Sorta's reunion show fills the Vagabond with friends, family and fans

No seat was empty on the patio of the Vagabond Thursday night, and one found even less personal space inside the Lower Greenville establishment's barroom.

A glance at the small stage area in the comfy joint revealed why it was particularly bustling: Six members of the veteran Dallas band Sorta had gathered to dig up some old tunes and memories.

Yet Thursday's show didn't only serve as a reunion for band members. It also brought together many of the folks who'd supported Sorta's countrified pop-rock career throughout the early aughts in Dallas.

Formed in 2000 by singer Trey Johnson and bassist Danny Balis before quickly expanding to a full lineup, the group sat comfortably at the top of the local music heap throughout its run. The guys released several well received, melodically rich records before the tragic 2007 shooting death of member Carter Albrecht cut everything short.

Albrecht had become so important to Sorta's sound and aesthetic that it seemed impossible for the guys to continue without him. So they finished one final record and broke out into their own musical journeys. Johnson, whose robust but melancholy vocals gave Sorta its warmth, went solo. Danny Balis put out jukebox-worthy country records and worked with other bands including the King Bucks. Ward Williams took his steel guitar talents to Nashville.

Johnson, Balis and Williams were back in the mix on Thursday, in addition to multi-instrumentalist Chris Holt and drummers Tom Bridwell and Trey Carmichael. They may have looked a few years older, but if you closed your eyes you almost believed it was 2006 again. All skilled players, they've lost none of their precision or grasp of the material.

There were musical highlights from all of Sorta's albums during the two sets played for the appreciative Vagabond crowd. "Tell Me A Story" accented Williams' dreamy steel style while the true-crime song "85 Feet" reminded us why its corresponding album was named Strange and Sad But True. The 2004 Little Bay album got the most attention from the guys, though — hearty applause followed "Starry-eyed," "Sweet Little Bay" and "Christmas Day."

A song that the guys had rarely played in the past received the most rapturous response. Johnson told the crowd that drummer Carmichael had wanted the band to try "Laugh Out Loud," one of the twangiest and liveliest songs of Sorta's career. The song name-drops Greenville, the street on which all this was taking place, so friends, family and fans were going crazy from the get-go.

Those who knew the late Carter Albrecht and even those who've only heard stories can speak to how well-loved and respected he was in the local music community. So even though his former bandmates didn't dwell endlessly on his loss Thursday, they honored him by playing beautifully and allowing their fans the chance to embrace that familiar old feeling.

From the looks and sounds of things at the Vagabond, it won't be the final reunion.