The Funky Meters

Formed during an informal jam during the 1989 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Art Neville, George Porter Jr and Russel Batiste Jr founded what would be the core of the funky METERS. The history of this native New Orleans band dates back to 1967, when keyboardist Art Neville recruited George Porter, Jr., Joseph (Zigaboo) Modeliste and Leo Nocentelli to form The Meters. In their 31-year history, The Meters have grooved their way around the globe. They have toured with such talents as The Rolling Stones, and have been a studio band for such diverse artists as Dr. John, Paul McCartney, Robert Palmer, and Patti Labelle.

In 1994, the band was joined by guitarist Brian Stoltz and officially christened the Funky METERS. This lineup carried the funk torch until the spring of 2007 when Stoltz left to pursue his solo career and Ian Neville, the son of Meters founder Art Neville joined the line up taking over guitar duties. Growing up in the Neville house of music and touring with The Neville Brothers, as well Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Ian was poised to step in to help bring the band into the future.

The collective resume between the four artists in the band speaks volumes for the level of musicianship and creativity that comes alive when they play together on any stage. After three years of solid touring including dates at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Jamcruise, The Fillmore Auditorium San Francisco, Fuji Rock Festival, The Hangout Festival and countless others, the funky METERS are stronger than ever. In fact, the funk is still going as strong today as it was 40 plus years ago.Marin County’s favorite funky sons, Vinyl can alternately sound like the best live funk, Latin, reggae or dub band you’ve heard in ages — and occasionally, all at the same time. Vinyl brings it with fierce musicianship and zesty abandon, proving you can have both substance and style.The infectious music of Vinyl blends old-school funk, Latin percussion, reggae and R&B into signature instrumental grooves.

Vinyl’s live shows are notoriously high energy dance parties that unite fans of many musical styles. Originating in the San Francisco Bay Area over eight years ago, Vinyl has become as tight a seven-piece ensemble as can be found in today’s music scene. The players have a keen understanding of each other’s musical expression resulting in a cohesive and adventurous sound that offers tasteful improvisation combined with a fortified, rhythmic backbone.DJ heyLove* grew up in the Bay Area surrounded by different cultures, ethnicities, and art. Influenced by all this diversity she developed a love for variety, which is reflected in her taste for music.

Attracted to different rhythms and how they make the mind, body, and soul feel, heyLove* is naturally drawn to artists from the past and present like Roy Ayers, Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, J Dilla, Kanye West, AtJazz, Omar, & Esthero.

You’ll hear jazz, R&B, downtempo, broken beat, house, reggae, afro beat and hip-hop in her collection. ‘There should be no genre lines in music’, heyLove* explains her mixes reflect a ‘music head’ who appreciates the finer melodies in life.

DJ heyLove* has created good vibes at places such as Yoshi’s Jazz Club SF, Mua Restaurant and Lounge, Ozumo’s, the People Oakland, and The Getty’s Mansion. She specializes in spinning for events such as art gallery openings, fashion shows, wine tastings, and corporate/non-profit events.
heyLove* is one of the resident DJ’s and creators of ‘the People’, dedicated to redefining night life by providing a soulful and eclectic experience through the cultivation of music, art, dance, fashion, cuisine, and community. For the past 5 years ‘the People’ party gathers over 800 people each month to enjoy the music of resident and world renowned dj’s, incredible live performances, local artists/vendors, delicious food, and a good time.

The People has booked special guests such as Daz-I-Kue, LeftO, Rich Medina, DJ Spinna, Bobbito, Boddhi Satva, Mark deClive-Lowe and Amp Fiddler. If your in the Bay Area looking for body moving music and fresh art come check out ‘the People’ every 4th Saturday at the New Parish in downtown Oakland, CA.MJ’s Brass Boppers is a New Orleans style singing and swinging Brass-line ready to second-line at the drop of a dime! The Boppers play to the tunes of traditional New Orleans melodies as well as modern songs put to a second-line feel.