Fiyawerx Productions’ EPIC Jazz Fest Party and Crawfish Boil with Leo Nocentelli, Stanton Moore, Terence Higgins, Nigel Hall, Nikki Glaspie, The Revivalists & more

May 4, 2012 – New Orleans, LA @ The Storyville Hotel

Nikki Glaspie, Nigel Hall, Eddie Roberts & Nate Edgar:
Jesus Children of America [Stevie Wonder cover]

Terence Higgins’ Swampgrease
(feat. Nigel Hall, Ron Johnson, Andrew Block & Roosevelt Collier):
Does Your Mama Know [Rudy Love & The Love Family cover],
Tarantula > Hang It Up, Gimme A Sign (with Brint Anderson),
Color Blind [Frankie Beverly & Maze cover] (with Nikki Glaspie),
Joy & Pain [Frankie Beverly & Maze cover] (with Nikki Glaspie)

The Revivalists:
Catching Fireflies

Leo Nocentelli’s The Meters Experience
(feat. Bill Dickens, Stanton Moore, CR Gruver & Steve Perrilloux) with Big Sam:
Hey Pocky A-Way

Leo Nocentelli’s The Meters Experience
with Big Sam & Eric McFadden:
Fire On The Bayou

The Roots of Music Marching Band:
Intro

The Roots of Music Marching Band:
Don’t Worry Be Happy (Bobby McFerrin cover)

The Roots of Music Marching Band
with Leo Nocentelli, Bill Dickens & Stanton Moore:
Blues For Ben

The Roots of Music Marching Band
with Leo Nocentelli, Bill Dickens & Stanton Moore:
Blues For Ben

Later on Frenchman Street, things got a little cra:

UPDATE: Audio recordings from this party are now available:
Leo Nocentelli’s The Meters Experience & The Roots of Music Marching Band
Nikki Glaspie, Nigel Hall, Eddie Roberts & Nate Edgar
Terence Higgins’ Swampgrease
The Revivalists

The Original Meters & Papa Grows Funk – May 5, 2012 New Orleans, LA @ Howlin’ Wolf

When you’re in New Orleans for Jazz Fest, there’s nothing like catching a Funky Meters show to reassure you that you’re in the right place at the right time. But, as we know, the Funky Meters only contain 2 of the original Meters band members, namely Art “Poppa Funk” Neville and George Porter, Jr.

That’s why the 2012 Jazz Fest became so exciting when it was announced that all 4 of the Original Meters would be playing their first club gig in New Orleans in over 30 years! Yes, we’re talking about all 4 original members: Art “Poppa Funk” Neville on organ, George Porter, Jr. on bass, Leo Nocentelli on guitar and Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste on drums.

Yes, these 4 original Meters members have reunited sporadically for shows in 2005, 2006 and 2007 (and for a few festival gigs in 2011). Yes, they’ve played New Orleans before. But this felt like the real homecoming. The price was steep, but for the few that could get in, it was worth every penny. Art showed that he can still play ferociously, despite his age of, in his words,“74 fuckin years old”. Although Zigaboo did joke about the senior citizen status of the band, they hardly played like it. Judge for yourself, because here I bring you 47 minutes of footage from this now legendary show.

The Original Meters
May 5, 2012 New Orleans, LA @ Howlin’ Wolf
Fire On The Bayou, Africa > Look-Ka Py Py > Funky Miracle, Encore: People Say:

Also, here is the set closing Ain’t No Use, shot by photographer Marc Millman. I strongly suggest that you check out some of his photos from this show and even consider purchasing framable prints of his beautiful imagery.

By the way, you can download the full audio from this show here.

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Finally, here are a few videos of the opening act, Papa Grows Funk, featuring Raymond Weber (ex-Dumpstaphunk drummer) subbing on drums.

Papa Grows Funk
May 5, 2012 New Orleans, LA @ Howlin’ Wolf
Shakin’:

Papa Grows Funk
May 5, 2012 New Orleans, LA @ Howlin’ Wolf
Planet of Love & Hate:

Papa Grows Funk
May 5, 2012 New Orleans, LA @ Howlin’ Wolf
unknown tune:

The Funky Meters still bring it: Bear Creek Music Festival 2011 VIDEOS: FULL SET


I don’t have much time to write about this performance, but I’ll just put it out there as proof that The Funky Meters are still a band in full swing and that Art “Poppa Funk” Neville can still play like the 75 year old legend that he is.

This was one of the most enjoyable sets of the weekend for me. Maybe it was the flask of rum in my pocket, or maybe it was just the joy exuding from both the players and the crowd. I suspect it was a combination of both along with the magical atmosphere of the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

There are some nice sit-ins on this set by Pee Wee Ellis, Billy Iuso, Nikki Glaspie, Ivan Neville and Ian Neville.

The Funky Meters
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Live Oak, FL @ Bear Creek Music Festival
Part 1 of 2: Jam > Funkify Your Life > Look-Ka Py Py > Soul Island > Hang Em High

The Funky Meters
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Live Oak, FL @ Bear Creek Music Festival
Part 2 of 2: (Doodle Oop) The World Is A Little Bit Under The Weather (with Pee Wee Ellis) > Keep On Marching (with Pee Wee Ellis) > Art chastises George > Love Slip Up On Ya (with Billy Iuso) > Fire On The Bayou (with Billy Iuso & Nikki Glaspie)

The Funky Meters:
Art “Poppa Funk” Neville: keys, vocals
George Porter Jr: keys, vocals
Brian Stoltz: keys, vocals
Russell Batiste Jr: drums, vocals

AUDIO: Schoeps mk22/cmc6 } Sound Devices 788 by Steve Bazley
VIDEO 1: Canon Vixia HF21 by RLBayers
VIDEO 2: Zoom Q3 by Adam Firtel of CHeeSeHeaDPRoDuCTioNS

And here’s the end of the show, shot by just CHeeSeHeaDPRoDuCTioNS:
Cissy Strut > People Say (w/ Ivan Neville & Ian Neville) > Welcome To New Orleans (w/ Ivan Neville & Ian Neville) > Ain’t No Use (w/ Ivan Neville & Ian Neville)


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