he has a steady girlfriend. He later thanked me for that.

Second Set
Kim again danced in front of or behind Mike most of the set
Donnell said Rico we're going to play your song.
1) Mike-led Tony Terry's Freaky Little Game
Donnell called DJ Rico onstage - he acted as a back up talker/singer throughout the set
2) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
3) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - "Go Rico, It's Your Birthday"
4) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Halima did heavy breathing / Donnell-led Rare Essence's Hook Me Upa
5) Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
6) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That
7) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You (tease)
8) Donnell-led Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love (tease) / Rare Essence's Spotlight / Rare Essence's Get on the Wagon?
9) Donnell-led Vinnie D's $55 Motel (tease)
10) Mike-led Lisa Stansfield's All Around the World (tease)
11) Donnell-led Vinnie D's Porno Star?
12) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Geraldine (tease) - Donnell did the effects vocally at the beginning
13) Rare Essence's Lock It - instrumental tease
Donnell said, "Let's see how old Rico is"
14) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Roll Call
Donnell said, "He's not old enough..."
Halima laughed
15) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25..." / Rare Essence's Work the Walls
16) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
17) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time
18) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Uh Oh (Heads Up)
19) Percussion solo
20) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - Rico danced and the crowd shouted, "Go Rico" / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes
21) Donnell-led Tupac's Hail Mary
Donnell called up Los to dance
22) Percussion solo - Mike called Los "Rubberband Man" (I don't know if this was a referrence to the Spinners song?)
23) Mike-led Lap Dance - Donnell chanted "Swing your body, girl"
A girl grinded with me from behind, and another girl danced with me in front - but rebuffed me from freaking her
Donnell said to the girl who had grinded with me, when she danced by herself, "I like how you're doing it girl"
24) Donnell acapella Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp (tease) - Halima completed it, she knew more of the lyrics than he did
Donnell said of E, he's really Ezekial Bartholomew
The rest of FF said, No, his name is Salih
Donnell said to some girl, "Don't go listen to L!ssen, come see us please"
Donnell said, "Their talking about your sandals E, they're saying they're "Passion of the Christ" sandals."