Billy Iuso

   New Orleans Based Guitarist / Singer / Songwriter — Billy Iuso (pronounced Eye-You-Sew) is a New York native who formed the funky, psychedelic guitar-fronted, jam funk pioneers Brides of Jesus in the early ‘90s. They quickly developed a strong following in the Wetlands scene alongside Warren Haynes, Blues Traveler and the Spin Doctors. As the Brides’ popularity continued to soar they shared bills with Widespread Panic and the Dave Matthews Band. While touring and collaborating with a host of key members of the jam band community Billy explored the roots of the bands that influenced him most, including Little Feat, whose music turned him on to the Meters. Eventually, he opened for the Funky Meters at shows across the country. It wasn’t long before George Porter Jr. and Art Neville were encouraging him to relocate to New Orleans permanently, which he did in 1996. BOJ disbanded in 2001 

Iuso continued recording new music under his name and touring with Billy Iuso and Restless Natives, which formed in 2002.  Billy’s catalog includes over a dozen albums which found themselves on the airwaves on  New Orleans WWOZ Radio. 

In the last 2 decades he has played hundreds of clubs, many festivals and events in USA, Europe and Caribbean. 

In 2021 Iuso decided to drop the band name entirely and streamline both the sound and the band. 

Now billed simply as “Billy Iuso” 

Like many other musicians during the challenging year that was 2020, Iuso turned to live streaming and eventually had a weekly show that earned him enough tips from his generous fans to compare with his regular income. He ended up playing over 350 different songs during this series, including a whole slew of new tunes that sparked a new record. “52 hz”  recorded in 2022  and released Jan 2023 

Featuring songs like “My Getaway” and “More to the Island”.  It’s easy to see how this album was lockdown-inspired. But he also had a chance to reach back in his catalog and revamp tunes from his teens, like “Shine On and Look Inside,” which indeed became apt for the time. 

The new album features Billys Touring Band - Reggie Scanlan (The Radiators) on bass, long time drummer Eddie Christmas, Joe Ashlar on keys, and additional vocals by Sari Jordan and Renée Gros. 

Billy and band continue to headline Tipitina’s regularly. They have played New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival multiple times. Billy has been an artist at large on JamCruise and other festivals. Most recently Billy and Krewe appeared at Skull & Roses Fest in Ventura CA in April 2023. He continues to play with others in the New Orleans music scene and in the past has played with the Wild Magnolias, George Porter Jr.,  & Anders Osborne.

Links

gigs

Apr20

Iko Allstars

Tulane University

Billy Iuso

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Apr26

Iko Allstars

Broadside , New Orleans

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