Dierks Bentley changed up the set list during his last show of 2018, and even though they had given Dierks a belated birthday present earlier in the day, DBC Reps received a surprise performance that had many in tears.
"Got some amazing fans (pointing to the pit), long time fans, they've been to several shows on the tour and I don't want to do the same show, I want to change some things up. So you can thank these folks (hard core fans) for forcing myself, forcing the band to step up our game," Dierks told the crowd Saturday night in Durant, Oklahoma.
Enter Evie Bentley, his 10-year-old daughter, who has performed with him before, but in one song, went from good to great! Together the daddy-daughter duo took turns with chorus and verse of "My Religion" from The Mountain album. Dierks visibly was in awe of her singing--or was it the lyrics she was singing that caused him to bite his fist: "Ain't gonna lie, I've been drinkin', that Colorado's got me stoned." That's when he told her, 'I think I should do the chorus.'
Video credit: Michelle Wilson
Before the show, Dierks opened his "Happy Birthday to one of the best" gift bag and thanked the DB Congress (on video below) for the customized guitar strap, giant fold-out birthday card, "signed by all the folks I get see on a regular basis out there - appreciate that so much!" And the donation to Jumbled Dreams Changing Lives, the non-profit organization dedicated to helping one person at a time realize, prepare, and achieve the dream to help others in any way possible. The mother/daughter founders were featured in Dierks' Woman, Amen video (Jennifer and Sydnee).
"Best fans ever!"
"The fact that you guys would like do this is so crazy nice, I mean that is a killer guitar strap--It was only a mountain, wow! I mean that's gonna be a great strap--look at this thing, it's from the fan club! It's amazing! Engraved there with the Seven Peaks logo and Riser bird! Thank you, congress!"
Coast Guard Captain Jeff Yarosh's love for his country runs deep, a value instilled in him by his dad. "My dad raised us with the central belief that nothing is more important than God, family and country." Jeff recognizes this same set of values in his favorite artist, Dierks Bentley (especially with headlines such as themilitary reunion meet and greet).So when the opportunity to possibly sing with Dierks came up for Jeff in 2014, he was all in.
Jeff was nominated by his boss, Rory Souther, to be the Coast Guard finalist in the ACM Presents: An All-Star Salute To The Troops. Dierks was featured in the eventwith artists such as Carrie Underwood and Florida Georgia Line. One member from each military branch was selected to perform with the artist of their choice at the concert.
Jeff ultimately wasn't selected, but his submission video seen here is still bringing smiles (a video he filmed with his daughter, Evelyn, who shares her name with Dierks' oldest daughter):
At the What The Hell Tour concert last month in Bristow, Va., Jeff's wife, Caren, had the opportunity to share her husband's story with Dierks at a meet and greet. After, Dierks told Caren he needed to look this video up online.
"He asked her for my name, and since he had nothing else to write on or with, he used the Sharpie he was using for autographs to write my name on his forearm," Jeff says. "A lot of people can say they got an autograph from Dierks, but I get to claim that he wrote MY name on him!"
To top it off, Jeff adds "Dierks [did] me the honor of accepting the gift my wife gave him: a t-shirt from the ship I just had command of--the best Band of Brothers I've ever been a part of."
Caren Yarosh w/ Dierks Bentley at the June 9 Bristow, Va., What The Hell Tour meet and greet.
The Yarosh's story, no doubt, resonated with Dierks, given
1. Wish It Would Break is a song he wished would have been his first single
2. He genuinely appreciates his fans
3. Patriotism and support of our service men and women are foundational for Dierks
"To see Dierks giving back and supporting the troops and our veterans, I think it's why we can all agree that Dierks is one of the good guys," Jeff says. "Home is a reminder that we shouldn't take the idea for granted that freedom is something which needs to be cultivated and protected." Dierks understood how big that anthem could be.
Red, white and blue clearly run strong in Dierks' veins. Just as strong is his love for his fans.
"I sat near the exit and watched each of [the meet and greet winners] as they came out," Jeff says. "The smiles they had on their faces were as wide as the Grand Canyon. Such a little thing, but it clearly meant a lot to those people. He should be proud of that."
After all, he's the one who taught us, "To the things I believe in, my faith, your love, our freedom." Jessica Borrelli DB Congress Rep, WA @AllTheWayToMe
It's been three months and we finally get to see a photo of Dierks Bentley's first baby boy, Knox! Dierks Tweeted yesterday:
"watching football with my buddy knox. he wants me to give a shout out to @LBTmusic for his new duds! @nfl#NOvsSEA."
Karen Fairchild from Little Big Town replied: "Seriously, could he be any cuter??? Can't wait to meet him. - KF".
Lots of fans replied as well with comments like this:
So here's a baby picture of first born sister Evie (now 5), they look a lot alike, don't they? So, Dierks, if you're reading this, next we'd love to see a picture of all three kids!
Dierks Bentley's family is growing. This fall, the Bentley home will house seven
(his lucky number that you'll find on the back of his Nashville Iceholes hockey
jersey and guitar pick) -- two dogs, Jake and George; two daughters Evalyn "Evie" Day (4) Born October 4, 2008 and Jordan Catherine (2) born Christmas Day 2010; and mom Cassidy and daddy Dierks have another baby on the way!
In typical DB style, he announced the news with sports
humor on Twitter:
Possibly hoping to tip the male-scale 4-3, Dierks hinted when a follower assumed the gender:
A reply from Tim McGraw gave Dierks some strategic advice from a father of three daughters:
Boy or girl, Dierks will have to juggle a lot, with a new album due this fall as well as a new baby. But he always seems to find a balance with career and family, and that only makes his music stronger and more meaningful.
"It was just about three weeks ago when after a show in Las Vegas, Bentley was proudly showing off a cell phone picture of Evalyn perched on the back of a pony wearing a princess cape. She was at a birthday party and he missed it because he was out of town. Last year the “Home” singer talked openly about how hard it was to be away from his family while he was out playing shows.
“I’m always thinking about my girls and always missing them,” he said. “Now that the curtain’s been raised on that emotion and you can see what life is all about, it amplifies everything you do. It affects your soul in a weird way. Every moment away from my house has to be huge. I say a prayer every night with the band and I say at the end that we have to make this day worthwhile and not only for our fans but for the people who are at home missing us.”
Dierks and Cassidy have been married since December 14, 2005.
There’s a place where love grows wild Where hearts can trust just like a child A wild thing, it don’t need a lot It just grows on what it’s got It stills grows no matter what
-Julie and Buddy Miller (Love Grows Wild, sang by Dierks Bentley on his Up On The Ridge album)
We are so excited for Dierks! We think he's a wonderful dad and are thrilled for him and Cass!
"This is what 8000 cell phones looks like #RedRocks" Tweeted by Jay Ballinger
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a geological phenomenon – the only
naturally-occurring, acoustically perfect amphitheatre in the world, with an elevation of 6,450 feet in Morrison, Colorado. It literally and figuratively takes your breath away. From Sting
and The Beatles, to opera stars and U2, every artist aspires to play on this
magical, spiritual and emotional stage.
Dierks Bentley has performed at Red Rocks twice before and I was there both times! This year, on August 16, 2012, he sold out ALL 9,450 seats and I'm sad to say I wasn't in one of them! But many of our DB Congress family were! Dierks was excited to say the least and went on a Twitter picture spree:
"i have been thinking about seeing this view again for a long time"
"9,450 of you joined us for the completely sold out show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO. Here's a great shot!"
The Same. No it wasn't the same set list full of the usual hits that you may have experienced at a recent Dierks Bentley concert. No. The Ryman Auditorium, in Nashville, Tennessee, with it's rich history of being the mother church complete with 60 years of legendary artists crossing it's scarred floor boards, was stronger than ever Thursday night, as Dierks presented his new "Home" CD, complete with tons of special guests, to a sold out crowd.
An unlike the normally reverent 'sit and listen' crowd, we the fans in the audience were free to stand up and sing along to every song. Not only were we treated to most of the songs from the new album, but old favorites and hits like "Every Mile A Memory," "Free and Easy," "Feel That Fire," "Sideways," "How Am I Doin'?" and a "Your Cheatin' Heart" intro to "Lot Of Leavin' Left To Do"--where Tim Sergent's steel guitar never sounded sweeter. "Trying To Stop Your Leaving" was played with a new acoustic guitar vs. the normal red, electric guitar.
DB Congress (fan club members) from 14 states (FL, NC, TN, WI, IN, MS, DE, AL, MO, KY, CA, GA, PA, & MI) gathered at Jack's BBQ on Broadway before the show to hug old friends, meet new ones, compete in a Dierks trivia contest, share DB goodies and most importantly take turns "alley watching" for Dierks and/or the band as they wandered in and out the back door of The Ryman.
In the 1880s, when prominent businessman and steamboat captain Thomas G. Ryman found salvation in the words of fiery evangelist Reverend Sam Jones, he vowed to build a great tabernacle that would project Rev. Jones’s voice clearly and powerfully for all to hear. The result - The Ryman Auditorium with arguably the best acoustic sound without need for a microphone.
In fact, opener Will Hoge at one point stepped stage right - far away from all the mics - motioned for his band to lower the volume of their instruments and proceeded to belt out not just one line, but the entire song - "When I Get My Wings" acoustically. Can you say Standing Ovation? His vocal was incredible. As if his voice wasn't enough to win me over as a new fan, the couple sitting next to me (Donna, DB Congress rep from Kentucky) told me about his background and how he had been in a terrible accident that crushed his lungs and broke nearly every bone, and he was in the hospital for weeks. And that he wasn't a newcomer--but on album "Number 7."
Will Hoge
Dierks surprised the audience with a stunning segment with The Travelin McCoury's performed only with acoustics and vocals on "Fiddlin' Around," and "Draw Me A Map" from the Grammy-nominated "Up On The Ridge" album. The crowd went wild when Del McCoury stepped on stage to sing U2's "Pride (In The Name of Love)" also from "Ridge," and and old favorite of many die-hard DB fans, "Good Man Like Me," from the "Modern Day Drifter" album before wrapping it up with "Roll On, Buddy." Nobody could have wiped the smile off of Dierks' face.
Dierks and the band performed 7 of the 12 songs from the "Home" album, due out Tuesday, February 7, including "Tip It On Back", his 8th number one single--"Am I The Only One?," "5-1-5-0 (somebody call the popo)," and "Heart Of A Lonely Girl," which he dedicated to his wife Cassidy explaining she and his daughters had been sick and they knew he had to perform The Ryman in a few days so sent him off to a hotel so he wouldn't get sick. Dierks joked that here he was, getting ready to release an album called, "Home," and checking into a hotel with a backpack, guitar and a bottle of wine. Yeah, right!
After the "Up on the Ridge" redux, Dan "The Hawk" Hochalter took the stage for the haunting opening of Dierks' Pink Floyd cover (and Congress favorite) "Wish You Were Here." Absolutely love that opening fiddle - and Dan rocks it!
After that, he admitted that wasn't much of a dedication to Cass, so he launched into his second #1 hit, "Come A Little Closer," much to the delight of the females in the audience, despite the fact that Dierks had cut off most of his curls.
The special guests kept coming. Karen Fairchild, the soulful singer from Little Big Town, joined Dierks on stage to showcase the duet on the new album, "When You Gonna Come Around." Watch:
But the star of the entire night was little 3-year-old Evie Bentley, making her debut with daddy on The Ryman stage. After the first verse of "Thinking Of You," sang by Dierks alone with his guitar and his thoughts--eyes closed, he opened his eyes and motioned for the bare-foot beauty to join him on a stool, where her own-microphone awaited. Watch this emotional moment:
Although Dierks told us that was to be the last song of the evening, the show went on, because after all, the title song, "Home" had not been sung yet, nor the one that started it all - "What Was I Thinkin?" Many of the DB Congress waved American Flags during "Home."
For the finale, Dierks brought all the performers of the evening back on stage to say good-bye, not only to the audience, but to the historic Ryman stage floor boards - which he knelt and kissed. How appropriate the last song before the restoration begins was "I Saw The Light," an acoustic/audience sing-along. Here's the DBTV episode to recap the evening:
Everyone left the stage except Dierks, who stayed for at least 10 minutes, walking along the front of the stage, signing autographs, smiling, and saying thank you to the fans!
The evening was special--altogether emotional, inspiring, historic and unforgettable. Later I heard many Dierks fans say that even though they had seen him perform countless times over the last several years, they felt the night was in their top 2-3 as far as DB experiences go.
For me, it ranks as the top Dierks experience of the decade.
