The Meters – New Orleans Funk Legends
The Meters are one of the most influential funk bands ever—architects of the New Orleans groove that shaped funk, R&B, rock, and hip‑hop sampling. Their music is famous for deep pocket drumming, syncopated guitar, and bass lines that feel like they’re “walking” while dancing.
- Origin: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Genre: Funk, R&B, soul
- Core lineup: Art Neville, Leo Nocentelli, George Porter Jr., Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste
- Signature tracks: “Cissy Strut”, “Look‑Ka Py Py”, “Hey Pocky A‑Way”, “Fire on the Bayou”
- Why they matter: The groove—tight, human, and endlessly sampled
- Art Neville – keyboards/vocals
- Leo Nocentelli – guitar
- George Porter Jr. – bass
- Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste – drums
The Meters’ magic comes from New Orleans second‑line feel: a bouncing, behind‑the‑beat pocket that still hits hard. Instead of everyone playing “busy,” each instrument locks into a small rhythmic role—together forming a groove that breathes.
Drummer Zigaboo Modeliste’s patterns are especially famous—musicians study them like textbooks.
- Cissy Strut – the calling card groove
- Look‑Ka Py Py – street‑funk swagger
- Hey Pocky A‑Way – chant‑like New Orleans energy
- Fire on the Bayou – slow‑burn funk
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