Johnny Vinyl

That New Orleans has been a fertile musical environment, which allows artists to ply their trade in unique methods, is well-known.

What better place to headquarter a band that does its best to incorporate the disparate sounds of blues, rock, big-band, industrial, alternative, gospel and jazz into one funky gumbo? That’s exactly what Louisiana’s own Gravy Flavored Kisses does with their first full-length release, “Matches and American Planes.” It’s due out Nov. 20.

Guitarist/vocalist Jared Castellaw and bassist Damon Motto founded the band in Louisiana in 2010. Since then, the band has grown to an eight-piece with a full brass section that is becoming well-known for “a head-on collision of blues and rock.”

With such a ridiculous name, there has to be a story. And with Gravy Flavored Kisses there is such a story. Trumpet player Scott Frock apparently has vivid dreams. He was sharing one such dream with his band-mates where he had a romantic liaison with Popeye’s wife, Olive Oil. At one point he explains how he tastes Thanksgiving dinner throughout the entire dream.

Castellaw’s response was immediate, “Gravy flavored kisses either taste really amazing or really dirty. Either way, I’m down.”

While the band’s name may take a little getting used to, the music eases in pretty securely. Think Trombone Shorty playing Pantera with Fetchin’ Bones’ Hope Nicholls on vocals and one begins to hint at what is contained therein.

There are many of the attributes that one expects from a NOLA based-band, Gravy Flavored Kisses adds quite a bit to the collective funk.

It is easy to see GFK as the backing band for just about any New Orleans performer, as they are hard to pigeonhole. Along with the brass/funk/soul that permeates their sound, almost any genre is fair game to be added to the mix.

Castellaw’s guitar is frequently abrasive and downright industrial at times. The dual trombonists recall the magic that Idaho’s Black Happy used to do so well.

Their secret weapon is female vocalist Meryl Zimmerman. She helps tie all the disparate components together. Zimmerman can equally belt out sonic cacophony over brass charts or croon with the best lo-fi alternative rockers.

While the name may be the most insipid ever uttered, the music more than makes up for it. “Matches and American Planes” offers a pleasantly varied and unique audio journey.

For more about the band, visit www.gravyflavoredkisses.com or www.facebook.com/gravyflavoredkisses.

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Johnny Vinyl is a music connoisseur. His column, Ride the vibe, focuses on entertainment. Contact him in c/o tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com