Portland band Lost Ox plays May 23 at HQ in La Grande.

LA GRANDE — Although their band name might imply some wandering, Lost Ox easily returns to Eastern Oregon.

This is their fifth time performing at HQ, 112 Depot St.

“They’ve been great,” Dylan DiSalvio said of the music venue.

Their show on Thursday, May 23, begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12 at lagrandehq.com.

As for the band name? When they first formed in 2017, they played as the Dylan DiSalvio Band.

He wanted a different name.

“I wanted to be collaborative, for everyone to feel they are part of it,” he said.

But: “It’s hard to come up with a band name.”

They started with an animal, and a bandmate at the time suggested a musk ox.

DiSalvio thought that sounded a bit … stinky. But he liked “ox.”

Reed Bunnell, the bass player, did some internet searching and found a series of Buddhist drawings that portrayed a metaphor for a journey, which involved losing an ox and then finding it (and your way) again.

They became Lost Ox.

The band started touring immediately in 2017 and released an album later that year. Now they are touring with their fourth album, “Tale of the Fool,” released on May 3.

“This is a lot more bluegrass and folk music based,” he said.

Their previous albums had a more jazz/funk sound, he said.

DiSalvio’s background is bluegrass, but he “wanted something more electric” when Lost Ox formed. This latest album features guitar, mandolin and banjo — returning to his musical roots.

“A different process — more of a live sound,” he said.

Although Lost Ox plays a wide variety of styles of American music, he said the common thread is always a section of improv.

“We’ll have moments when we jam a bit,” he said.

And every show has a “funky dance party part.”

“We make sure every show has a fun, interactive part,” he said.

Although DiSalvio is the main songwriter, he said his bandmates also write and sing songs.

He and Bunnell, who plays bass, are the original members.

Drummer Scot Cowherd joined in 2019, and Zac Allen, on guitar, joined in February 2024.

“It’s really exciting to add Zac as a new member,” DiSalvio said. “We were a trio for a long time.”

He’s excited to play the new songs — and to simply play music.

“I’m so grateful to be able to play music and share art,” he said. “It’s the best thing I can do reaching toward a more peaceful, happier world.”