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Iconic funk group The Meters<\/strong>, one of the most influential acts to ever come out of New Orleans, will reunite for a one-night-only concert at the ornate Saenger Theatre<\/strong>\u00a0during Jazz Fest 2026<\/a>. The special performance, set to take place on Saturday, May 2nd, will mark the band\u2019s first time performing as The Meters since the 2019 passing of founding singer and keyboardist Art Neville<\/strong> [get tickets<\/a>].<\/p>\n For this show, Meters co-founders Zigaboo Modeliste<\/strong> (drums),\u00a0George Porter Jr.<\/strong> (bass), and Leo Nocentelli<\/strong> (guitar) will reunite under the Meters banner for the first time since 2017. Also joining The Meters at the Saenger are longtime percussionist and vocalist Cyril Neville<\/strong>\u00a0and keyboardist\u00a0Ivan Neville<\/strong> (Dumpstaphunk), who will take the place of the late Art Neville, his uncle. The announcement also hints at \u201cvery special guests\u201d to be announced.<\/p>\n Formed in 1965, The Meters were a pioneering voice of the funk movement that followed in the next decade-plus, helping introduce a uniquely New Orleans sound to a national audience. Through seminal albums Look-Ka Py Py<\/em>,\u00a0Struttin\u2019<\/em>,\u00a0Rejuvenation<\/em>,\u00a0Fire on the Bayou<\/em>, and their 1969 self-titled debut, The Meters codified the foundations of funk music.<\/p>\n Beyond the band\u2019s own official output, Art, George, Leo, and Zigaboo served as artists-in-residence at storied songwriter and producer Allen Toussaint\u2019s New Orleans studio, Sansu Enterprises. The Meters\u2019 session r\u00e9sum\u00e9 during that time includes notable records by Dr. John, Patti Labelle,\u00a0Lee Dorsey,\u00a0Robert Palmer, and countless others\u2014in theory, anyway. In most cases, the band was not originally credited on the records despite their integral contributions.<\/p>\n Though they had some modestly charting singles and albums, The Meters never achieved mainstream popularity during their initial run. Nevertheless, the sound they pioneered went on to influence generations of musicians across many genres, from funk to rock to jazz to pop to hip-hop and beyond.<\/p>\n The Meters largely disbanded in the late 1970s but went on to stage various reunions over the years, often under altered monikers including The Funky Meters, The Meter Men, and The Original Meters. Last year, George and Leo reunited for a set<\/a> at Daze Between New Orleans<\/strong> during the \u201cdays between\u201d Jazz Fest weekends. The band featured Stanton Moore<\/strong> (Galactic) on drums and Ivan Neville on keys.<\/p>\n \u201cI think if we\u2019d have knew then what we kind of know now, we rethink going our separate ways,\u201d Porter told Live For Live Music<\/em> in 2020<\/a>. \u201cI always said that if the Meters had a clue of the longevity of the music, that they probably would\u2019ve reconsidered breaking up.\u201d<\/p>\n The Meters \u2013 The Saenger Theatre \u2013 Full 1980 Concert<\/strong>
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