New York-based Rubblebucket specializes in creating clever collages of sound and energetic outbursts. The octet’s live performances can be joyfully overheated. Their recordings lean on funky rhythms, sophisticated world-beat grooves and vocalist and sax player Kalmia Traver’s clever melodies and percussive singing. As the group’s charismatic ringleader, Traver couldn’t be happier these days as Rubblebucket travels the country, imparting its unique stylings to willing ears.

“Word-of-mouth has been the way we’ve grown and extended since we started,” says Traver, speaking last week from the jam-packed band van, en route from San Diego to Salt Lake City. “We’ve just been playing live for a long time now, and we really enjoy it. I think that’s where we have most of our energy. We love being around each other, being silly offstage and being really playful musically onstage.”

Traver and her boyfriend, trumpeter Alex Toth, have been the core members of the band over the last four years. They met while attending the University of Vermont in Burlington. Before Rubblebucket, they toured and played together with rock/reggae group John Brown’s Body for three years. The two have welcomed a rotation of musicians into the lineup.

Since last fall, Traver and her bandmates have toured heavily behind their latest studio album, Omega La La (their third full-length). Paste magazine designated the funky song “Came Out of a Lady” as a top-50 tune of 2011. The video for the song, directed in-house by drummer Dave Cole, placed the band inside a giant Technicolor tent designed by Traver, with head and arm holes for each band member. It instantly became a fan fave on YouTube.

“Came Out of a Lady” is just one of many songs on Omega La La that pulsate with textured rhythms and bounce from one musical style to another. With three horns, guitar, organ, percussion, drums and bass, the band is well equipped for just about any sonic exploration.

“We can feel ourselves grow,” Traver says. “We’re excited about using each other's strengths and the sound of the instruments. We’ve felt like we’ve been able to engage fans quite well from early on, and we’ve been able to develop our own sound... I think we’ve really come into our own sound now more than ever before,” she adds. “Some people think it’s such a jumble of genres—from rock and roll and pop to other things. There’s no name for it; the music is its own thing. We have some interestingly complex arrangements and some deep grooves that are danceable and also engaging on an intellectual level. Also, there are top harmonies and melodies going on that are fun—especially for people who are interested in having fun.”

Having a weird, good time seems to be the general theme on Omega La La. Produced by Eric Broucek (LCD Soundsystem, !!!, Holy Ghost) at DFA Studio and mastered by Joe Lambert (Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors, Herbie Hancock), the sense of energy and spontaneity on the collection is impressive.

With positive critiques and an accelerating buzz, Rubblebucket has plenty of momentum behind several spring and summer tours, which include gigs at small clubs, large concert halls and a few huge outdoor festivals across North America.

“I totally feel like we can do magical shows at any venue,” Traver says. “As long as there’s energy in front of me that I can participate in, I’m happy.”