Lost Ox is a band...
Lost Ox, known for combining elements of funk, psychedelia, jazz, Americana, and progressive rock, was formed in 2017. The band began as a musical friendship between bassist Reed Bunnell and guitarist Dylan DiSalvio that was forged in the Lewis & Clark College Jazz Studies program in SW Portland back in 2011. What started as a psychedelic folk and blues rock band incubated and grew in the vibrant Portland music scene, and developed into the genre-blending musical adventure that is Lost Ox. The band has carved out its niche in Portland, crafting unique long-form classical influenced progressive rock songs with exciting and highly creative improvisational sections. Their most recent album, Tale of the Fool (2024), is an exploration of folk, bluegrass, and roots rock styles.
Lost Ox has shared bills with members of Umphrey’s McGee, TAUK, Spafford, California Honeydrops, Dogs in a Pile, Consider the Source, and many others and has played hundreds of national shows and traveled tens of thousands of miles across the US.
Rooted both in the jamband resurgence of the 1990s and the original 1960s psychedelic folk rock revolution, their style encompasses many familiar jam tropes, all executed and reimagined with an inspired, dauntless precision. Characterized by intriguing lyrical interplay, shredding guitar solos, funky bass lines, and complex arrangements.
Reed Bunnell on bass and vocals
Scot Cowherd on drumkit and vocals
Dylan DiSalvio on guitar and vocals
Zac Allen on guitar
Origin Story
Way back in 2011, Dylan and Reed were both jazz performance majors at Lewis & Clark College. Dylan was walking the halls one day when, upon hearing the bass line to the Grateful Dead's "Shakedown Street", he paused. When he peeked in the window, Reed was inside. The two have been giggin together since. That's a lot of jams, man! A long strange trip later, Scot's band was playing at a Widespread Panic pre/after-party; Dyl was along for the ride. After some cordial greetings, Dylan found his way on stage, and a musical friendship was born. In 2024, after 4.5 years of ruggedly trudging through the musical tundra as a 4 piece, Zac joined the band guitar 2. Zac is like the butter to our toast. The guacamole to our chip. The salad to our breadsticks.
What's next for these four wild, boundless dreamers? Only time can tell. Stay tuned. While the Lost Ox sound continues to evolve, one quality that has yet to waver is their relentless commitment to progression and exploration. Characterized by intriguing lyrical interplay, shredding guitar solos, funky bass lines, and complex arrangements.