Normally when you hear the words Medulla and Oblongatta you are reminded of those long, boring lectures in biology class.

But three Ames musicians are out to change that.

Medulla Oblongatta is one of a handful of newcomers to the Ames music scene and insists the band’s sound is far from boring.

“Our music is mostly jazz, funk and fusion with the power of rock,” bassist Jason Sturgiss said, citing artists who had an impact on him, including King Crimson, Les Claypool, Primus and George Clinton.

The band formed in December of 1996 after drummer Chris Rohret and guitarist Chinmoy Panigrahy discovered Sturgiss at the Maintenance Shop when he played a solo during the sketch comedy act Grandma Mojo’s Moonshine Revival.

“The name came to us after one of the guys mentioned something from an eighth-grade health class. It just flowed off the tongue,” Sturgiss said.

Eighth grade was when Panigrahy first picked up guitar. He was really into instrumental rock and the sounds of Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Charlie Hunter.

A junior high jazz band was the beginning for Rohret, who said he went through a grunge phase before finally happening upon the music of Charlie Hunter, Phish and Paul Simon.

When combined, the trio leaves nothing to be desired as it fights a musical battle for your right brain.

With small gigs spanning between Des Moines and Rock Island, Ill., Medulla Oblongatta can also still be heard right at home in Ames accompanying Grandma Mojo’s at the M-Shop.

“It’s kinda fun there. We get cramped into a corner and the corner kinda sucks. Getting stuck in a corner is always kinda harsh,” Sturgiss said.

But despite the sweatshop-like working conditions, Grandma Mojo’s castmembers still enjoy having the band there to open the show and entertain during intermission.

“It’s always good to know we have that musical act there. The crowd really gets into them, and it’s nice to have more variety than just the comedy act,” Mojo member David Cline said.

As far as shows are concerned, Medulla Oblongatta is just glad to see anyone at a show.

“Even if I see only one person out in the audience, I’ll be happy,” Sturgiss said.

The band members are also glad to be playing an all-ages show tonight at People’s Bar and Grill.

“One thing this town needs is entertainment for the young,” Sturgiss added.

A special bonus for Medullaheads is that the band will be selling CDs which include tracks from the band’s past live shows.

What does the future hold for this trifecta of sound called Medulla Oblongatta?

Sturgiss summed it all up when he predicted, “Hopefully, if anything, we’ll still be alive, jamming away, eating a lot of pudding with Bill Cosby and checking out different necks of the woods.”

Medulla Oblongatta is playing tonight at 9:30 at People’s Bar and Grill.