Monday, June 29, 2009

SIDEWAYS SWINGS INTO 7th NUMBER ONE FOR DIERKS

One sure-fire way of getting a Dierks song to No. one is to light a match under the 500+ DB Congress reps. And they blazed a trail straight to NUMBER ONE, making SIDEWAYS the seventh single of Dierks Bentley's career to top the charts, and two No. One's in a row from his Feel That Fire CD that also debuted in the top spot!
According to Country Aircheck's mid-year airplay report, Bentley trails only megastar Keith Urban as the most played male artist on country radio so far this year. Bentley's undeniable appeal has garnered the attention of national media outlets with MSN's prediction that Bentley is "poised to reach country's most elite level," and this week Forbes named Bentley to its Top 10 list of "Next Breakout Stars" based on likeability and awareness.

Congratulations Dierks and a huge THANK YOU to all the DBC reps who spent all their free time voting online at yes.com, calling their DJ's relentlessly, and telling everyone they know about our prez and his extraordinary music and artistic talent! And thank you to all the DJ's who listened to us and played Sideways thousands of times a day! Special Thanks to V-Girl and Hank Dale at WQYK who put up with my constant clammering for Dierks/Sideways attention daily! YOU ROCK!
We love ya, Dude! Time to play and get a little bit Sideways and celebrate!
~Ronna
DB Congress Chair

Sunday, June 28, 2009

BUD SINGS SIDEWAYS TO PEERS

Our friend MOM NOS posted another blog about her autistic son Bud's Glowing Report from his 3rd grade teacher. I think we could use such a great Dierks promoter in the DB Congress! What do you say Mom?

PLAID PAIR MEET IN CT

Finally after a year and a half of submitting through the fan club, and patiently waiting, my name had been chosen for a Meet & Greet with Dierks in CT on June 13th 2009. I was absolutely ecstatic. I had met Dierks very quickly on two occasions prior, but never had the experience of being around him with the 19 other die hard DB board members. Luckily, I also had a close friend that was also chosen from the lottery of fan-clubbers, Mandy, who was onstage with me at the Jimmy Fallon show to support Dierks.

Having a friend to share the experience was really exciting for me, and also a distraction from being in the same proximity as my favorite country artist of all time and not freaking out. We tailgated in the parking lot along with thousands of people on that warm early summer night. Our time to meet at the gate was 7:30, and we were brought to a back lot with a tent set up and the new Feel that Fire backdrop for us to take pics with the "Dude"--it was very intimate and surreal. Out walks Dierks from the buses in a blue plaid shirt & jeans, blackberry in hand, Twittering as he walked under the tent toward all of us. Everyone claps and he says "Hey Guys" with that perfect white smile. He looked so great, very well rested and curlier than ever with the slight touch of humidity in the air.

So from then on I was glad to be feeling a little bit of my tailgating cocktail or else the butterflies would have kicked in BIG TIME. I was up next in line after several people, handing the new tour manager my camera, when I hear Dierks say to me "Hey nice shirt, wanna trade?" We both had on blue plaid and he noticed instantly. I giggle, not able to even say anything (Plaid Shirt? Check. Butterflies in stomach? Check!) He asks me where the picture I had in my hand is from and I tell him "The big CD release in Philadelphia in Feb. but there were about 500 other people there so I don't expect you to remember me." He smiles, and puts his arm around me for a picture (*sigh*).
Afterwards, my brain finally starts to work and I tell him we were onstage with him for the Jimmy Fallon show while pointing to Mandy in line. He waves her over as he's telling me that was one of the most fun talk shows he's done. I move out of the way for them to take a picture together and then it was the three of us just standing around chatting. He could tell by this time we were both getting a little silly and making him laugh and says, "Were you girls having a few beers before the show?" I say "No...Vodka." We all giggle. Here's Mandy's M&G pic (I spy a DB Bracelet!):

Dierks told us that he took the jeep out earlier in the day and cruised the parking lots to hang out with the tailgaters for a while and he was happy everyone was having a good time. I found out later he had a beer with a group of my hometown buddies too. They were totally psyched when his jeep came rolling 'round.

The Q&A: Everyone's first question was, "How's Evie?" and he says, "Good, Good" with that beaming daddy grin. I raise my hand even though I'm smack dab in front of him, and ask him the only question I really could think of. "Whats your favorite bar--where should I go to in Nashville for my 30th birthday in Oct., I'm coming down to Miles & Music?" "Oh you are?" Dierks says, "That's great--I don't have a line up yet for Miles & Music. I really gotta get going on that...go to The Station Inn." He starts to tell me another place to go, but at the same time someone asks me jokingly to ask for his home address. Crazy fans.

I asked if I could get a few pics of him smiling for my camera, so I take the first one and he looks really great in it--perfect smile all for me, great tan from the Aussie beaches, and perfect DB curls!

The second picture's my favorite though, he's giving me this Sideways glance and smile that just makes my heart melt everytime I've looked at it since. You can see it in his eyes he thought I was silly or funny...in a good way, of course. I couldn't get my flash to work, but in a way that added to the intimacy of the pictures under the tent. They capture Dierks without the bright lights and the big stage--just the man hanging with his crew of far away friends from CT.

By the end of the Meet & Greet I really just felt like I was talking to another one of my hometown buddies. We even chatted about how we were going to bring plaid back & I almost broke out into the robot for him while singing "I'm bringing Plaid back..." to the tune of Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back.

That's what's so great about Dierks--he has that way of making you feel important--not intimidated. It felt like I was just kickin' back hangin' out with one of my hometown buddies.
Hope to one day have a beer with Dierks, or Vodka, whatever he prefers!

We leave and I ask for a hug & without hesitation he leans in and I wrap my arms around him. Love you Dierks! (*sigh...what a great HUGGER!*). So my "first time" Meet & Greet was quick but unforgettable. I wish it would have lasted longer.

During Dierks' performance the Security guard let us up to the catwalk. He was singing, "What Was I Thinking," as he ran up and down the stages getting the crowd to definitely feel that fire!

He approaches the very end of our catwalk, reaches his hand out to the adoring girls around him and looks up when he spots my shirt. I got the BEST stage smile I could have EVER asked for and he reaches even further through all of the hands to grab mine. He holds it for a good
15 seconds and I felt like the most important fan in the world. I felt this firm appreciative grip from him. It was like he was giving me a little extra love 'cause he knew I was a dedicated DB Congress member.
Dierks, I will always be dedicated, because I know how dedicated you are to your fans and the DB Congress! And, I'll always wear plaid because it makes it really easy to be spotted out in the crowd!

~Renee (CTCowgirl) , DB Congress Rep, Connecticut

Saturday, June 27, 2009

SIDEWAYS CHART UPDATE - JUNE 27TH

"Sideways" is picking up plays again, and closing in on the Zac Brown Band. A mere 56 plays separate the two (according to stations that report to Mediabase), and ZBB has gained only 39 more plays than "Sideways" in the past week. ZBB is #1, and "Sideways" #2.

Weekends tend to be a bit strange as far as the chart reporting goes, because there are so many more syndicated shows and countdowns, but I see it as the perfect opportunity to make our voices heard.

If you missed it in the comments on the previous update, some of the geographic areas that really need our help include Northern California, Oregon, Texas, the greater Kansas City region (and I know you guys have a show coming up so it's the perfect opportunity to get people pumped for Dierks!), and the greater Birmingham region as well.

You can use Radio Locator to find specific stations, and of course there is always Yes.com as well!

Keep up the great work, Congress -- I know we can do this. And ... did I mention the new ZBB song has already started getting airplay? That may help just a bit, too ... ;)

You guys ROCK!

(And thanks for the well-wishes everybody -- my LASIK went well and I'm at 20/20 vision for the first time in 20 years!)

More from me on Thursday ...

~ Carrie (DBC Rep/Chart Reporter from NC)

DIERKS TALKS HOCKEY, HIS HAIR AND A SURPRISE KISS


Dierks did a massive satellite radio tour recently and one of his interviews was with The Wakeup Crew of K102, Donna and Muss, in Minnesota. Listen as he discusses hockey, Sideways, the surprise kiss from Melissa Peterman at the CMT Awards and much more!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

DIERKS BENTLEY ROCKS "ROCK BAND"

Not being a gamer myself, I am a little behind the times on this Dierks-related news. It is a well-known fact among DB fans that Dierks and the guys in the band love spending their free time playing video games on the bus. Among those games might be the popular Guitar Hero and/or Rock Band--especially now that one of their very own recent Number One songs--Free And Easy (Down The Road I Go) has been added to the game's playlist.

Lori Hollanbaugh wrote a very comprehensvie article, that outlines the huge impact the Rock Band phenomenon can and is having on country music artists' careers:

Pickers and Power Chords: Country Joins the Rock Band and Guitar Hero Revolutions.

As Guitar Hero and Rock Band build their epic momentum as video games, their customer base is expanding beyond wannabe musicians of all ages into a whole new marketplace for lovers of Country Music. With the introduction in December of a "five-pack" that allows downloads of Country tracks into the Rock Band playlist, gamers can now jam out to some of their favorite Country tunes along with songs by rock acts. In January, Guitar Hero World Tour debuted Country Rock Track Pack featuring Brooks & Dunn's "Hillbilly Deluxe," Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again," Brad Paisley's "Ticks" and Rascal Flatts' "Me and My Gang."

An alt-Country release followed in February, available for purchase and download from the Rock Band Music Store catalog. In April, Toby Keith made his Rock Band debut with the "Toby Keith 6-Pack," featuring "Should've Been A Cowboy," "How Do You Like Me Now," "Beer For My Horses," "Who's Your Daddy," "I Love This Bar" and "She's a Hottie."

While it might appear that Country is a little late at joining the party, it has actually been targeted from the earliest days of product development, according to Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing for Electronic Arts, the company that distributes Rock Band. "Country has always been part of the marketing vision of EA, even more so since I began aggressively featuring Country acts in franchise titles like NASCAR and The Sims," said Schnur. "We also knew that Rock Band was going to be unlike any other gaming phenomenon.

Two summers ago, six months before the game came out, I arranged a presentation for my colleagues on the CMA Board. Clarence Spalding [President, Spalding Entertainment] was one of the very first people to respond enthusiastically, and I arranged a meeting between him, myself and Paul DeGooyer [Senior VP, Electronic Games & Music, MTV] to discuss marketing Rock Band on tours. CMT, as well as other artists and managers, quickly got involved. I'm happy and proud to say that Country Music understood this game's potential immediately."

MTV Games and Harmonix, the companies that developed, programmed and now manufacture the games, chose the five songs that appear on the Going Country collection: Dierks Bentley's "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)," Brooks & Dunn's "Hillbilly Deluxe," Dixie Chicks' "Sin Wagon," Miranda Lambert's "Gunpowder and Lead" and Brad Paisley's "Mud on the Tires."

Their subsequent "Alt Country 01" five-pack includes Neko Case's "People Got a Lotta Nerve," Drive By Truckers' "Three Dimes Down," Steve Earle's "Satellite Radio," a live recording by the Old 97s of "Timebomb" and Lucinda Williams' "Can't Let Go." "

As a longtime A&R guy and fan of both rock and Country, I think they couldn't have picked better tracks," said Schnur, who served as Sr. VP, A&R at Capitol Records prior to joining EA. "A great riff is a great riff no matter where it comes from, and we all know that some of the badass musicians on the planet are playing in Country bands. Anyone who thinks these Country songs won't be as challenging or fun to play as the game's rock tracks is in for a huge surprise."

Country artists have been fans of interactive music games long before their tracks were made available to Rock Band. Dierks Bentley expressed his enthusiasm for the game in a CMT interview, and Brooks & Dunn manager Spalding introduced Rock Band to Ronnie Dunn. "Steve knows that I love the game," said Spalding. "My son, daughter and I play it all the time. We downloaded the Country package that included 'Hillbilly Deluxe.' I had Ronnie and Reba [McEntire] over to the house before Christmas and we all played. They were more interested in playing drums than singing - go figure! Ronnie went out the next day and bought one for a Christmas gift. It's very infectious - that's why I took the one I had at the office home. I couldn't get any work done for playing 'All Right Now.'"

Even more noteworthy than the popularity of these games is the potential for encouraging purchase of music recordings. Microsoft reports that players of Guitar Hero and Rock Band purchase an average 3.8 million songs a month and have bought more than 45 million tracks for both games to date. According to data compiled by The NPD Group and Nielsen SoundScan, Guitar Hero and Rock Band brought in $935 million in 2007, well above the $835 million earned through digital music downloads.

An NPD report noted that in the third quarter of 2008, 22 percent of those who purchased music in any format and 35 percent of all consumers under age 35 played "a music-based video game, such as Rock Band or Guitar Hero" and that "many of these music gamers reported that the gaming experience had a positive outcome, such as creating music discovery or triggering a digital music or CD purchase." "The majority of artist income comes now from licensing, publishing, sponsorship and performance," said Schnur. "Today, all artists want to be a part of new opportunities that allow them to be heard by the largest possible audience.

And being associated with a phenomenal game makes an artist's image - as well as their records, concert tickets, merchandise and publishing - an even bigger part of their fans' lives. "Certainly the success of Rock Band and Guitar Hero has enabled some unprecedented deals," he continued. "Just look at AC/DC, Aerosmith and Metallica. Record companies and retailers have seen sales of songs by scores of bands increase 200 to 300 percent after their inclusion in both these games.

In fact, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, which has grossed more than $50 million since its release last June, has resulted in more revenue for the band than any individual album they've released in their 38-year career. The record business may be ailing, but the music business, led by games like Rock Band, is now entering the most profitable and creative epoch of our time. And I love the fact that Country will now literally and figuratively help change the game forever."

Country artists should definitely benefit from the cross exposure they could receive by being part of this story. "It no longer matters what kind of music you pledge allegiance to," said Schnur. "Everyone loves playing Skynyrd and Creedence songs on Rock Band. I like to think that there are Brooks & Dunn fans out there who have discovered The Killers through playing the game. And I'm really looking forward to Megadeth fans discovering Miranda Lambert.

Best of all, this is just the beginning. Gamers have always craved a music-themed experience because music has always been an integral part of games. But what's amazing about Rock Band is that it has single-handedly created a whole new medium of interactive music discovery. Have you ever played Rock Band with a 12-year-old? It's jaw-dropping to see them rock out to Molly Hatchet, get excited about Dixie Chicks and want to download more songs by Brad Paisley. It's an extraordinary new connection that reactivates the power and promise of music like never before.

Rock Band has, and will continue to, change the way we experience music forever." Anyone looking for evidence of how much the games have already influenced pop culture needs to look no further than Brad Paisley's video with Keith Urban for "Start a Band." In the clip, two young boys duke it out on their axes in a fictitious Guitar Showdown video game. These images mirror Schnur's conviction that younger generations may discover their music more from video screens than from radios or computers. "To my mind, there is no longer any distinction between rock and Country fans when it comes to gaming," he said. "That's not just because the lines of the genres themselves are blurred.

Today's teens have never known a world without Internet, cell phones or video games. In fact, they are an entire generation raised on video games as a major entertainment source in their lives. Consequently, they've discovered much of their music through gaming consoles. Thirty-five years after the first electronic blips of Pong, video games and the music we can deliver with them have become the most essential cultural force of our time. And within the next few years, the ability of video games to expose music of any genre will be beyond anything the industry or the consumer has ever known before."

SIDEWAYS CHART UPDATE - JUNE 25TH

Well, I guess everybody calls it wrong sometimes ... "Sideways" is, in fact, still #3 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart this week. I thought for sure "Out Last Night" was going to drop off, but I forgot to take into account that not every radio station reports to Mediabase 24/7 (where I get my updates). Forgive me, Congress ...

Based on the radio stations that *do* report to Mediabase, "Sideways" is closing in on the Zac Brown Band's "Whatever it Is," bit by bit (play by play?). The reporting I see is similar to this:

Zac Brown Band Whatever it Is (# of plays this week) ( # + or - since last week)
Dierks Bentley Sideways (# of plays this week) (# + or - since last week)

I pay attention not only to the # of plays this week, but also how much the songs are moving. Over the past couple of days, I was getting nervous. ZBB was increasing by much, much more than "Sideways," so I was starting to get an uneasy feeling that our efforts were going unnoticed -- or that people were just plain getting tired of their DJs playing nothin' slow. But today I'm a bit more confident since "Sideways" moved up 122 plays to ZBB's 155. Yes, I realize they're still outpacing Dierks, but it's significantly closer than it had been earlier in the week.

So. We can still do this! You know what to do ... call, text, or email your radio stations (especially if you're in Texas -- they seem to be lagging back with "Sideways!"), visit Yes.com ... however you can do it, let your voice be heard and make sure people know that you came to rock (in your blue jeans and white tank top, naturally!).

Also, would anybody be interested if I made a list of the specific stations that have "Sideways" below the top 3 on their playlists, so we know which particular stations need a bit of nudging? Comment if you'd be interested.

And one final note, I apologize in advance if Saturday's chart update is delayed -- I'm having LASIK tomorrow and I'm not 100% sure when I'll be able to successfully go online this weekend. But you'll be hearing from me soon ...


~ Carrie (DBC Rep/Chart Reporter from North Carolina)

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

DIERKS TAKES JAKE TO THE CMT MUSIC AWARDS

Our friends at theboot.com posted our prez as their photo of the week!

I think we all know by now that Dierks took Jake as his date to the CMT Music Awards--trotting around on all fours on the red carpet and sittin' pretty in the chair in the audience next to daddy Dierks. And, D kicked off the show with a performance of Sideways. (starts at the 5:05 minute mark).

And, he won the award for "Country Boy" CMT Performance of the Year (with Alan Jackson, George Strait, and Brad Paisely). Keith Urban performs first, then the award presentation.

And, if all that wasn't enough to make a great night...he got kissed--on the mouth--by Melissa Peterman. Well, OK--that part was not so great, as you can see by Dierks' "tweet" from backstage. Oh, and will somebody puh-lease teach Bill Engvall how to pronounce "DIERKS" --with as S!

http://twitpic.com/7lcrk - thanks to the fans for an amazing night. an honor for me (and jake) to win the award with alan. from TwitPic

ok...the host just called me "dierk"...besides that and that kiss, it was a great night!
thanks to all the fans. #fb
from txt

just did red carpet...with jake!...love having him here at these award shows...he makes them fun. #fb
from txt

http://twitpic.com/7k710 - we all know who the real star is tonight! #fb from TwitPic



DBC VOTING WORKS WONDERS

We, The DB Congress, voted tirelessly....and Dierks won the title of Sexiest Man on March Men's Madness. Then, when the CMT Fashion Poll featured Dierks, the DBC again showed our power by voting online and got D the win.

Now, let's go for a 3-peat!

Dierks is up for Male Artist of the Future and Male Artist of All Time in Country Weekly's poll to determine country’s All-Time Sexiest Stars. But hurry! Voting ends June 26 at 11:59 a.m. With over 500 reps now, we can work wonders! Let's make it happen! VOTE HERE!

Special thanks to Meg (DBC in FL) for reminding us of the looming deadline! In fact, Meg helps us out a lot with finding all kinds of Dierks links! Sooooooooo...yes, it's that time again...I have a new title for Meg--Special Research Assistant to the DBC Chair. I know, it's really long...but well deserved!

DIERKS ON TUES. NIGHT OPRY

Mark your calendars! Dierks will be performing on the Tuesday Night Opry July 7 and July 21.


Check out opry.com for all The Grand Ole Opry news, and enter to win a trip to Nashville! Enter daily through August 7.


Can't make it to the show? There's more than one way to experience the Opry!

Television - Opry Live
Watch Opry Live each week on Great American Country (GAC) to see performances from your favorite country artists! Click here to see what's on Opry Live this week.


Radio & Online Webcast - 650 AM WSM
Tune your radio dial to 650 AM WSM to hear full, unedited broadcasts of every Opry show. WSM has broadcast the Opry since its inception and today can be heard in more than 30 states, as well as parts of Canada. Visit wsmonline.com to listen to a live online stream, and never miss another amazing moment at the Grand Ole Opry. Find out more about WSM 650 AM by clicking here.

Syndicated Radio Show - America's Opry Weekend
Tune into America's Opry Weekend on your local radio station and hear the hits from today's hottest stars, including incredible performances recorded live on the Opry stage. Click here to find out more about America's Opry Weekend.

SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio - Grand Ole Opry on SIRIUS XM
SIRIUS XM Radio is the exclusive satellite radio home of the Grand Ole Opry, featuring weekly broadcasts, performance archives, and more! Enjoy the Grand Ole Opry on The Roadhouse – SIRIUS channel 62 and XM channel 10 every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday night.
Plus, LIVE Opry broadcasts air each week on Nashville! – XM channel 11! For more information and to sign up for a FREE 3-DAY TRIAL listen, click here.


Internet Video - Opry Live on YouTube
Check out Opry features on YouTube! Check out Opry performances, interviews, and special moments from country legends and hot new artists. Visit the Opry Live YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/oprylive.

THE REST OF JORDAN'S STORY

When Dierks Bentley debuted the tribute, "Hey Jordan" at Last Call Ball, I quickly thought to switch to video. I posted the result on YouTube as well as here on DBC.com. The Phoenix New Times found it on YouTube and placed it in their blog. Here's the rest of the story:

Dierks Bentley Writes Memorial Song for Jordan Sterling
By Niki D'Andrea in Ear to the Street
Monday, Jun. 22 2009 @ 12:25PM

Courtesy of Kim Sterling-Heflin; The Sterling siblings: Brooke, Walter II, and Jordan, at Jordan's graduation from Santa Clara University:

Phoenix-bred country star Dierks Bentley's newest song is a melancholy tribute to Phoenix resident Jordan Sterling, who died earlier this year at 34, after a life-long battle with cystic fibrosis. Jordan and his sister, Brooke, were profiled by Megan Irwin in our 2006 story, "Borrowed Time," which chronicled the siblings' very different battles against cystic fibrosis. (Brooke is a yoga instructor who uses alternative and natural medicine; Jordan took a more traditional approach.)
According to this blog by his stepmother, Jordan Sterling's health began to seriously decline last year, after a doctor accidentally pierced one of his arteries.


Many of his friends were childhood pals. Like Dierks. During all the years that Jordan struggled with his health, all those scary pre-transplant years, Dierks worked at his music. Dierks became a celebrity, a country western idol. He could have ignored Jordan, but he was always a true, attentive friend. He was Jordan’s friend when Jordan was healthy, and he was Jordan’s friend when Jordan’s was sick.
He died in Phoenix at St. Joseph's Hospital on January 29. Bentley was a close friend. The Arizona native has been making waves in Nashville for the past few years -- he's sold more than five million copies of his first three studio albums, and he's also been the recipient of a CMA Horizon Award. He was also, at one time, the youngest person inducted to the Grand Ole Opry. Bentley's song for Sterling, "Hey Jordan," is a rather upbeat acoustic guitar song, but contains lines rife with sadness, like "I miss you, and I want you back/Don't know how I'm gonna live without that laugh" and "Hey Jordan, how is heaven? I bet they're glad to have you home."Hear Bentley introduce and perform "Hey Jordan" by playing the video.

AMERICAN SONGWRITER PRINTS CONGRESS LETTERS

Dozens of us DB Congress reps (I'm sure), wrote in to American Songwriter magazine thanking them for the great Dierks Bentley cover and article in their May-June issue. Three of us made the Letters page (Lee Ann-KY, Mona-IA, and Dawn)!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

DIERKS PODCAST ON US 99.5 CHICAGO

Listen in as Chicago's US 99.5 Ramblin' Ray and Lisa talk with Dierks about his Twitter entries, "The Hangover," who he's gonna see in concert Sept 13, hockey, girls ruling the world, psycho fans, Forbes Top 10 list, Mom sending newspaper clippings of her son, the next single--Beautiful World or 'Close Your Eyes, the CMT Awards, Brad's American Saturday Night tour, and Jake.

AN AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT! - DBC TURNS 500!!


Remember when I mentioned in my review that I told Dierks some fantastic news?! It's kind of been kept a secret until now...

Friday afternoon, the DB Congress turned 500!!!

This is huge, and I want to thank all of you for working so hard to bring in new members! It's unbelievable...I'm amazed at how far we've come! Give yourself a big old hug and a pat on the back for a job well done!

Here are the last 50+ members who helped get us to 500! :

Skspire
Stoonlovesdierks
Byrdfan
Sweetandwild
lovindierksb
Kiwi
Maria J
susan66
Kybluebird
MelissaMarie
smithkl1_1232303423
countryfan267
Bentleybug
Nic3496
jensting
DierksFan07
AmyKay812
Darlocky
DierksisHOT7
SpiderMonkey24
Dierks2FaninSC
KC078073
spunkyboo
Erin312MSW
toohey
little_white_tank_topped_miss
LisaMclovesDierks
Carmon
mmckenzie
KIBANEZ87_1233162854
Beambabe
TassieDBFan
Raelynne
alabamahoney
chrisflet22
charlenes9
LoraSinNH
feelthatfire01
SomethingWicked
Buckshot00fan
jmleslie
JenniferLynn
mydierksbentley
Aussie_Glenda73
ajack333
Jussy85
Mkwoodall
CindyGee
Outsidepam
DBANDBCfan
keesh_a_leash
carmin1112
Fiona
tree64
ripley132
newb
FFAGrlLvsDierks

Welcome to the DB Family!! :)


-Amanda Morris (Mississippi Rep/DBC Secretary)

Monday, June 22, 2009

BIRMINGHAM FELT THE HEAT!

*This one is VERY long(You may even need to take a short intermission). I'm sure you will feel as if you were there with us every minute of the day!*

We had already gotten the forecast for the weekend and it was going to be HOT! Summer peaked its head a couple of days early with temps staying around 100 degrees all day Saturday. The festival was blocked off along streets and parking lots downtown, and that only made it hotter.

Birmingham, AL is about an hour 1/2 to 2 hours away from home, and I was determined to get there early before the gates opened to claim front row for Dierks! I got things ready the night before so we could sleep in Saturday morning and not be rushed to get things together that morning, but to get there in plenty of time before gates opened. Right as we were coming into downtown I saw an electronic marquee sign that flashed up "Dierks Bentley" and was hoping I could find where it was to take a picture, but there are huge buildings all downtown and was hard to find, but we did some walking around and happened to see it.



The sign was listing names of artists who were going to perform at the festival. We got to the gate around 10am that was closest to the stage Dierks would be performing on that night. No one was around except for one guard and we were awful lucky about finding a parking spot within walking distance of the gate entrance, a park, and some grub - and parking on Saturday's at the meters are free! I went back to get our chairs and we stayed in the shade for a while.

We hadn't been there too long and we heard someone doing sound check. I tried to listen to see if I recognized the music since no on was singing at the time. I wasn't 100% sure just yet, but I thought it sounded like a Dierks song. Then a couple of minutes later I heard someone talking. It kind of sounded like Dierks, but couldn't really tell until they started singing. Yep, my ears were right and it was Dierks and we listened to his whole sound check! Although we couldn't see a thing on the stage since the gate we were at was 2 blocks away, but the whole area could hear it and they sounded great!

My Dad came with us for security reasons, and we had him to stay with our chairs while we went to find the buses haha. We found them and they were to the left of the stage and Dierks was just about finished with sound check. And what else did my little eyes spy at the buses?! Dierks' jeep of course!



I expected to see him driving out and about in it sometime throughout the day, but I don't think he ever did unless it was before we got there. There was a big, tall building so one side of the street was shaded and there was a concrete bench that was on the same side so went went and sat on it for a while and talked to the real nice guard that was at the gate. He told us that he worked at Bama Jam this year and it had 100,000+ people in attendance and we were talking about Dierks and other artists. So we stayed there a while waiting to see if Dierks or the gang would come out or take a spin in the jeep, but nothing happened. None of them in sight :( But it was okay since I had my m&g later. We weren't bored at all because we talked to the guard for the most time. he was very friendly and knew his Country music! haha. I called my Dad later on to see if people were showing up, but we were still the only one's there. People who worked at the festival were going and coming, but no one coming to line up yet. This was between 11am-12pm that I called him, and the gates opened at 1pm and no one there! I didn't think about it until then, but I was worried all week about it being a crowd of people lined at the gates before we got there, but I guess the heat kept most people from lining up early. We stayed at the buses a little while longer until it was about time for gates to open at 1pm.
There was a small crowd of people now, and it was right at 1pm, but gates wouldn't open until ticket sellers and the Ticketmaster scanning devices arrived. We all waited on them at least 15 mins, but they said the other gates weren't opened either. I was first to get our seats at the stage. Other people were going to different stages and checking stuff out, and we were the only two at the stage for a good five minutes, but I got exactly where we wanted - front and center! That's what I got there early enough for!

After we got settled down, we went to see where I needed to pick up my m&g pass. I knew it would be at merch or Will Call. I was hoping it would be at merch because it was right near the stage and Will Call was a long walk. I went to merch and I asked where I needed to pick up my m&g at and one girl said with a bit of an attitude, "Oh, I don't think he's doing a m&g tonight." Well, not to sound rude or anything, but DUH! I figured that much out myself, but that wasn't even what I asked, but I quickly replied, "No..I am in the fan club and I have a m&g for tonight." She was rather speechless after hearing that, and a guy that was there said that the passes won't be at the merch, but will be available at Will Call after 4pm. I kindly said "Thank You" and went on. It was still a couple of hours before I could pick it up and we went ahead got a couple shirts.

You could leave the festival all day as long as you had on a wrist band and we went back around to the buses for a few minutes to see if there was any activity going about. None..except for people working there. We were getting a bit hungry and asked the guard if he knew of a good place to eat, and he suggested a grill that was a few streets over, but we didn't really want to lose our good parking spot. There was a BBQ place right across the street from where we parked and we tried it out. We had to wait a few minutes because there were some ahead of us and the owner was cooking some fresh BBQ. He said he doesn't cook ahead, and oh it was sooo good! It beat paying too much for stuff inside the festival. We got a BBQ sandwich plate for a reasonable $6 each! It came with slaw on it if you wanted it and with fries...he even toasts the buns! YUM! I would definitely recommend it if you're ever in downtown Birmingham. I believe it was called North Meats South BBQ between 17th and 18th Street on 4th Avenue.

After we ate that, we went to the jeep to cool off and to put some make up on so I'd be ready for the m&g haha. You couldn't put on much because it was so hot and you'd pretty much sweat it off anyway. At the time, the thermometer in the jeep read 108 degrees! WOW! Now that was like Nevada or Arizona hot!

By the time we got cooled off and went back in the festival, it was time to pick up my pass. It felt like I had to walk 2 miles just to get it and walk through a crowd of people..crazy! I got there and I was the first one to pick up a m&g. I had to sign and inital by my name saying that I picked it up and noticed that there were 15 other names on the list, and knew the m&g was full. I came back with my pass and listened to some other artists that came on before Dierks. I never heard of any of them before, but they were pretty good.

*INTERMISSION?*

It was still day light at 7pm when I had to go back for the m&g. I met a couple earlier at the porta-potties who said they had m&g's too lol. And I think they saw me leaving and it looked like I knew where I was going and they followed me. If I hadn't asked security or some guy earlier about where to go then I wouldn't have had the slightest clue either due to weird directions haha. They and their friends had on brown passes and I was the only one with a red FC pass, but I almost didn't have a pass a couple of times because it wouldn't hardly stick from the moment I put it on. Luckily, a couple of people were warning me that it was about to come off. There were about 30 others who were in line, but theirs were just big white stickers with date and artists names as a pass. So they went first since there were just a few of us. There were supposed to be 9 other FC members beside me for the FC m&g, but they didn't ever show up. :S I saw Dierks coming was in a blue plaid top with that backwards cap...yes! Those 30 workers quickly went through line and then it was time for us 5! Dierks signed the others items and tooks pics with them, and then it was my turn! He asked me how I had been and greeted me with a hug. I told him that I was doing good, but was trying to stay cool..that was hard to do lol. By 7pm I was already burnt, and I had worn my LWTT so my upper arms and shoulders are now red and sore. He noticed my LWTT was from '04. I told him we'd been there all day and I was already burnt. He noticed and carefully put his hand on my arm and said I was hot lol. I had him to sign my FTF cover and he put his arms around me again and I hugged back for the picture...finally a huggy(?) picture haha!




I read an article on gactv.com Friday night where they highlighted Dierks being mentioned by Forbes magazine and I printed that off to show him. He read it and he thought it was cool. I had made DBC buttons to pass out and I had a few extra with me and I quickly thought to give him one lol and I told him that Friday night we had a big accomplishment, but I'll share what that is soon in the next blog! ;) I told him thanks for doing the video for the DBC website and he said it was no problem at all. I was fixing to turn to leave and he gently grabbed my arm and hugged me again and said thanks for all the support! After we both talked for a few minutes we got the other 4 in and took the group picture! It was just posted this morning on the site and I can't believe how great it turned out!



I easily made my way back to my seat through the crowd with a huge smile on my face. We met a couple of girls that afternoon who sat by us who were fans of Dierks. Lynn's husband is a soldier over in Iraq and I'm not sure what her friend's name was(sorry). We watched Matt somebody and Corey Smith perform before it was time for Dierks. I had heard of Corey because he comes to the area pretty often, but had never seen him live, so I didn't know whether I'd like him or not. After a couple of songs, me and Momma both decided that he was not our cup of tea. (Sorry if there are any fans of his reading this.) Finally it was about time for Dierks to come on and perform! Right before he did though, people who were setting up the stage were looking into the crowd and the security in front of us were too. I thought that someone passed out due to the heat, but we asked and said it was a fight. Security opened the gate down below us and got in there to break it up. When they came out and escorted the two out..it was two girls who had gotten in a fight. That shocked me because I figured it was a couple of guys. After that stupid little fight about 20 police came through and stood between the stage and us(and the gate). I was so aggravated because they were all right in front of us and I was afraid that I wouldn't get one decent picture without their heads being in the way. Well, most of them still stood around, but they moved off to the side..thank goodness.

Right before the show started, I felt something hit my leg, but didn't pay attention right then. I looked down and in front of me on the ground looking at me was the famous db logo on a pick! I got excited, but also wondered where it came from. I jokingly said that it fell from the sky, but I looked around and noticed that Jay was throwing out Robbie's purple and yellow-ish guitar picks. I bet he threw out 50-100 of those things and the guard in front of me got me a few that I couldn't reach. It was soo funny. I could see him throw them, but couldn't see them when they got near me. Jay even ended up hitting that guard and he almost hit me in the eye and head a couple of times lol. But he wasn't meaning to of course. It was like a game once people figured out what he was doing and what he was throwing. Thanks Jay! :)



Dierks came out...still in his blue plaid shirt and backwards ball cap on! I was soo excited and I was totally a different person when Dierks and TLB hit the stage! I felt like I was 16 all over again. (Ok..I know that I'm not old at almost 22 yrs now, and I still look 16 to most people lol) But I was just all giddy and jumping up and down singing every word to every song! This show was as if Dierks was headlining all over again, and that was exciting that he got nearly an hour 1/2 to perform!! The teeny boppers and others around us would look at me from time to time because I was having the best time of my life that night! After 10pm, it was still hot and Dierks didn't even act like it bothered him a bit! He had that energy like he always does - running back and forth on stage while singing, but man the sweat was just rolling off of him and I didn't even see him wipe it off a time!








He did sing all the hits except for MLN. I kind of wanted to hear DL&C, myself. I had made a few signs and even a big "DB Congress <3's>




Right before they left, he looked at Lynn to get her sign. He held it up on stage and motioned for her to come up with him. The guards helped get her out and on stage with him. Dierks gave her a hug and took her back stage with him. She was so happy and I know it made her night! I got a few pics of her and I think her friend was too excited as well and didn't get any pictures. I passed out some DBC items and cards before and during the show that had my DBC email on it and yesterday when I got back home she had already sent me a message because I told her that night that I took a few pics. She wanted to know if I could send them to her so she could send them to her hubby and of course I was more than happy to! I know Dierks just got a couple of fans for life after that! I didn't get a set list...almost did, but one of the guys on stage took it and wadded it up and then threw it out. Sorry, but that was stupid if you ask me. I did manage to get a drum stick after yelling Jay's name a few times. Dierks didn't have any picks lined up on his mic but only had a couple he threw out during the show. Well, they're black and I couldn't see where either went, but I knew one went above my head, but that was it. I didn't get either one. I had put my signs in my chair during the show and I while I was asking Jay about a set list and drum sticks my Momma told me to come to her. She had picked up my signs and asked, "Look! What's that?!" And I reached over to get it and could not believe what I saw! One of Dierks' picks that he threw out in the crowd landed in MY chair of all places! I got so excited and squealed like a little pig haha! I bet those guards didn't know what to think of me, but I'm sure they knew I was a huge DB fan before the first song was over lol. We waited and let the crowd of people leave before we left and others were looking through the trash on the ground and was finding a couple of picks. I looked and found about two more. I heard something fall on the ground and noticed it was a pick. I wondered why someone would just throw it, but I looked and saw that Jay was throwing a few more out to those that were around. For some reason, I think he meant to throw it at me lol. Earlier when he was doing it before the show, I couldn't catch or see where they were going and he kept trying and trying to get them at me lol. After the crowd cleared out, we met my Dad outside the gate and we put our chairs and things up. As we were coming out the gate, there was this curly headed guy not far from us and my Momma kind of thought it was Dierks, but he turned around and it wasn't. I said, "Why would he be out here at the gate for anyway?!" lol. I mean the guy was seriously wearing something like Dierks would! We made our way back to the buses again and about 3 or 4 people were there...even Fake Dierks! Haha! He seemed a bit drunk, but I could not help but to laugh at him!



The girl said that someone had told them that Dierks had already left. She told them that his jeep was still there and that meant that he was too. That person didn't really have anything to say after that because he knew too that Dierks was still there. A few minutes later she saw Dierks and yelled for him. She had a good eye because I almost couldn't tell that was him if it hadn't been for his cap. He was making his way over to us, but some guy stopped him to talk. While Dierks was talking, some blonde girl came over to us and said that Dierks isn't coming over or something another. She thought the guys were trying to come in the gate when they or no one really was. :S She was just rude - whoever she was. A few minutes later, Dierks did come over to take pics for the few of us.



The girl that was there said she had a 3 yr old son who loved Dierks and asked if he could do a video for him real quick. He did, and it was just so sweet! The girl was from GA I thought she said and she is a DBC member - I rememered her name as soon as she said it, but I can't for the life of me recall what it was right now. When it was my turn, I just wanted to tell him thanks for everything and he surprisingly said that he loved my DBC sign! I didn't think he really saw it during the show, but that proves how much I know haha.




Chris just came out of no where! I honestly didn't see where he came from because he wasn't around until after Dierks got there, but he took pics for us all. I had Dierks to sign my pic from January's m&g and I couldn't believe what he wrote! I was watching what he wrote and I about started to tear up right then and there because I was in such awe.



When it was time to take my pic again with Dierks, he put his hand on my shoulder - and if you remember I mentioned that I had gotten sunburned - well for some reason I put my hand over his and moved his hand off of my shoulder because I told him it kind of hurt. Ok, to be honest, it really didn't hurt THAT much...I don't know why I did that because any other time I wouldn't have done anything like that, but it made a funny moment for sure! He was like oops and said something like that I was hot and I was a hot woman haha! I'm telling you that I was definitely feeeling the fire just from my burnt shoulders alone..they really were on fire! And then he said, "How did you make it back up front after the m&g??" I said that it really was easy and I had no problem. And he motioned his arm to elbow someone. But nah, it really wasn't bad at all to get back up there because although it was a big crowd, they were kind of spaced out a little at the time, so I didn't have to "swim" through the crowd by knocking them with my elbows haha.



I didn't really get to meet any other DBC members. Kimmie Jo was there, and we texted before and and after the show, but it was so hot that she left early and it was packed by the time Dierks came on that she couldn't get right up there with us and a couple of others didn't make it for certain reasons. Wish y'all could've been there! It was one awesome night!

People who I socialize with outside the DB and Country music world probably think I'm crazy for how much passion I have for Dierks, Country music and everything else that relates to that, but the things Dierks says and does for all of us fans just amazes me. Time and time again, he unintentionally proves himself to me why he's still my favorite artist. He goes out of his way all of the time for us. I feel that by promoting him any way I can - requesting songs, buying albums/tickets/shirts, handing out cards, etc. - is a way of giving back to him for all the kind things he does and the friends I've made through him, but sometimes I feel the things I do aren't near enough. Saturday night made me fall in love with the DUDE even more(I don't know how that's even possible), and I thank him over and over for the wonderful memories over the years. (Ok, I better stop because my eyes are getting watery again!)

Thanks Dierks, TLB, & Crew from the bottom of my heart! MYSELF & THE DBC LOVE YOU!


-Amanda Morris (Mississippi Rep./DBC Secretary)

Sunday, June 21, 2009

CW CAPTURES DIERKS MOMENTS

In the June 29, 2009 issue, Country Weekly treats us to a two-page spread of Dierks photographic memories! Photos include Dierks on his bike, hockey, Jake, on stage, and ATV-ing, but my favorite is Daddy Dierks showing Evie the 'wonders of the world from a tour bus.'






Later in the same issue, Dierks gives us some words to live by:

And, Dierks is pictured at the top of the Charts page--credited for co-writing his latest Top 10 hit--Sideways. Help make it a #1! Call your DJ or click on Yes.com!

Let's make sure we tell CW how appreciative we are for all the Dierks love! Send them an email today at letters@countryweekly.com.


Saturday, June 20, 2009

SIDEWAYS CHART UPDATE JUNE 20TH

As I'm sure you already know by now, "Sideways" is up to #3 on the charts, which is GREAT! And for a while there, it was looking like #1 was almost going to be inevitable next week.

But according to the rolling spin charts at Mediabase 24/7, the Zac Brown Band's "Whatever it Is" has overtaken Dierks and "Sideways" AGAIN, so Congress, we have our work cut out for us in the next couple of weeks!

I've noticed on Yes.com that there are quite a few stations out there that have "Sideways" lower than the Top 3 on their playlists -- so there is plenty of room for improvement! If you haven't checked out Yes.com, you definitely should! It's a great way to give feedback to the radio stations about the music they're playing... and to interact with other Congress members and Dierks fans as well!

So let's get our Act of Congress going and get Dierks and "Sideways" up to #1 where they should be! Call, text, or email your local radio stations! Tell those DJs not to play nothin' slow! Let's kick off the Summer a little bit "Sideways!"

I'll be back on Thursday with the next chart update, but feel free to check out the "Sideways" thread on Dierks.com for more information on how the songs are faring!

~ Carrie

THE POWER OF TWITTER

Stephanie (MO), Beth (WA) and Tayla (PA), DB Congress reps arrived in Nashville Tuesday, June 9, ready for a fun week of fan club parties and CMA Music Festivities. After a bite of dinner, they headed for the car with every intention of going downtown just to walk around lower Broadway.

"Well those plans quickly changed," writes Steph in her Myspace blog, "when I get a text from Tracie (DBC Rep from Michigan) telling me to check Dierks’ twitter…right now! So we pull it up and bam, there she is in all her glory standing next to Dierks at some bar watching the hockey game. Nice!"

http://twitpic.com/70nof - is hanging out with db congress member tracie...we are watching the stanley cup! from TwitPic



"Tayla really did want to watch the rest of the game," Steph continues, "so we headed down to Sam’s and figured hey, if we get to see Dierks too, cool beans! The bar was fairly tiny and we never expected him to be sitting at the front table when we walked through the door. He saw us trying to walk around him and just stuck his arm out and gave us all hugs and kisses on the cheek.

He asked how we found him and said we saw Tracie on his Twitter. This launched his hilarious “I thought Twitter was just about John Mayer talking about eating weird goat cheese” comment as to why he never used it before.

Once the game was over, we all stood around for a bit talking and hanging out. Tracie decided we needed another picture together so we get ready when everyone starts laughing. Out of the corner of my eye I see Dierks has joined in on the fun…hehe. Definitely made for one of my favorite pictures ever!"


"He was super cool...super nice and seriously, the one guy he was with was HOT!" says Tracie. "He just snuck up from behind and got in the pic with us. He had been sitting behind us while the game was on and we were being loud. He can be sneaky around me ANYTIME! Wup!"

The Twitter phenomenon is the next big techie thing! Follow Dierks at http://twitter.com/DierksBentley.

DADS, DAUGHTERS AND DIERKS

Charlie and David may live four states apart - one in Massachusetts, the other in Kentucky - but they have more in common than you might think. They are both single dads, raising teenage daughters. But even more than that, all four share one common thread--a passion for the music and supporting their favorite country music artist, Dierks Bentley.

Charlie and Leah celebrated Father's Day early, when they traveled to Boston and Hartford last weekend to see Dierks in concert--just dad and daughter. DBC rep, Charlie, from MA, came up with his user name from a coffee blend named after his late wife and himself. "Mochamurph" was a coffee, Monique and Charlie Murphy blend.




Leah named herself 'Phantomleah,' derived from her love of Phantom Stallion books. The junior in high school loves horses, and is studying small animal sciences. At Leah's first concert she met Dierks on Dec 7, 2007; ironically, she lost her mom, Monique, exactly one year later to breast cancer. "She was one of Leah's biggest fans, and was very proud of Leah and her choices in country music," Charlie remembers fondly.


"During the MA/CT weekend, Leah got to hold Jimmy Wayne's hand during a song and met him afterwards, a SMALL second prize (vs. getting a M&G with Dierks), " Leah tells her dad. "Friday's concert in MA was great, but we think Saturday's in CT was much better.


Our seats were really close and Leah met a few gals from the DB Congress--Heidi from Norway and Jen (Shelly). I'm taking some of my adult friends to the Mohegan Sun CT casino to see the show again October 23rd. Maybe I'll get to meet him then. "


Leah's favorite song is Settle For a Slowdown and Charlie's is Long Trip Alone. They both love Sideways, and their daddy-daughter song is Beautiful World.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kentucky dad and daughter team--David and Malorie--recently shared a DRT (Dierks Road Trip) to LCB, Dierks' annual fan club party in Nashville.

"This was the first time in Nashville for Malorie. As we drove through downtown I could see the exitement in her eyes! We arrived at the Mercy Lounge early and my first objective was to hoist the DBC Banner. We then found our spot by the door and tossed our blanket for a seat. A small handful of Congress members were already in line as we enjoyed some chat with them.



As the day went on the line went out into the parking lot and around the building. Great to talk to so many Congress members as they arrived. When the doors finally opened we found ourselves at a table with Holly and Janet. As Dierks came on we worked our way towards the stage. Malorie got busy giving concert calls to her friends. Dierks' set was awesome and we loved every minute of it.

When it was our turn for the M&G we wanted a pic of Dierks, Malorie, and myself. As he greeted us he told Malorie that he remembered meeting her at the Indy show two years ago. Malorie told Dierks that her friends don't believe her when she tells them that she knows Dierks...he got a chuckle out of that! She talked to him about FTF and told him that we would see him in Cincy on 6/19. We got our pic taken and headed out to get our LCB shirts.
We stayed outside and talked to other people as they were leaving. We even watched Dierks jump in Big White and leave the lot. I dismantled the Banner and we were on our way back to Louisville.

But the highlight of my night came in the first 30 minutes we were on the road. Malorie fell asleep not long after we got out of Nashville! But she told me that was the "best" concert she had ever been to. That she loved being able to walk around and do whatever she wanted to. To talk to anyone she wanted to and to get a free soda whenever she wanted! And on top of all that to be able to talk to Dierks for a few minutes!

And it was comforting for me to know that while she was walking around the concert she was with "friends." To me, that means everything! As a single father raising two teen-aged daughters it's nice to know that everything is ok when she is around other DB Congress members. Thanks to anyone and everyone who talked to Malorie on the night of her "best concert ever"......especially Dierks!"


Just ten days after Last Call Ball, David and Malorie ventured out on another DRT to Cinncinnati on Friday, June 19. Dierks says 'hi,' and Jimmy Wayne, Brad Paisely, and Dierks perform "Alcohol" together.


Dierks


Dierks Brad,and Jimmy

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY CHARLIE AND DAVID! What a special bond Dierks' music has brought about for you and your daughters!

DIERKS AND DAD IN PLAID

It's apparent where Dierks Bentley gets his love for plaid. Just one look at this pic from young D and Dad Leon--both in blue-plaid attire--tells you Dierks learned at an early age to be "like father like son. "





Country Weekly's June 22 tribute to Father's Day features "Lessons From Dad," revealing things country stars learned from their dad's that helped them become the people they are today.


My dad fought in World War II, he grew up during the Depression and his whole life has revolved around his family. He wa a great dad. Putting family first is what I learned from him.


This year, Dierks is a first time daddy to daughter Evie, now nearly nine months old.

Happy Father's Day to Dierks and all the dads out there who enjoy DB's music!