Ex-Sorta bassist Danny Balis releases solo debut CD on Tuesday

by Teresa Gubbins

Few local musicians boast connections as far and wide as Danny Balis, whose solo album, Too Much Living is officially out on Tuesday, September 1.

Originally from West Texas and a graduate of UNT, Balis was a founding member of influential roots-rock band Sorta, and best friends with Carter Albrecht, whose death in 2007 tore a hole in Dallas' music scene at the same time that it brought the community together. (Balis spoke at Albrecht's funeral, along with Edie Brickell.)

He's since re-emerged as a member of the King Bucks, the good-time honky-tonk band that's one of the most sought-after acts in Dallas, and is also executive producer of The Hardline on 1310 The Ticket, one of the most popular radio shows in town.

Too Much Living, written after Albrecht's death, has a quiet little sadness, but its faith in the uplifting power of classic old-school country & western a la Merle Haggard and Townes Van Zandt, not to mention the purity of Balis' voice, gives it a core of restrained optimism.

Balis shares some thoughts about the release, the Ticket, and his favorite local place to play.

On working for The Ticket: It's a cool job, it's fun even if it pays for shit. There's no middle class in radio, either you’re on-air talent making $400,000 a year or you're like me.

Who listens to The Hardline: It's a fascinating fan base that station has, they’re pretty rabid, very loyal listeners.

Songwriting: It doesn't come easy. I do labor over it, mainly lyrically, I can do melodies pretty well. I always said that if I was ever gonna write a song, I didn't want to write a song that meant nothing to me. It's gotta be real -- observed or felt -- not just making up shit. I always want to try to say things in a song, to use words that aren't clichéd and overused. I use my resources, dictionary, thesaurus, to work the language a little bit. Townes Van Zandt was best at it. He's my favorite songwriter ever for sure. I want to live up to that way of writing songs and not write just drinking songs.

On playing 100 nights a year with King Bucks: That was 2008, but this year has been a little less. Last year was fricking busy, we had three "residencies" going on at once. Had one at Adair’s, one at couple other places playing full time. I think we're about to be doing one at Hank’s in McKinney.

Secret weapon on new album: Milo Deering. He's the touring steel guitar player for Leann Rimes. He did all the steel guitar and fiddle. He's a wonderful local talent that hasn’t picked up and moved to Nashville because he's that good.

Favorite local place to play: Adair's for sure. I just love playing there, it feels like a honky tonk, hearing that kind of music there, it fits. It reminds me a lot of Robert's in Nashville, and that's one of my very favorite places. I've thought about moving to Nashville, but what I do, there's no interest. Toby Keith is not going to be beating down my door. There's a different climate up there, it's all about the bottom line. I just want to write tunes and put out records.

Where to see him: We're playing a barbecue at Adair’s on Sunday, it's an all-day affair but we go on about 8 or 9 p.m.

Too Much Living is available beginning Tuesday, September 1 on popular digital download sites (iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, etc.), with CDs available in stores, and for sale online through Balis' MySpace page and Good Records.

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