Any record that opens with a spirited cover of Wet Willie’s bar-band classic “Keep on Smiling” has already hooked me. Thankfully, former Brides Of Jesus frontman Billy Iuso’s solo debut Restless Natives is just vibrant enough to keep reeling me in. Iuso has a huge backup band for the record featuring a virtual Who’s Who of up-and-coming faces on the New Orleans roots music scene (including one Russell Batiste, Jr., on drums and one Ivan Neville on electric piano). With that kind of talent on his side, not to mention that Iuso is a quite talented guitarist and singer in his own right, Restless Natives certainly showcases high-caliber New Orleans musical chops in a loose, jamband environment. At times, it can be too loose, as the record loses some steam and lulls in the middle. But Iuso’s claim on his web site that he and his former band were pioneers of modern New Orleans funk-rock is pretty well-founded here, as the tunes here are much fresher than a lot of other current stoned-groove funk. The highlights here include the jazz-inflected “Candle” and “Two Deep in the Shallows,” a groovy little number that sounds a bit like Phish being possessed by the spirit of George MacRae. And with enough push, the track “Come C New Orleans” (which nearly quotes Professor Longhair’s piano hook in “Big Chief, Pt. 1”) could very well become a new Carnival time fave.