Walking into the newly renovated Highline Ballroom, you get a feel of small warehouse meets upscale NYC bar meets intimate concert venue. The half moon leather booths lined the walls, giving plenty of relaxation room (if you got there early), while the spacious dance floor allowed for most to get down without too much obstruction. The two bars, on opposite walls, were manned nicely (didn’t have to wait long for a drink at all), stocked with your typical high-end liquor and displayed various Magic Hat flavors. Wait a second…The Meter’s music performed by the Icons of Funk, including what was mentioned above? Add a little sway and I was back on Jam Cruise 11!
Leo Nocentelli, the founding member and original guitarist of The Meters led this party with a little help from some friends. He was joined by Bill “The Buddha” Dickens on his extended-range bass. Not only did his bass have additional frets, but he was playing a 7-string as well. You could have parked a Greyhound on his fret board! And he used all of that real estate on this evening, not only keeping those funky bass lines moving but showcasing his soloing skills, playing this bass like he was a shredding lead guitarist. On keys, Mark Rechler, of Circus Mind & OUTHOUSE, kept the night moving with his funky flavor on the organ and his touch of electronica groove on his synth. He really did put the “fun” in funk tonight!
Brought up for several songs, the world’s funkiest ‘bone player, Fred Wesley, formerly of the James Brown Horns (1960s & 1070s) & Parliament Funkadelic (1970s), added that horn noise these tunes needed! And keeping the beat, one of the hardest hitting drummers in the business, Galactic drummer, Stanton Moore. There is a very short list of drummers that have the chops that Moore brings to the table. These guys brought out not only classic Meters tunes like “Cissy Strut,” “Funky Miracle” and “Look-Ka Py Py”, but also a few New Orleans standards that got the crowd singing along, like “Fire on the Bayou and Hey Pocky Way.” Sweaty & nothing but smiles by the end of the show, this was one for the ages, and I’m glad I was able to experience it!!!!!
-Evan Wagner
