The Meters tribe had a meet up in Washington, D.C. this week when the Funky Meters pulled into The Hamilton, but this time with a twist. Meters’ founding member Art “Poppa Funk” Neville is on the mend but under doctor’s orders not to travel for the time being, so long time George Porter, Jr. collaborator, John Gros, took on the sizable task of handling the Hammond B3 and piano parts for the night.

The transition seemed effortless to the capacity crowd, all packed down front grooving and shaking to the well-worn funk tunes played by masters of the genre. Meters’ founding member George Porter, Jr. played with the joy and energy, not of a man about to turn 70, but of a musician in his prime, playing music he loves with people he loves.

The band worked through lively versions of Meters funk classics like “Fiyo on the Bayou,” “Just Kissed My Baby,” “Cissy Strut” and “Live Wire.” Guitarist Brian Stoltz lead a rocking version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child,” and John Gros brought a wonderful Gospel feel to the Peter Tosh song “Stop That Train.”

Drummer Terrence Houston brought absolute thunder all night long. Houston rarely took his eyes off of Porter, ready to move wherever the bandleader wanted to turn. Houston’s deep focus on the music created a bottomless pocket and roaring fills.

The night’s highlight came as the encore song, “Ain’t No Use,” when the band and crowd were pulsing as one entity; the instant when music pays off best, nothing exists but the moment.