THE FUNKY METERS
Fiyo at the Fillmore (Fuel 2000/Universal)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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Remember The Meters? They were a local New Orleans funk band that featured Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste on drums, Art Neville on keyboards, bass player George Porter, Jr., and guitarist Leo Nocentelli. Crescent City musical royalty also helped out, particularly Allan Toussaint. When I saw the New Barbarians live in Chicago in the dark ages of the late 70's, I thought that the engine room of Stanley Clarke and Zigaboo Modeliste was one for the ages, thanks to Zigaboo keeping time. Well, even though he's not behind the drum kit this time, The Meters have gotten back together as The Funky Meters, and Fiyo at the Fillmore honors their considerable musical heritage. The Meters won a 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys, but there's a whole lot of life in the Funky Meters yet.

The title is a nod to the seminal live LP from the Neville Brothers, Fiyo on the Bayou, recorded in 1981. Both Fiyo records (the one by Art's other brothers and this one) occupy hallowed shelf space in my record collection, right up there with other live sets like B.B. King's Live at the Regal. Fiyo at the Fillmore features some pretty long jams where everyone gets a chance to stretch, and if you like your funk with a Crescent City flavor, live, get Fiyo at the Fillmore.

Track List:

Too Funky * Keep on Marching * Love Slip Up on Ya' * People Say * We Be Jammin' * Cissy Pickup * Cissy Strut>Soul Island>You're The One (Medley) * (Doodle Loop) The World is a Little Under the Weather * You've Got to Change (You've Got to Reform) * Fire on the Bayou * Too Funky (Studio Mix)

© 2003 - Eric Steiner