The Meters to Celebrate 50 Years of Funk at New Orleans' Orpheum Theater
February 14, 2017
Gail Mitchell, Billboard
The Meters will reunite and celebrate their 50 years in music with a concert at the Orpheum Theater in New Orleans. The April 29 show precedes the legendary quartet’s just-announced closing night appearance at the 2017 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (April 28-May 7).
Original members Art “Poppa Funk” Neville, George Porter Jr., Leo Nocentelli and Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste will be joined by special guest Ivan Neville. Accompanying them will be a horn section comprised of Tony Griffin, Jeff Albert, Khris Royal and Clarence Johnson III. The Meters have made rare appearances over the last 17 years, including shows at the Hollywood Bowl, Bonnaroo Arts & Music Festival and Outside Lands.
Best known for such late ‘60s R&B top 10 hits as “Sophisticated Cissy” and “Cissy Strut,” The Meters have been nicknamed the “founding fathers of funk” for its syncopated layered percussion interwoven with gritty guitar, bass and organ grooves. The longtime backing band for famed New Orleans producer Allen Toussaint, The Meters have also toured and performed with Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Robert Palmer, Patti LaBelle and Dr. John, among others. Over the years, The Meters’ music has been sampled by the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J and Queen Latifah.
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