Rare Essence with special guest EU featuring Sugar Bear

DOORS  OPEN AT 7:00 PM | SHOW BEGINS AT 8:30 PM

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RARE ESSENCE

Rare Essence, aka The Wickedest Band Alive, is Washington’s premier Go-Go band for over four decades. Mentored by the Godfather of Go-Go as youngteens, Rare Essence would be one of Chuck Brown’s earliest, and have remainedhis most enduring, progeny, with a consistently combustible live show honedthrough countless performances They have built a devoted fan base that spansmultiple generations.

Originated in the mid ‘70s by the late Godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown,Go-Go links songs together over percussion breakdowns—a raw, non-stop partygroove fueled by congas, cowbells and timbales, with call and responseinteractions that obliterated divisions between a band that doesn't stopplaying and audience that won't stop dancing.

Dubbed “The Wickedest Band Alive” by rap pioneer Doug E. Fresh, who hascollaborated with Rare Essence, one of many artists to incorporate Go- Go'spercolating percussion, and some of its key players, into their own recordings.

Go-Go thrives live and that’s where reputations, and legacies, arecemented. As the Washington Post noted in a review, “....this band hasperformed more than 5,000 times. Like so many Rare Essence concerts, it’s easyto believe you’re seeing the best one.” Ain’t no party like a RE party cuz a RE party don’t stop!

WITH EU FEATURING SUGAR BEAR

In 1988, one song took E.U. from alocal band to a globally known name: Da Butt, a Grammy nominated hit whichreached #1 on the Billboard Black Singles Chart, and was ranked #61on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s.The music video was directed by Spike Lee. E.U. received Soul Train award forBest New Artist in 1988 and performed on the Soul Train show, as well as on theArsenio Hall show. A Tour with Run DMC followed, as well as a tour withSalt-N-Pepa, with whom he collaborated with on “Shake Your Thang”.  AnOSU tour took the band around the world.  2 additional Billboardcharting hits “Buck Wild” and “Taste of Your Love” came from their Virginrecords debut album.

Sugar Bear and E.U. continued a top the DC Go-Go scene over the yearsthat followed, building a large and loyal fan base while releasing local hitslike “Umm Bop Bop”. In 2001, EU was a featured act in the Put Your Hands Up TheTribute to Chuck Brown DVD, cited as “..quite possibly the greatest liveconcert video/dvd I have ever seen” by Murder Dog Magazine.  In 2014Sugar Bear was featured as lead vocal on “Pop That Trunk” on the posthumousChuck Brown “Beautiful Life” album.  In 2016, EU performed at the openingof the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In 2019,during the #DontMuteDC campaign, DC native and movie star Regina Hall broughtout Sugar Bear & E.U. and Rare Essence to perform. During the 93rd AcademyAwards, actress Glenn Close shouted out Sugar Bear and danced to the song “DaButt”.  In 2021 The Chuck Brown Foundation presented Sugar Bear withthe LEGEND award.  In 2022 EU released a remake of their classic“Peace Gone Away”.

With a heart for uplifting people in his life and through his music and adedication to the music born in DC that he loves, Sugar Bear and E.U. continueto keep the dance floor packed.

For any wheelchair or ADA needs, please contact the Box Office in advance of the performance at (202)-787-1000.

Please note that the front row of tables and chairs will be cleared for this show to create a general admission Pit. Be advised that there may be some seated areas where vision of the stage is obstructed.