Rare Essence: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
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- Опубліковано 1 сер 2017
- Suraya Mohamed | July 19, 2017 - Dominated by drive and momentum, heavy on percussion and bass, go-go music is all about the beat. Live, "songs" can continue on for half an hour, as the percussion continues to simmer and punctuate between and across different pieces. "That's why we call it go-go, because it goes on and goes on and goes on," as guitarist Andre Johnson put it in a documentary film.
While the Tiny Desk doesn't allow for that kind of expansive get-down - though they did play seven songs - this visit by Rare Essence perfectly encapsulated the genre's incomparable meld of soul, R&B and, most importantly, funk (with a dash of Afro-Cuban influence).
Rare Essence emerged not long after go-go itself did, beginning as a group in 1976 in Washington D.C. Ever since the group has kept a steady schedule playing around town and around the world - they have ten shows scheduled for the month of July alone.
At the Tiny Desk, the group's closer brought everyone home - much too soon, no matter how late - with "Overnight Scenario," a classic. Sing along when you hear it...
Three in the morning, the Pancake House
Four in the morning, we'll be rolling to my house
Five in the morning, the lights go out
Six in the morning, you can hear her start to shout
Seven in the morning, she'll be calling a cab, calling a cab...
Eight in the morning, talking 'bout the fun she had
Nine in the morning, she just getting home
Talking about the overnight scenario, scenario...
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Set List
"Down For My Niggas"
"Rock This Party"
"Freaky Deak"
"One On One"
"Bad Bad"
"Lock It"
"Overnight Scenario"
Musicians
Anthony Andre "Whiteboy" Johnson (guitar, vocals); James "Funk" Thomas (vocals); Charles "Shorty Corleone" Garris (vocals); Leroy "RB" Battle, Jr. (keyboards); Calvin "Killer Cal" Henry (vocals); Michael Baker (bass); Kenneth "Quick" Gross (drums); Samuel "Smoke" Dews (congas); Kym Clarke (trumpet); Derryle Valentine (sax, flute)
Credits
Producers: Suraya Mohamed, Niki Walker; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Niki Walker, Tsering Bista, Morgan Noelle Smith, Colin Marshall; PA: Jenna Li; Photo: Liam James Doyle/NPR.
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I almost choked on my lemonade when I saw this title...GOGO ON NPR?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?! Much Respect!!!!
Me too!! This bang
Mama Mimi 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤗
M Moody Trouble Funk has Also Preformed on Tiny Desk NPR!
You weren't dah only one
I was thinking this too- how I’d I miss this- I listen to npr everyday- haha
This is a DC, MD, VA thing children. We call it go-go music, it's a form of call and response over stellar percussion. It's a thing that we grew up on. Don't ruin our moment with your baggering and disparaging comments please.
Andre Carter II OMIGOD, WE GET IT!!!! IT'S A DMV THING!!! JESUS!!!!
I'm from NYC but I always respected that ya'll created your own lane. It's great music, done by great musicians.
Miss home
Tell you bout the 1 on 1....Go Go is an unreal Culture and hard for all to feel but the DC, MD< and VA understand and relate all day way...
Absolutely!!!! Da #DMVYALL!!! #AAYYEE
ive never heard of this genre of music, and i accidentally clicked on this video instead of angel olsen, but i cannot bring myself to click away. this is so electrifying. i guess im obsessed now
This my dear is called GoGo. It’s the official music of DC and widely listened to in the Maryland and Virgina States which is affectionately known as the DMV. Its use of percussions, smooth melodies and call/response style is a sure party starter
Welcome to DC
Welcome to DC GO GO Music!!!!!
Me too! As a teen in the early 1970s in San Diego, I was fortunate enough to hear early (?) go-go music on alternative radio. The percussion wowed me, and there was some call/response, early rap…? It was unlike anything I’d heard. My friends and I loved it but it was a flash in the pan here. It didn’t get steady play and disappeared in the onslaught of bigger bands that could still do a 3-minute hit. I spent the next 40 years swearing that there had been some awesome music that got drowned out by disco in the 80s. Nobody I knew grew up in the DMV area, so I had no way to test out a memory.
I didn’t even know it was called go-go until 2019, and am now just rediscovering it in retirement. I might be older, but this was one of my bucket list things to do: find out about this music. So glad I found this video!
@@clapptothis8837 we even listen in the panhandle of West Virginia
RARE ESSENCE on NPR Tiny Desk!!!!!! GoGo Music getting LOVE!!!!! GREAT look NPR ... DC STAND UP!
YO!!!!!
@@pepsifan1364 uztu it uit s7
Kl
))))))]00
This way!!
NPR never ceases to amaze me! It's only right they do go-go since they are in DC. Thank y'all for exposing the world to this great music! All my DC people know what's up with that overnight scenario!
5 in the morning the lights go out
I'm a city girl from Omaha, Nebraska but was introduced to Go-Go about 13 years ago from my daughter's father who is from Virginia so it was played in my house from sun up to sun down. Favorites such as, Chuck Brown (The Godfather), Little Benny and the Masters, Rare Essence, Northeast Groovers, Backyard Band etc...Love it! DMV stand up!!
shaunita johnson City girl... from where?🤔
@@jeromebrooks7
Lol. Good brotha, please don't sleep Omaha........
Big respect to him for bringing that DMV sound to Omaha
@@jeromebrooks7 I'm from Omaha, Nebraska
@@toussaintalston7678 Thank you!!
I'm an Amish-Mennonite whiteboy who grew up in the DC 'hood of Kenilworth, so I heard go-go on the streets all the time but it wasn't really approved of by my parents. Finding this recording is like stepping back in time to my childhood, let me tell you, and the bucket drummers in the alley and the speakers set up in somebody's yard when they had a party. Absolutely love it. Nice job Rare Essence of making the genre fit into 16 minutes for the NPR world.
So glad this posting found its way back to you; and you found your way back to it!❤😂🎉
I can't ever think of DC without Go-Go... it's just impossible.. that sound... I swear it will never die, I just love it.
I’m from the Baltimore area so we outwardly hate on Go-Go but we all secretly love it and rep it when we are outside of the region. ❤🎶🥁
I love that you admitted this cause same! The way I used to go to Hammerjacks and have a ball but came home and was like BMore clubs is wack.
BECAUSE Y'ALL WE'RE FOLLOWERS TO NY.
😂😂❤❤
We know.
I'm from Virginia, currently in Orlando and any chance I get to hear Go Go it sets my soul happy! It's not a sound that everyone can appreciate, but if you're from the "DMV" you "get it" LOLOL
Hey @teebee I am DC transplant in Orlando. Are there any spots here to hear gogo?
@@tyevequepr.tie-a-vec AYEEEE Whats up! And to my knowledge, there are NO spots here that play gogo music! The closest I've gotten, is a few years ago when Fantasia had a concert downtown and she paid homage to GoGo - the crowd didn't get it, I went crazy! LOL
@@Teebee407 Since you've been here have you found a way to connect that includes a little bit of D.C.? Btw, thanks for responding.
@@tyevequepr.tie-a-vec
My old band, Raw Deal, is now based in Miami. They have a show on the 27th @ Fins And Things Bar & Grill from 6-9pm.
It got a new orleans feel to it..I had to look it up cuz my coworker from dc and I ain't know what he was talking about
Wow, GoGo on NPR. I'm proud
Trouble Funk just filmed today (April 9, 2018)
As a musician in the DMV, I am too.
Props to whoever running this tiny desk, chuck brown, rare essence,...can we get junkyard next?
I'm from Maryland and I grew up on this Funk and wouldn't change it for the world. Took this music to Morehouse College in the 80's and blew their minds
I'm not even from DC but, but as a baby in the 70s when you've literally been spoon fed funk as the musical diet of your childhood, all these horn riffs on top of percussion sends my funk era inner child straight to heaven. Also gotta love how silly and playful the lyrics are: it takes you back to a time where funk and soul was fun, and just straight ahead call and response party music ...chanted from the stage and the crowd with a wink and a smile. This was a perfect " energy/mood lifter pause" for the afternoon. Nice...
Go go is a blend of blues funk n Cuban music invented by chuck brown who used 2 play n a cuban band n the 70s. U no they love their horns. Lol
This pleases my D.C. Soul like no other
Born in Clay Terrace, lived in Lincoln Heights, and 57th Street. DC to the core, and Go-Go music is ours.
Uhm does Chevy Chase count as homeboy? Not far off and I love Chuck Brown?
When I first moved to the Washington DC area when I was 13, I would always go to visit my cousin who lived in Landover, Maryland. One day, when I was visiting him, I heard a sound (music) coming from outside that I had never heard before -- it sounded like drums, but a little different. I walked onto the balcony and saw kids beating on buckets -- It sounded SO good!! I asked my cousin who they were, and he said, "oh, that's just 'The Junkyard Band,' they do that all the time," like it was no big deal. I wanted to know more about this amazing music! I was used to hearing Hip-Hop, R&B, Soca and Reggae -- but nothing sounded anything like that. I asked him "what kind of music is that??" He said, "it's Go-Go music -- one day I'll take you to a Go-Go." When I was older, he did -- Rare Essence was there -- and I almost lost my mind!! I was mesmerized..... 😮
Great story. I can only imagine it's 10x better live. I think it's the only genre that's really made to be heard live even though it sounds great on tape too
Great Story... But maryland is not DC
RARE ESSENCE, DMV we in the house with our own sound, GOGO MUSIC!!!! I am loosing my MIND!!!! I am here in 2019 and I am like a kid in the candy store in the GOGO Community!!! Thanks NPR Tiny Desk!!!! Rare Essence should be in the ROCK and ROLL HALL of FAME for REAL!!!! Love Rare Essence!!!! GOGO lives forever because this belongs to US, DMV!!!!!!
So good. Growing up in the DC area in the 90's, listing to WPGC where every weekend they'd jam RE and other go-go bands until the wee hours of the night...this brings back memories.
Yep 2020
mikeobryan16 I’m still here ! Hbu ??
Boy whatt!! So many memories
Give it up for Smoke on the congos PLEASE!
Yessss.
I didn't know that was smoke until they showed him up close king of congos
He's what makes it Go-Go, right?
I was looking for micky be on
Smoke is world class for realz
I love my home. Thank you NPR for highlighting DC culture like this
Yes ! Me too ! Up town N.W. 14st💯💥😇
Visited DC as a 14 year old for a week and attended an outdoor GoGo concert in a park. Never sweated so much dancing and flirting with those DMV girls. First time that I receive a fake number.
😅
Lol good times
The fake number part 🤣🤣🤣
🤣sounds about right.
Sounds accurate af
Go-Go is such an amazing art. Growing up in Suitland/District Heights, I always heard it around me. It was the rhythm of the entire DC metro area. Even if it wasn’t your favorite genre to listen to, if you were from the area, you felt it. I’m glad to see Rare Essence get some well deserved spotlight. And I’m glad to see the love in the comments. If you’re a musician of any kind, you can definitely learn something from Go-Go so if you don’t have any on your playlist right now, you should change that.
I don't know if this is the "Bam" that I knew from Oakcrest Towers, but, same, bro!
Perfect addition to Tiny Desk history. Love it.
Clay Myers-Bowman u from dc ?
Overnight Scenario hits every time!
dude on the congas is funky af. I enjoyed this
Anthony Foxx -That's"Smoke",a young D.C.legend in his own right. His hands are so fast that on some strikes you can hear them but not see them!.Youngblood is a beast
Yes he is good !!
Thats DC for you. Cool af and hands be going crazy!
Straight talk!💖💖💖💖💖🖤🖤💖💖💖💖😎
I'm not used to this style of music...I like it.!
Adriana Auten Go Go music from DC area
DMV area music...
you have great taste of music!
I remember GoGo just in three areas Va. D.C and Maryland and now its world wide 😁😁 I'm from Virginia and listen to Go Go since Trouble Funk came out and RE and Chuck Brown and Junkyard and R.I.P Little Benny and Chuck Brown 😁😁😁
Richmond Va Im glad we still out there to
@@gregoryhoward5987 804. GoGo up in Ivorys on Broad! We got it in!
I live in ARIZONA but my husband is from DMV area I fell in love with gogo music the same day I fell in love with him...day 1!!! So glad to see them on tiny desk!🙌🏿
NYC in here and I have to say - I LOVE DC, DMV GO GO MUSIC! If you can't appreciate it - I don't know what to tell you. Because it's 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥... It's like what the food is in New Orleans...You can't go there without enjoying the food!
'once you learn to love yourself, you can love everybody else'
Teri Scallon yes! That line stood out to me too!
Love when Tiny Desk goes FULLY DC.
DC UP IN HERE!!!!! R. E. Much Love & Respect. Rest in Power Our GodFather of Go-Go Chuck Brown(DC STILL LOVE u SO MUCH), Little Benny, & Reds of Reds & The Boys.
We who grew up listening to Essence Love this! You gotta have rhythm to feel this!
Untrue - I have zero rhythm yet live by Trouble Funk, Chuck Brown, RE and EU hahaha.
I LOVE listening to Rare Essence they be working the hell outta those Congo's. Their style of music is just straight up funky. I LOVE IT !!!!
I don't think I go a day without listening to GoGo. I took it to Houston and now to Medellin Colombia. Sometimes I go home to DC just to hear Gogo. I even drove to Austin for sxsw a few years ago to hear Essence.
I bet seeing them live is a riot. Get your groove on!
Lisa Runda A RIOT??? I have never gone to a music concert, and seen people in the aisles laughing their asses off. You Caucasians sure say some weird shit, lol.
Lisa Runda -You go once live and you will feel it and live it the rest of your life!
Lisa Runda sure is!
Riot ain't got to mean it's funny. "Riot: (noun) an impressively large or varied display of something."
It's an experience worth having
For everyone who doesn't know this is called Go-Go and it the sound of the DMV (D.C, Maryland, Virginia) this is the old school style of Go-Go...New school Go-Go is mainly what the younger generation listens to such as the band XIB (new school type)
Malique Simpson I haven't listened yet, but what's the difference?
@@futureworldx6421 old school keeps it in the pocket & socket (that 2 step groove you hear)
New school has more of a focus on bounce beat.
Fall down the GOGO rabbit hole. You’ll love it.
This is true DMV (DC area) music. I feel bad for those who haven't experienced the astounding groove and funk that is go-go before. I love being from where I'm from lol.
cinemasquare20 No doubt!!
There is no other place in America like DMV, i love my home....if you did not grow up here, you would not understand
karlos roberts Not true... I'm from New York, and I understand the Go-Go scene, and the whole DMV thing, "Baby boy", I most certainly "dew" homeboy, how about "yew"? Lol. (Now, does that sound like someone who doesn't understand? LOL).
@@futureworldx6421 "Dew" & "Yew" is a Baltimore accent and they aren't apart of the D.M.V. (D.C.)
Lock IT Lock IT
I grew up in DMV (Woodbridge) and love this! Brings back good memories. And now, my kid teaches percussion! I asked someone in Milwaukee if they remembered this music. I didn't realize it was regional. Thought everyone was jammin to this!
Crankin.... Yeah P.G. County where u at?????
Lanham, Maryland 20706 baby💯💯💯💯✌️✌️✌️🔥🔥❤️❤️❤️
My family is from MD and I got introduced to Go-Go in high school and as a musician I love it. I’m from New York and I blast it every chance I get. I love it.
Chocolate City, PG County, Mo County....Stand up!
Rare Essence are a legendary party band, and it's amazing that they can tone it down to a more relaxed show and it still works.
wow!!! Respect to NPR for having Rare Essence up there!!!!
Why do I watch this almost everyday at work??? It's definitely one of my top 5 Tiny Desk performances.
They coulda just hit 20 Minute Workout and that woulda shut the house down lol...You can tell they were holdin back a lil bit..The audience probably couldn't handle that PURE 100% crank lol....
Ayyye DMV made it to NPR🤘🏾
christopher hudson NPR is located in dc
One of my favorite GO GO Groups
Go-Go music at NPR! Dope start to the day
literally jamming all the way through. So grateful for this.
Back in the day, the ICE BOX, Club U, DC live on the GOGO Floor!!!! Wowwww
When I listened to this song, tears fell from my eyes... It reminded me of my youth when I lived in Kenilworth Avenue, Hyattsville, PG County MD.. Then moved to NW Washington DC.. I really Miss DMV so freaking much.. 😢😢😢
From MD. I remember hearing Overnight Scenario on the radio as a young white kid from Annapolis. I will always love that song and all the other gogo I heard after. Thank you Magic 95.9 and 92Q!
Lol 😂
Respect
I don't even really LIKE go-go music, but when it's played at a party, that shit is the livest music that you have ever heard. It gets more turnt up than Hip-Hop, sometimes. It's such a different scene down there. I respect Go-Go music a lot. It takes a lot of dudes to make it sound really good, but not everyone can make it sound good. Trouble Funk, EU, and Rare Essence, have always been the innovators.
The go-go pops off. I went to my first concert and left soaking wet with cramps in my legs lol. Was a different t vibe entirely!
Rare Essence on NPR Tiny Desk. Werk!! Love it. Lock it Lock it. Wow I can't believe it. Then they hit hit the "3 in the morning" and I knew it was over. The power of music to bring people together is amazing. Thank you NPR. Between this and the Tank and the Bangas set Im done. 😊😊😊
I love rare essence, being from the DMV area I grew up on go-go music.
Some true D.C. shit, much thanx to NPR for exposing the world to Go Go. If u ain't from D.C. u just don't understand.
This absolutely made my day!! I love Rare Essence! Now if you all bring The Junk Yard Band, Northeast Groovers or Backyard band.. I wouldn't know what to do 😎💃🥁🛢️
AAAAAAWWWW D.C.!!!!!!!
Being as though I’m from Baltimore I grew up hating Gogo when it would come on 93.9 Or 95.5 I would get so mad but once I turned 29(I just turned 30) I feel in love I am so mad I ever thought any way about it...... I love npr for this man
It's Israel's percussion!!
Love this, real band with lots of talented players. All of them are very together and playing in time. Love it!
I'm from uptown N.W. Washington D.C. and RE is my child hood sound track of my young life ! FACTS! 💯💢😇❤
1 4 zone 4 life! Uptown all day
RE Yessss! Norfeast DC right here! Happy feet y'all! Wish Lil Benny & Foots was here.
All I can say is wow!!!! Super excited to see these guys representing.
Ehhhhhhh NW,NE,SW, NE stand up!!! Crystal Skating ring brings back memories
MoorMelanin Plz I’m tempted to put my number on here,so you and all your lovely-ness can call me😁
Yep ! Uptown N.W. D.C.
... and Silver Spring? Lol
Yasssssss, that was the spot every Saturday!!!! The good ole days.
Anacostia Park concerts!
Now I wanna go to the gogo
W
I remember being a kid in MD and staying up for the local DC hip hop to switch to go-go. Memories!!!
Yeah I could listen to this for hours, oh yes.
Funk is my dude .It sounds amazing. Rest in power, Chuck & Benny
Junkyard is another element of Go Go that needs to be seen on here plz get them....NPR
I've never heard this before. It's fun and upbeat.
Miss them old 93.9 crank sessions 9:30 at night in the car with my family.
GOGO is why every other person you meet in the DMV can play the drums😂.
chingon! grupos con sonido bien grande se siente la naturalidad de su musica! felicidades! y saludos desde mexico
Lock It...back in my college days at O.D.U
Saw this on the tiny desk podcast!!! My youth yo!! I’m a Texas girl but this takes me back man!!
They still got it!!!!
I was a white kid from northwest and then I went to middle and high school with kids from all over the city. It felt like GoGo was just the soundtrack of life, always in the background. And RE was my favorite. These bands are some of the best party bands in the world. There is nothing else like GoGo.
I’m a true southern belle (South & North Carolina) and I’ve always had mad love for Go-Go music since I was I introduced to it as a teenager. 🤎
Backyard next
Daiyaan Winston Yessss Please !
Yessssss Gawd!
One of the few things I really liked about my time in school in D.C. was Go Go, This group, Trouble Funk and of course The Godfather Chuck Brown!
Thank you BET and Funk EU, Ms Hall. Ms Henson for spotlighting go go on California June 2019 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Hold the entire phone!!!! Tiny Desk reppin DMV and I'm just now seeing it! The way I just went off soon as they started!!! Needed this tonight👏🏽
Why did I not know this existed. Ayeeeee. The Wickedest Band Alive. ❤❤❤
I am so happy finally ppl from around the world can now hear my city's music called Go-Go
If you not from D.C. or you don't Understand the Origin of GoGo music, you won't get this. Go find some Chuck Brown n do ya research!
TELL 'EM!!! Gary T., born @ GWU Hospital, reppin' SouthEast!!!
Alhamdulillah
The Chuck Brown Tiny Desk here on UA-cam is a good place to start.
Download Backyard Band 95,96 was the best go go I think.
Pretty sure you can also enjoy it without doing research.
THIS is some great music! Thanks again NPR Tiny Desk
I’m from Detroit but I definitely rock with GoGo music!
It sound like something you would hear at the jazz fest or even African world festival. Feels very familiar!
Yes!!
RE taking me back to 1987!!!
I feel it 🔥lock it ❤ just heard this last year for the first time 2023
Go-Go is unique in the use of small junior congas that are frequently used as a drone percussion. In my opinion when done right Go-Go music is one of the most powerful drum music in the world.
All these songs are reminding me of my HBCU. There’s no place like the DMV. ❤️
DC'S FINEST!!
This made my morning.
first 30 seconds - has that chuck brown feel - might need to stand up to watch this - movement required.
Judy got my groove on first thing in the mornings at work. Took me back to the good old days.
First time I heard Essence I was.15...and everything that was alive in the building was moving.The walls were covered with water from sweat. That's the way it's done inThe DMV.
I moved to DC in 1994 as a 15 year old from the West Coast. Im deff glad I got a taste of DC GoGO
Im from northern VA and love go-go! DMV music at it's best.
I'm late to the party and Im now a fan!! this is why I love Tiny Desk