WCSH Channel 6 in Portland, Maine posted a video interview with Dierks Bentley pre-grand reopening of the Opry last night. Watch and listen as Dierks talks abouthanging out backstage at the Opry when he first moved to Nashville, the history and the giants of country music, the new Opry House and the homecoming, his video archiving job at TNN, college life, hockey, being interviewed in the men's room, and writing for his next record!
Dierks performed last night at the re-opening of the Opry and will perform again Friday, October 1! Twice in one week!
Two Tweets from Dierks Bentley on Sunday got a lot of attention:
"My mom just called boarders bookstore and asked them to hold three copies of the latest penthouse magazine with my interview in it."
"I'm pretty sure has no idea what penthouse is....wish I could be at that store with a video camera when she goes to pick them up!!!"
So I rushed right down to my local "Borders" and picked up two copies--NOT! But I had to have that article! So, a few days go by and I finally twist hubby's arm (yeah, right) to go buy them for me--couldn't bring myself to ask for it!
I skipped straight to page 56 and oogled over the 4 page-spread--of Dierks' feature interview by Alanna Nash. Yes, mom's, that magazine really does have some fine writing going on! How could Alanna go wrong with such a sweet subject?
It's rare when I read an article about our prez. that I learn something new, but I did! For example, I think us hard-core fans know the story about Dierks and his wife Cassidy meeting in 8th grade and dating off and on for years. We know the second she walked on the bus Feb. 5, 2005 he knew she was the one. But during the on-off-on again years, I didn't know this: "She called me up one day and said, "I'm going through my phone and cleaning out numbers and tightening up my life a little bit, and I'm going to erase your number." And I was like, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hang on a second. I want to keep up our friendship."
More original quotes are laced throughout the article that you won't find anywhere else. Dierks really bares his soul, so go buy the magazine! Totally worth it!
The star-packed lineup for “The 44th Annual CMA Awards” launches with today’s announcement that Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, and the pairing of Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson are the first group of performers confirmed for “Country Music’s Biggest Night™.” “The 44th Annual CMA Awards,” hosted by Paisley and Underwood, airs live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.
Bentley is nominated in three categories this year, including Male Vocalist, Album for Up On The Ridge, and Musical Event of the Year for “Bad Angel,” featuring Lambert and Jamey Johnson. Bentley won the Horizon Award in 2005. He also received the 2008 CMA International Artist Achievement Award.
Tickets for the 2010 CMA Awards are on saleand can be purchased by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com; calling (800) 745-3000; or in person at the Bridgestone Arena box office, 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway), Nashville. Ticket prices begin at $110 for Upper Level. All ticket prices include sales tax, but exclude applicable service/handling fees. Purchase tickets early for best available seats. In 2009, the CMA Awards sold out in advance.
It was a rather strange week on the charts for Dierks Bentley's latest single, "Draw Me a Map." It saw growth on both charts in terms of audience and spins, however, fell back 1 spot to #41 on Billboard, and moved *up* four spots on Mediabase to #39.
The song has been among the most-added at radio for the past three weeks (averaging about 6 per week), but is only on 58 of Mediabase's 128 stations, and is on 104 of approximately 225 country stations nationwide. Yes, that means that LESS THAN HALF of the country music stations in the United States are playing "Draw Me a Map" at least twice per week. That is simply unacceptable. We really need to ramp up our efforts, Congress. We have Reps in each and every state -- each of us needs to commit to contacting at least ONE station in each state and asking for the song, every day, until it's added and played. You can call the station. You can email the DJs. You can get them on Facebook or Twitter. Anyway that you can *directly* contact a station, use it!
Keep voting on your local countdowns, as well. It's #6 on WMZQ's Hot 9 @ 9 as I type this (listening on the computer, thanks to all of you who have been voting!) -- where is it on your local countdown? Every spin counts, and the countdowns are the easiest way to ensure a spin. See the DB Congress Current Campaign page for links and more ideas to spread the word about the song.
We're the DB Congress for a reason. Let's be heard!
Wanna watch Dierks on the Opry tomorrow night but you don't have tickets, and you don't have GACTV? No worries, tomorrow night's show will also be streamed live online. You can watch it at opry.comat 8 p.m. CST.
You can also follow Dierks and other artists tomorrow via “Home Tweet Home,” an all-day live Twitter feed from the Opry House. Dierks Bentley and Brad Paisley will be among the artists providing updates from backstage at the Opry's first show at the Opry House since the Nashville flooding in May. Get in on the conversation. They will be giving away commemorative posters! Tag your tweets with #opry and @opry and they'll draw winners!
Dierks paid a visit a day early and posted this photo and caption:
I wiped her down pretty good before I kissed her. good to be home!
Dierks Bentley joins Josh Turner and Luke Bryan on the cover of Country Weekly's September 27 issue. The feature article is titled "Baby Boom!", but other than mentioning Dierks' name twice and a photo of Dierks and Cassidy, the story didn't have one quote or even one sentence about him! What?
"Josh Turner, Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney, Dierks Bentley and Zac Brown are all awaiting new arrivals. Joe Don and his wife, Tiffany, and Dierks and his wife, Cassidy, are becoming second time parents..." That's it!
Don't get me wrong, I am extremely grateful for any and all "Dierks" on the cover and on the pages of Country Weekly. I just don't understand why he was even on the cover if the story was going to be all about Josh, Luke and Rascal Flatts? Shouldn't it have been 33% Dierks?
What do you think, congress? Oh, and while you're at it, would love to read your thoughts on the picture they used of Dierks on the cover. Hot or Not?
Dierks Bentley may not have a video on GACTV's Top Twenty Video Countdown right now, but you can see him on GACTV Tuesday night, Sept. 28 on "Country Comes Home: An Opry Live Celebration."
Country music's most famous show is coming home. The Grand Ole Opry, displaced from its permanent home due to May's historic Nashville flood, returns to the Grand Ole Opry House with a star-packed 2-hour concert special.
Among the stars scheduled to appear are Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels, Little Jimmy Dickens, Martina McBride, Montgomery Gentry, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Josh Turner and Keith Urban.
Viewers will also get an exclusive look at the fully refurbished Opry House and beloved Opry stage where 46 inches of water stood following the May flood. No doubt plenty of attention will be focused on the Opry House’s signature element, a six foot circle of oak taken from the stage of the Ryman Auditorium, the Opry’s former home. The circle was removed from the Opry House stage, painstakingly refurbished and returned to its rightful spot center stage.
Air Times: September 28, 2010 9:00 PM ET September 29, 2010 1:00 AM ET September 29, 2010 10:00 AM ET September 29, 2010 4:00 PM ET October 02, 2010 2:00 PM ET
You expect to see Dierks Bentley in Country Weekly magazine, but imagine my surprise when he popped up on page two of the 9/26/10 Sunday "Parade!"
Dierks Bentley Returns to Flood-Hit Grand Ole Opry Walter Scott asks...Dierks Bentley, country artist, nominated for three 2010 Country Music Awards
WS: On Tuesday, you’ll perform at the reopening of the Grand Ole Opry, which was devastated by the Nashville floods in May.
DB: To be part of the Opry is the biggest thrill. When I saw water four feet above the stage, it really hit me hard. But it’s never been about a building—it’s the people that make it.
WS: Is your 2-year-old, Evie, a tour-bus baby now?
DB: She loves it. There’s more buttons and knobs and bunks and places to hide. She loves the crew—she’s not shy at all. It’s funny; I’m in front of 15,000 people, then the next morning, I’m hangin’ out with Evie and Elmo.
WS: You’re having a second baby. Are you excited?
DB: I always wanted a family—I couldn’t be happier.
Dierks Bentley got soaked to the bone in Seattle, but he didn't settle for a slow down. Instead he raised over $50,000 for Seattle Childrens Hospital with the help of about 6,000 bikers and fans. Bentley's Miles & Music For Kids event at the Puyallup Fair in Seattle, Washington on Saturday, Sept. 18, continued despite heavy rains. (Photo credit: Elizabeth Longanecker)
"Rainy days arent typically when most people are itching to get out the motorcycle for a leisurely afternoon ride," laughed Bentley. "But...we've come to learn over the last few years of putting these rides on that motorcycle riders may look big and bad, but they have a heart of gold, and it would take a lot more than a little rain to deter them. I want to thank all the riders and fans that came out and got soaked with us. We had a blast!"
A few of our very own DB Congress Washington reps participated in the event in person--Beth and Pearl.
I first met Beth (PuyallupGal) through dierks.com5 years ago. I quickly realized she was a die-hard Dierks fan from day one and I learned a lot from her about the background of Dierks' career. She travels all over the country to see Dierks and was excited to have him perform only 3 miles from her house--and she had a front row ticket! Here's what she told me about the MM4K event:
"It had been 7 1/2 years since Dierks played his first performance at the Puyallup Spring Fair, and it was very exciting to not only have him back in Puyallup again, but to have him back for such a wonderful cause. Supporting Seattle Children's Hospital was certainly a bonus to purchasing a ticket to this show but to see the way Dierks' career has changed since that first show in April of 2003, made Saturday a very memorable night. Personally, the VIP acoustic performance prior to the concert was the highlight of the night for me as it is rare to have an opportunity to hear the songs stripped down in such a small setting. In true Washington fashion, the rain started coming down around 3PM and didn't let up all night. But it certainly didn't stop the 6,000 fans from coming out to see Dierks and the boys put on a GREAT show & support an even better cause!" A few of Beth's photos are below:
Pearl says, "Dierks was incredible as always. He's such a ball of energy!!! I can never pick just one picture, so I wanted to send all of my favorites. By the way, the first picture below is him commenting on the rain and the fact that we were enjoying standing out in it! He wanted to join us! The next one is Dierks sitting in front of the drums and listening to the audience sing, 'All My Exes.' He said they sang that song on one of his first visits to Seattle at the ShowBox."
Enjoy all of Pearl Sumpter's photos:
KMPS 94.1 Seattle's Country radiocalled Dierks "The Rain King." Listen to the on-air interview with Candy + Potter when Dierks called in:
Last year, Bentley joined forces with Nationwide Insurance, CMT ONE COUNTRY and the Children's Miracle Network to expand the successful "Miles & Music for Kids" event to six cities across the country in 2009 and 2010, with all proceeds benefiting Children's Miracle Network hospitals in those areas. Since it began in 2006, "Miles & Music for Kids" has raised over $1.3 million. The 5th Anniversary event will take place in Nashville, on October 17.
You all may remember Dierks' reference to the movie 'Tommy Boy' on Twitter when he heard about his 3 CMA nominations for this year, but he recently called into CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan and expanded more on what went through his mind that morning.
And just so you know Dierks, those of us in our 20's do know the amazingness that is Tommy Boy. "Fat guy in a little coat." ;)
Dierks Bentley performed in Butte, Montana September 15, Laramie, Wyoming on the 17th, and did a little fishing and reminiscing in between, posting his memories in pictures on facebook and Twitter:
"when in butte..." a visual reminder about his soulful "Down In The Mine" on Up On The Ridge.
"driving the jeep around laramie WY and just found the first bar I ever played here.lots of beer & fights.a good night!"
Thanks to nashvillecountryclub.comfor this special video excerpt from Dierks Bentley's hour-long Americana performance at the Cannery Ballroom, Nashville, September 10, 2010:
Since March 31st was the cut-off, Dierks Bentley just missed being considered for the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Awards) Album of the Year Award by 9 weeks. His bluegrass album, "Up On The Ridge" released June 8, has been sitting at the top of the Bluegrass charts ever since--14 consecutive weeks!
But the Bluegrass community definitely took notice, inviting Bentley to kick off the most anticipated night of the bluegrass year! The International Bluegrass Music Awards Show will be held Thursday, September 30, 2010, 7:30 PM Central at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
The event is a salute to the year's outstanding achievements, featuring a fast paced evening of fabulous performances and the music's major awards. Dierks will perform with a band of current and past nominees. Other performers include Allison Krauss, Dan Tyminski, co-hosts Jerry Douglas and Sharon and Cheryl White, Blue Highway with Darrell Scott, Sam Bush, Dailey & Vincent, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Claire Lynch, the Del McCoury Band and Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out.
While Dierks didn't get a nomination, many of his Bluegrass friends and UOTR contributing singers and musicians did!
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR: The Del McCoury Band (Del McCoury vocals on Pride)
INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR: Sam Bush Band (Love Grows Wild) The Infamous Stringdusters (Dierks sings "17 Cents" on the IS album)
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Tim O’Brien (You're Dead To Me, Down In The Mine)
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Sonya Isaacs (Down In The Mine) Alison Krauss (Up On The Ridge, Draw Me A Map)
FIDDLE Jason Carter (You're Dead To Me, Down In The Mine) Stuart Duncan (Up On The Ridge, Fallin' For You, Draw Me A Map, Bad Angel, Fiddlin' Around, You're Dead To Me, Bottle To The Bottom, Down In The Mine)
DOBRO: Randy Kohrs (Draw Me A Map, Bad Angel, Down In The Mine)
GUITAR: Bryan Sutton (Up On The Ridge, Fallin' For You, Draw Me A Map, Bad Angel, Fiddlin' Around, You're Dead To Me, Love Grows Wild, Bottle To The Bottom, Down In The Mine)
MANDOLIN: Sam Bush (Up On The Ridge) Ronnie McCoury (Up On The Ridge, Fallin' For You, Draw Me A Map, Bad Angel, Fiddlin' Around, Bottle To The Bottom)
Tickets for the International Bluegrass Music Awards Show can be purchased by calling the Ryman Auditorium Box Office at 615-889-3060. The show will also be broadcast live on Sirius XM Satellite Radio (Bluegrass Junction, Channel 14).
Since the eligibility period for IBMA's is from April 1st through March 31st, Up On The Ridge is sure to be nominated and provide a win in 2011 for our DB Congress president--Dierks Bentley! It's gonna be hard to wait that long!
In its 4th week on the charts, Dierks Bentley's latest single "Draw Me a Map" creeped ever-so-close to the Top 40, coming in at #41 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, and #44 on the Mediabase chart. As its trend has been, the small-market charts continue to outpace their "big sisters," and it came in at #29 (!) on Billboard's Indicator chart, and #31 on Mediabase's Activator chart.
The next few days will tell whether a prestigious Songwriter/Artist of the Year award from ASCAP (congrats, Mr. President!) will help garner additional plays and interest in Bentley's latest single, but I'm confident that either way, "Map" will draw its way into the Top 40 next week. After that, our sights must be set on the Top 30 to get the song added to Rate the Music surveys, Callout America surveys, and various syndicated countdown shows.
Slow and steady wins the race to the top of the charts for us, Congress. Continue to create demand!
Dierks Bentley's 2010 just got a a whole lot better! Not only did he perform with his bluegrass buddies the Travelin' McCoury's at the ASCAP Country Music Awards, he also captured two of the evenings top honors:
ASCAP Songwriter/Artist of the Year and Top 5 Most Performed Song for Sideways.
The September 14, 2010 invitation-only event was held at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, where ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) honored the writers of country music’s most performed songs of the period between April 2009 and March 2010 before an audience of many of Nashville’s most distinguished songwriters, top country stars and music industry leaders. Special tribute was paid to Alan Jackson, who was honored with the ASCAP Founders Award. A special musical tribute to Jackson included remarkable performances of several of his hits by Steve Earle, Dierks Bentley and Chris Young. Dierks performed Jackson's "Midnight in Montgomery" and his own "Sideways."
Dierks said thank you on Facebook and Twitter: “@ASCAP: The Songwriter/Artist of the year Award goes to @dierksbentley" thx ASCAP and the nash songwriting community. a BIG deal 4 me #fb"
We are so proud of our DBC president! I think 2010 is going to be a very BIG year for you, Dierks! You are finally getting the recognition you deserve for your extraordinary talent!
~Ronna
PHOTO: ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams, ASCAP Songwriter/Artist of the Year Dierks Bentley, ASCAP Founders Award honoree Alan Jackson, Top 5 Song honoree Chris Young("Gettin' You Home"), and songwriter/artist Steve Earle.
Strum Magazine's Rick Amburgey says the best ever Dierks Bentley performance for him was the September 10 Americana Music Festival at Nashville's Cannery Ballroom. News of the surprise event leaked out just one day before, but that didn't stop the crowd from coming a little closer. Check out Rick's review here.
Dierks Bentley and Sam Bush perform "Gold Heart Locket" Sept. 10:
Exactly 31 days ago today, Dan Hochhalter hit the stage for the first time with Dierks Bentley and his band of brothers. This historic moment marks the long awaited addition of a fiddle player to complete the posse! We asked Dan, aka @fiddlinDan on Twitter, how to pronounce his last name. His reply: "@dbcongress Hoke-Hall-Ter. Hochhalter. Just like it looks! Ha!"
Get to know Dan in this third exclusive DB Congress interview in the series introducing the new guys on Team Dierks! Check out Brian Layson and Cassady Feasby, too!
DBC: Welcome to the DB family! We are so excited to have a permanent fiddle player in Dierks Bentley’s band! How did the opportunity to work with Dierks come about? Were you a fan of his work before that?
Dan: Absolutely...I've always enjoyed the music that Dierks puts out there. I've had several of his albums long before I ever got the chance to tour with him, so getting to share the stage with him and the guys is a blast!
Nashville is a pretty tight-knit music community, so I heard about Dierks possibly auditioning fiddle players through a few friends of mine. I was thrilled that I wound up getting a shot. The audition was pretty straight forward...I met Dierks and the guys at a rehearsal space in Nashville and we ran a couple songs..."Free & Easy," "Fiddlin' Around," "My Last Name," and "Come A Little Closer." I know that they looked at a lot of great players, so I was really honored that I wound up getting the call. (Photo Credit: Stephanie Lanham, Du Quoin State Fair)
DBC: You are originally from Minnesota? What was life like there and what brought you to Nashville?
Dan: Minnesota is great! I'm a Twins and Vikings fan, and love the vibe up there. I grew up dividing my time between school, playing hockey and baseball, and music. When I was younger, I did a few fiddle and talent contests, but then got more into playing in local bands. I was always the youngest guy in the bands I worked with (by anywhere from 15-60 years!), so it proved to be a valuable experience. Through those guys, I learned how to improvise, learned how to read charts on the fly, and fake it if you didn’t know the song!
When I was 20, I decided to move to Nashville and try to get a gig with a national touring artist. Luck was on my side, and I landed an audition with Lonestar pretty quickly. From there, I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to play with many more talented folks.
DBC: Could you share a little about your family life?
Dan: I’ve always had a supportive and loving family. My parents and older sister live up in Minnesota, and my younger sister lives out in LA. My mom and dad are both music lovers, and have both recently retired. My sisters and I have always been pretty ambitious, and I know that we’re all proud of each other.
As far as my family here in Nashville, I am married to an unbelievable woman named Crystal. We met at a Gretchen Wilson video shoot several years ago while she was working at Sony Records, and hit it off instantly. Through the years that I've known her, she has been unbelievably supportive of my career while she pursues her own. We've now been married for just over two years, and have a lovely daughter named Roxy. She's a border collie and black lab mix. :-)
DBC: You’ve toured with Easton Corbin, Gretchen Wilson, John Fogerty, Lonestar, and others. How will you use all of that collective experience to interpret Dierks’ catalog when you’re on stage?
Dan: Every tour and every artist is different, and it’s the job of a sideman like myself to fit in both on-stage and off. Every artist’s show is different, so what works for a classic-rocker like John Fogerty may seem out of place with a country traditionalist like Easton Corbin. I guess being exposed to a lot of different styles of music and types of performances just helps me figure out what will work best with the artist I’m working with.
(Photo Credit: Stephanie Lanham, DuQuoin State Fair)
DBC: August 14 marked your stage debut with Dierks and the guys in California. How would you summarize your experiences of your first 30 days?
Dan: It’s honestly been fantastic. I’ve always heard such good things about Dierks and his tour, and it has really lived up to my expectations. The guys in the band and crew have been great, and Dierks is a great person to work for and work with. He’s always looking for ways to improve his show and ways to further his career. I really respect his work ethic.
DBC: If you had to sum up your new band-mates in three words, what would they be?
Dan: Justin Bieber fanatics
DBC: We’re looking forward to hearing you play some of the Up On The Ridge songs, especially Fallin’ For You, Draw Me A Map and of course Fiddlin’ Around. What other songs are you looking forward to playing from Dierks’ previous albums?
Dan: I’ve always liked “Free & Easy” and “Trying To Stop Your Leaving,” but honestly, I just love playing the hits! There’s nothing better than looking out into the audience and seeing a crowd singing along. I like seeing everyone having a good time and not staring back at the stage with their arms folded.
DBC: What other instruments do you play?
Dan: Fiddle has always been my main instrument. I also play some guitar and mandolin, but really try to be a true utility guy for the artists I work with. I play some ganjo (6-string banjo) with Dierks, have played lap steel with Fogerty, cello with Gretchen, keyboard and cowbell with Easton, and played some odd-ball instruments, like a ukulele and a jaw’s harp, on recording sessions. I really try to bring all that I can to the table with any gig that I’m on.
Photo Credit: Stephanie Lanham, DuQuoin State Fair (Dierks, Dan on the ganjo, Cassady & Steve on drums)
DBC: You state on your MySpace page: “I equally love both playing in the studio and performing live.” Tell us about one of your most memorable studio sessions?
Dan: Probably the most memorable session for me was the first master session I ever did. A master session means that the project you are working on will be distributed nationally. The CDs that people buy (or used to buy!) at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc. are all considered “masters.” While I was touring with Lonestar, I was invited to play on the last track of their “Let’s Be Us Again” album. It was a really cool and nerve-racking experience for me, and I learned a lot about the recording process at that level. It was a really cool thing to get to buy a CD and see my name in the album credits. Since then, I’ve gotten to play on a few other albums as well.
(Photo Credit: Janet Marlborough, California)
DBC: What are your thoughts on Dierks taking the risk with Up On The Ridge, to step away from the tried and true formula that has brought him so much success so far?
Dan: I have nothing but respect for Dierks for making the “Ridge” album. Even before working for him, I had heard a lot of skepticism around Nashville about what he was doing. I think that the fears were that it would be some sort of step back for his career, that country music radio wouldn’t play the singles, that it would be lost on his fans, etc. But he made a record that he wanted to make as a creative artist, and it turned out to be a truly great record. In my opinion, too many artists, record labels, and songwriters in Nashville try to follow the trend instead of just making the music that they want to make. “Ridge” is honestly one of my favorite records to come out of Nashville’s country music in a while, and I’m not just saying that because I work for him! To see it get nominated for a CMA album of the year has gotta be cool for Dierks and everyone else who had a hand in making that album.
DBC: Are you a “hide in the bus” or “get out and meet the fans" kind of band mate? *We hope for the latter!
Dan: I’ll always stop and say ‘hi!’ See you on the road!
We also asked Dan to give us the scoop on the "Draw Me A Map" video shoot from last Thursday, September 9, and here's what he told us:
"I don't want to divulge too much information about the video, but hopefully it will be released soon! Dierks brought the band with him for the shoot, and we did several performance shots at a few cool locations outside of Nashville. I think that it's going to have a really cool vibe, and I KNOW that we all looked great!! haha"
Thanks, Dan! We hope to see you on the road and meet you in person! Oh, and I don't think I'm alone when I say I hope to hear you play (and Dierks sing) "Gonna Get There Someday".... someday soon! It's a long time favorite of many DBC reps!
In its third week on the charts, "Draw Me a Map" moved one spot closer to the Top 40, up to #43 on BIllboard's Hot Country Songs. In its second week on the Mediabase chart, it moved three spots to #45. It also saw growth on the small-market charts: up to #31 on Billboard's Indicator (where it is top-10 for most-added, increased audience, and increased plays) and up to #33 on Mediabase's Activator chart (where it's also amongst the 10 most-added).
Although the song is seeing rather modest growth, the reviews have been nothing but complimentary. Over on Urban Country Blog, writer "UC" says "Hopefully 'Draw Me a Map' will enjoy the commercial success it deserves" while also saying that they hope Dierks stays within the Bluegrass genre. Roughstock.com gave "Draw me a Map" 5 stars, and reviewer Bobby Peacock says that for a while, he thought that Bentley's lead-off single "What Was I Thinkin?" set the bar too high, "but "Map" has managed to raise it. Radio may not take a liking to it, but fans should quite easily." And writer "Occasional Hope" on the "My Kind of Country" blog simply says that DMAM is "certainly one of my favorite singles of the year."
Now that the onslaught of new music from Country's heavy hitters has subsided somewhat, quite a few songs will start moving to recurrent status, which will help "Map" continue to "draw" its way up the charts. Not only will those songs fall off the chart, automatically equaling growth, it should allow for radio to start playing a different mix of music as well, and I foresee "Map" getting a healthy push as program directors look for something new to play.
The best way for them to think of "Draw Me a Map" is for us to keep requesting it, keep voting on local countdowns (WYCD Detroit's Top 7 at 7 and WMZQ's (Rockville, MD) Hot 9 at 9 for instance), and demanding that it be played, no matter how it gets played. Keep up the great work!
Please welcome our newest DB Congress members, Susan representing Dierks in Pennsylvania and Jenny repping for our prez. in Minnesota! We're up to 619 dedicated to daily duties of promoting Mr. Bentley! We have a few new links on the Current Campaignspage, so check them out! The Country Weekly country's sexiest man vote ends 9/12 and WYCD's Top 7 at 7 let's us vote for Draw Me A Map! Thanks, congrass!
In the summer of 2003, DB Congress Washington rep, Drew Livingston and his wife Pattie, attended KUPL Country Fest. Among the performers that year was a Nashville Newby, Dierks Bentley.
"I was immediately hooked," admits Drew. "About a year later at the Clark County Fair, August 8, 2004, Dierks said he would stay 'as long as it takes to meet each and every one of you,' and he did. I had with me a picture taken at country fest. He said “I don’t usually like pictures of myself but I like this one--will you send it to me?” He flipped over the envelope it was in and wrote his address and e-mail on it. The road manager warned him it wasn’t a good idea to give his personal email address but he did it anyway.
For a while we had the occasional email conversation and I vowed to go to any show within a four-hour radius, which I pretty much have with the exception of back-to-back shows or the Chrystal Ballroom (That venue kills my back). I have been fortunate enough to have meet and greets to most of these shows. One event I sent Pattie in my place (Could get away with that then). It was her birthday week and Dierks was playing in the theater she practically grew up in, so it only made sense. He asked her where I was.
As his insane tour schedule and fan base grew, coupled with his serious support and love of his fans, I thought it only right to join the fan club. It was about the only way to keep up with the tour schedule and I learned the benefit of ticketing through it. Meet and Greets were just a BONUS. And to continue my support as repayment of his support I added dbcongress officially.
DB Congress activities I do to support him include visiting sites to vote for DB, but mostly I spread the music. I play DB at work and with friends, many of who are hesitant to like country music. Most recently I dragged a few friends to the Up On The Ridge tour kick off at the Wonder Ballroom; they were all impressed with the musicianship and bluegrass. Now I think they all have bought the album.
I have also supported many of his opening acts (and acts he has opened for). We have gone to headlining shows of Randy Rogers Band, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Miranda Lambert, and a few others. I am a card carrying fan club member of only a couple of artists other than Dierks, including Brad Paisley. (And both of them together earlier this year was one of the best shows). I have a growing wall of photos from all the shows, autographs and pictures."
About the same time I was introduced to his music, Pattie had bought me my first Martin [guitar]. I played along with DB on the stereo. My case has become covered with passes predominantly from Dierks.
Pattie's favorite show was at the Secret House Winery, June 23, 2006. Any venue in the country (near where she grew up) that serves wine at normal prices by the bottle for a concert is a great venue in her book.
One of the strangest venues was the show at the Napavine “amphitheater.” I thought, they have an amphitheater? It turned out to be a fenced in gravel parking lot with a stage at one end. It was one of my first shows as an official fan club member--didn’t even care where he played--the show was awesome and seats were great.
I was stoked when he headlined for a show at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland--thought it was about time. I actually felt bad leaving because the crowd turn-out was not near what I thought it should be. I think whatever the venue, it should be a sell out. This man puts it all out there for his music and his fans and is a blast in concert.
Pattie and many of my friends give me a hard time, teasing me that I have already been to three shows this year with two more slated. Most recently we spent our 11th anniversary attending his performance at the Oregon State Fair, one of the few shows that we both had M&G passes for. We said our hellos and did tell him that it was our anniversary and he thanked us for choosing to spend it with him. He thanked me numerous times for our many years of support – it was almost embarrassing.
At the kick off of the Up On the Ridge tour he introduced me to all the other fan club members at the meet and greet as one of the oldest fans having been with him since the beginning. Thank you, Dierks, for remembering, respecting, and giving it all to your fans and music."
Thank you, Drew, for your heartwarming story! I agree-Dierks gives it all he has to give!
When all the northern IL and southern WI DB Congress Representatives heard Dierks Bentley was coming to Rockford, IL to open On the Waterfront September 2, they were ready to go!
According to Kristin, a dedicatd DBC Illinois rep, she and her boyfriend Dave made the 45 minute drive up to Rockford from Dekalb. "We were pumped to meet up with our DB Congress friends in Rockford! As soon as we got there we met up with my mom Sue, Dad Steve, Stacy, Roseann, Karen, Alicia, Mary, Jenny, and Heather! A few of us spotted Dierks' jeep out front and got a group picture in front of it!
L to R: Stacy, Sue, Karen, Rosann, and Kristin in front of Dierks Bentley's jeep.
We signed a big card Karen got for Dierks [to congratulate him on] getting 3 CMA nods! Dave, Stacy, Karen and Alicia went off to their M&G with Dierks while the rest of us headed into the venue. Karen said she gave the card to Dierks and he said he would bring it on stage with him!
About an hour before Dierks' set, it started to rain! Not good! But the show still went on! Dave and I both had front row spots along with Stacy, Roseann, Karen and Mary. Dierks came on around 9 or 9:30 after the rain stopped. He put on an awesome show! Pretty much the same setlist he had for Richland Center in Wisconsin, but with the addition of a new fiddle player [Dan Hochhalter] he added "Fiddlin' Around" to the setlist.
Before he played Long Trip Alone, he brought out the card Karen gave him and read it to the crowd. Later that night he tweeted a sideview picture of himself holding up the card and asked if it was big enough! He thanked all of his fan club members for supporting him and dedicated the song to us.
Amazing show! Can't wait for the next one of course--Miles and Music in Nashville!"
Dierks must have been really impressed with the giant card, because he was still talking about it the next night at the Florence, Kentucky show!
"thanks il for the cma nominee congrats card...but next time, can you make it a little bigger? i am having a hard time reading it." -(Dierks Bentley via Facebook and Twitter)
Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson are nominated for the 2010 CMA "Musical Event of the Year" Award. See why by watching the trio's "Bad Angel" performance in June at a downtown Nashville venue, as shown on the ABC special, "CMA Music Fest: Country's Night To Rock," and as posted on CMT.com.
Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert said each other's name a total of seven times yesterday during announcement of five CMA Award nominations on ABC's Good Morning America. Although they feigned surprise, Miranda was nominated in four categories, Dierks in three, including a combined nod for the pair of pals for Musical Event Of The Year for "Bad Angel" with Jamey Johnson from Bentley's Up On The Ridge album.
When reading Album of the Year nominees, Dierks leaned over to Miranda and asked, "Can you read that one?" Miranda played along, "Oh that says...Up On The Ridge," and they both blurted out, "Dierks Bentley!" Miranda was also nominated for her album, Revolution.
Miranda announced Musical Event of the Year, and first up was Dierks/Miranda/Jamey and the crowd laughed along with their exaggerated surprise. They go up against her 'financy" (fiance) Blake Shelton's Hillbilly Bone.
Dierks read the Female Vocalist list and the crowd went wild when he said "Miranda Lambert!" Three for three so far for her!
Up next, Male Vocalist. Dierks joked, "You better return the favor I mean seriously...I cheated, you weren't actually on there."
Miranda coyly read four of the five Male Vocalist names, skipping over Bentley's name until the end, even though his face appeared on the screen. Trying to not seem worried, Dierks said, "I saw my picture up there you better have my name on there..." "I did it out of order," she admitted smiling. Three out of four ain't bad!
For Entertainer of the Year, Miranda picks up her fourth nomination. Added to the five from the day before gives her a total of nine--the most for any female artist ever!
"I just want to thank my mom, my family, my wife...," Dierks began. GMA host, Robin Roberts reminded him, "You don't have the award yet." "Oh, sorry I thought this was...got carried away," in typical Dierks humor.
DB Congress is beyond excited and thankful to the CMA for our president's three nominations! We are so proud of you, dude! Crossing fingers for the same number of wins! You truly deserve them all!
Here's the list of nominees:
Entertainer of the Year: Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band
Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year: Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, George Strait and Keith Urban
Album of the Year: "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum "Play On" by Carrie Underwood "Revolution" by Miranda Lambert "Twang" by George Strait "Up On the Ridge" by Dierks Bentley
Musical Event of the Year: "Bad Angel" Dierks Bentley featuring Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson "Can't You See" Zac Brown Band featuring Kid Rock "Hillbilly Bone" Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins "I'm Alive" Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews "Till The End" Alan Jackson with Lee Ann Womack
