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Brides of Jesus | Bodega’s | Oxford, MS | 4.04.03
Brides of Jesus, the New Orleans-based, funk- and soul-driven jamband, is on tour with a four-man lineup different from any that has ever performed under the name. Led by founder and bandleader Bill Iuso on guitar, the Brides were born in 1992 and have enlisted about 15 different full- or part-time members over the past 11 years. Iuso served as stage and road manager for the Funky Meters and the Neville Brothers for three years before stepping down to reunite the BOJ. Labeled by peers, fans and critics as an intermingling of funk, soul, rock and roll, jazz, and more funk, the BOJ, or simply "the Brides," are back on tour and looking to bust out of obscurity.
 The
current tour features “Mean” Willie Green (percussion; Neville Brothers),
Marc Pero (bass; Papa Grows Funk), and Chris Marciell (keyboards;
Juice) alongside Iuso, the band’s “flux capacitor” of sorts. Former band members
include Russell Batiste, who is currently touring with Vida Blue (Page McConnell
from Phish’s side project with Oteil Burbridge) and also serves the same post
with the Funky Meters and Papa Grows Funk, Ian and Ivan Neville, and Ellis Marsalis
protégé Charlie Dennard (of Quintology and Moore & More, just to name a few).
The Brides descended upon the Bodega at around 10:00pm. The festivities really got cranked up during the “Turnaround > Spoonful > Turnaround” split, and followed-up strong with the New Orleans Favorite “Tipitina.” The Brides’ fast and bassy version of Jerry Garcia’s “Don’t Let Go” sent the entire crowd into a spiraling noodle groove that slowed only temporarily as the crowd became captivated with “Mean” Willie’s drum solo. Iuso and his men brought the groove back with a light-hearted “Charlie Brown” jam that showcased Marciell’s mastery and touch on the keys, and closed out the set with an electrifying rendering of Russell Batiste’s “Fire in the Garage” into the Dead’s “Franklin’s Tower,” where Iuso works the wah-wah pedal like Dale Jr. works his gas pedal on the final lap at Talladega. I was late upon arriving, due to a broken ankle, and missed the first two tunes “Have it All” and “Saints & Sinners.” But Shelby, the Bodega soundboard guy who had been relieved of his duties by the Brides’ own soundman, assured me that the opening was right on time.
A loud, powerful attack on the original “One More Day” followed by a cover of the Meters’ instrumental funk classic “Cissy Strut” got the ball rolling after a short break, and there weren’t many seats being put to use once Pero hit the first few chops of the Merry Prankster tribute “The Other One.” The Brides went straight into a soulful rendition of The Who’s “Eminence Front” followed by a sick “Reverend Funk.” A second short drum solo by “Mean” Willie gave fans a few seconds to gather their wits before the conclusion of the show. The instrumental power-jam “Earl” was followed by another colorful original from the band’s debut album, the title track “For Real.” A free flowing, campfire-style “Hey Pocky Way” incited such a fury among the crowd that show-goers could be heard chanting the song’s chorus “Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey Pocky way” for a good five minutes after the music had stopped.
Watching Iuso conduct his small army of ever-changing partners in crime would have been worth the trip alone, but this current Brides lineup is as fascinating to watch as it is underrated among funk and jazz ensembles. The chemistry is volatile and constantly morphing, yet stable enough to hold even the most lackadaisical fan’s attention to the fullest, which can be attributed to Iuso’s skill of bringing talented musicians together and breaking down any and all musical barriers between them.
Ben Bounds
JamBase | Mississippi
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