New Orleans-based guitarist-singer-songwriter 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" in downtown Manhattan 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.
The Brides of Jesus disbanded in 2001, and 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. Over the last two decades he has played hundreds of clubs, and many festivals and events in the USA, Europe and the Caribbean. He has also played with the Wild Magnolias, George Porter Jr., and Anders Osborne.
In 2021 Iuso decided to drop the band name entirely and streamline both the sound and the band, and he is now billed simply as “Billy Iuso.”
During the pandemic in 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 January of 2023. The new album features Reggie Scanlan (of 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 nightclub regularly. They have played New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival multiple times, and Billy has been an artist at large on JamCruise and other festivals. Most recently Billy and Krewe appeared at the Skull & Roses Fest in Ventura, California in April of 2023.
