After being away from Sacramento for a couple of years, I realized that I have really missed out on a lot of great bands. In an effort to reconnect with the Sacramento music scene, I went to Old Ironsides last Friday to check out Casual Fog.

I really lucked out; my first foray into Sacramento music led me to a band that I really enjoyed. Ryan Donnelly's clear, almost throaty tenor voice lends itself to the mellowness of the music. With a range of songs from "Want the Day" with its eerie tonality, to "Dive the Blue" with its comforting familiarity, the melody and lyrics flow together to form the kind of music that you want to stop what you are doing just to listen and absorb.

However, the music wasn't the only thing I appreciated about Casual Fog. In my experience, the best shows happen when the band makes some kind of connection with the audience. Casual Fog made a connection throughout the show; the audience felt it.

The show felt intimate, like friends playing for friends. It probably helped that the stage wasn't quite large enough to hold all seven of them — one member had to stand in the audience.

After the show I had a chance to speak with Ryan Donnelly. Not only is Donnelly the lead singer, he is also the founder and songwriter for Casual Fog. And the guys he plays with are his friends.

"I've known these guys forever and we've always played music," he said. "A couple of years ago we decided to play live. It's a fun way for all of us to play together."

"We're all just best friends," added percussionist Neal Morgan.

On Friday there were seven. But that number changes all the time, depending on who's up for playing.

"It's gone from four to sometimes seven," Donnelly explained, "depending on who's around. A lot of the time it's between five and seven."

No wonder the show felt so intimate. When you have a bunch of friends doing what they love and playing music, it's hard not to hear it in the music, or see it on the stage.

If you have a chance to see Casual Fog, I would suggest you take it. Their next Sacramento show will be on Jan. 26th, at the Press Club. I know I'll be there.

To listen to a few of Casual Fog's songs, check out their MySpace. Friday's band members were Ryan Donnelly, Dan Elkan, Thad Stoenner, Dave Nicholson, Ben Milner, Pete Newsom and Neal Morgan.