Go-Go At The Chateau 
By the way... that's Gospel Go-Go. 
     By Jennifer Angellatta 

 

    This was a big night for gospel go-go.  Three bands on one ticket, with one of them recording a CD on site.  Krazy Praize, Submission Band and Xodus Band were scheduled to crank at the club where some people's parents used to party! Xodus was recording their first live CD. 
I arrived at the Chateau about one minute after the first band took stage.  I was glad that I hadn't missed too much because I had never seen Krazy Praize before and was looking forward to it.  It was just like a back in the day show.you had to walk through the machine made smoke to get a look at the band in the strobe lights.  There was a good turnout; about 100 people were there.  Contrary to popular belief, this wasn't a kiddie show.  Most of the people were up in the front, "getting their praise on" while a few chose to chill at the tables.  The people were all having a good time, but no one was grooving as hard as Xodus or Submission on the dance floor.  Drew from SMB was straight praising all night!  Go 'head Drew! 

So, I finally got to see Krazy Praize.  What can I say about them?  Their sound is hard to describe.  The keys and the vocals are smooth, but the congas and percussion are wicked!  Tommy was smacking his congas like they were being punished! He didn't let up, even when the sound was less than on point.  Let's not forget the man who many people still call the best drummer in the city, Jammin' Jeff.  Tommy and Jeff mesh together like chicken wings and mambo sauce.  Daryl on the rototoms adds that extra hype; the man is a monster with the sticks!!  They were definitely making a joyful noise to the Lord!   

Near the end of their set, they noticed Smoke from SOULO hanging out stage right.  Conrad invited him to do a little sumthin, which he gracefully did.  The crowd was on their toes to watch Smoke tear up the congas, while Tommy grabbed a whistle to blow  "Hey, Buddy Buddy."   Of course, this was the one night I forgot to bring my camera. What a picture that would have been! 

Smoke had no comment on gospel go-go, other than he was there to support his man Jeff. 

Submission took the stage, but the soundman hadn't quite tightened his stuff up.  They had to stop twice because the keyboards kept losing power.  Once the technical difficulties were resolved, they tore right into the jam.  My man Two gave mad love to TMOTTGoGo (several times.)   It had been a few months since I had seen Submission play, and I have to say that their pockets have improved tremendously.  Not to say that they were ever weak, just that they are now that much better.  They are also doing more original songs, which I was impressed with, but the height of Submission's set is still their rendition of John Kee's "Not Guilty."  It's one of those jams where you have to stop and get a drink of water before it's over.  These brothas definitely have God leading their charge, because they just keep getting better. 

The stage was set for Xodus and they came out looking too fly!  They all had on black Beleava shirts, shorts and headgear.  I told them they should have been shooting a video instead of recording a CD, because my brothas were looking good.  They started off smooth with "Lift Him Up," and quickly heated things up.  If I could only use one word to describe Xodus' set, it would be HYPE.  Normally, Submission's energy is over the top, but Xodus had them beat that night.  I have never seen such energy like that; not just on the front line, the whole band was going hardnon-stop.  This was a night they had waited seven years for, and it definitely showed.  They held nothing back for their CD. 

D-Roc called a ten for ten and everyone took a breath.  The break only lasted a quick minute, though.  Time was tight and they had a recording to finish.  I was feeling kinda tired, so I decided to sit.  I sat in the corner and watched the crowd party.  Every band has a "go hard" song.  For Xodus, it would be "Can't Control the Fiya."  When the beat started playing, women came running out of the bathroom and the men stopped standing in the back and pushed up front.  The party people let everything loose on that numberand you thought gospel go-go would be stiff? 

In the last half an hour, three young ladies entered the Chat that had gotten their drank on before hand.  They heard Xodus crankin' on Benning Road and wanted to party.  When they were told it was gospel  
go-go, they came in anyway cause the beat was that tight...and  they came in freakin'.  As the time was running out, the band hit the last pocket and D-Roc presented the Word.  He gave an altar call and these same three young ladies stepped up with tears in their eyes.  They did not leave as they came.  They walked in full of liquor and left full of the Spirit.  As Black Mock said, "that's what it's about." 

That show was the first of many things happening in gospel go-go.  They're stepping out of the church and doing their thing the only way they know how- for Jesus.  When people recommend that they play "positive music" but leave out Jesus, their response is "no thank you."  If that costs them shows, it doesn't matter.  But, it's not costing them shows.  Krazy Praize and Submission are scheduled to open for JY at Ballou High School.  And that's only the beginning.

 
published by Take Me Out to the Go-Go Magazine on 5/16/01. reprinted with permission