On-air ruminations on existential minutia, yelling at irate callers, telling Corby to “just shut up, and finish E. News” or impersonating the elderly flatulent foibles of the Old Gray Wolf are the stuff of Danny Balis’ day as producer at 1310 AM The Ticket – but he’s really just a slob like one of us (with a microphone). He’s also in a band. A kick-ass band. The King Bucks are a collection of talented dudes: Big Joe Butcher/pedal steel, guitar and vocals; Chris Carmichael/drums; Keith Kiloren/guitar, mandolin and vocals; Chad Stockslager/piano, organ and vocals; and Danny on bass, guitar and vocals. When you see them, have boots on to move appropriately to some kick-ass honky-tonk jams, but you’ll also hear Bob Dylan and Little Feat thrown in. When a bunch of people scream out in unison,“Weed, Whites and Wine…,” I get college flashbacks.

Danny was kind enough to answer three weird questions:

1. I thought King Buck was a dog, but I had to ask: Who is/was King Buck? “I have no idea. The band was named before I was asked to join. I know what a king is, and I know what a buck is. I guess the name infers that we are the leaders of all bucks. I thought it was Bill Gates though. He has all the bucks.”

2. The King Bucks tee-off first at the Dunham & Miller Open. What are your handicaps:

• Danny - caddy
• Keith - +20
• Chad - (-4...same as tiger)
• Joe – has no idea what golf is.
• Chris – scratch

3. Six months since the release of your solo album, “Too Much Living,” how do you feel about these songs, and, knowing who (the late Carter Albrecht, a close friend to Danny) inspired them, how do you move forward artistically/creatively? “Great question. I really don’t know...I have about three new songs written...they are somewhat residual to the climate of the last record, but I don’t want to go to that well too much. It’s been said and done and time to move on. Having said that, I don’t like to write about things that I have not felt or experienced, and the bulk of my solo material borders on the negative and melancholy. With things kinda coasting along now personally, I have to dig deeper and find more intricate aspects of personality and flaws to expound on, and work the language and melody. It has to mean something. If it doesn’t, I won’t waste the time. It may be hard for me to come up with material for another record, but I’m gonna give it my best shot.”

Balis’ solo work is old-school country, beautiful and painful. The mechanic that keeps the King Bucks machine moving forward, though, is the mellifluous and sometimes laugh-out loud funny Stockslager. You might literally do a beer-raspberry at some of the subtly funny things he says between songs while the other guys are switching instruments. For upcoming shows, go to www.kingbucks.com or www.dannybalis.com.