Dierks in NYC Day 1: Bowery Ballroom 10/18

DB Congress was in full force at each of Dierks Bentley's four consecutive days/nights in New York City last week. Enjoy their stories! (Photo Credit: Stephanie Lanham)

Day One - October 18, 2010 (Bowery Ballroom)

"An amiable country star from Nashville, Mr. Bentley sings, cleanly and earnestly, about family life and, in “What Was I Thinkin’,” of ogling a woman in a little white tank top. He’s dedicated to exploring both sides of the outlaw coin — the sinner and the savior, as established by Hank Williams — and does so with verve and wit. All these shows are sold out..."

-New York Times

Renee Glennon represents Connecticut for the DBC and she's got quite a story for you:

Monday October 18th began as any NYC outing for me, drive 2 hours to Stamford CT,take the 40 min. train into the city, take the subway...walk and walk for what seems like forever to shop, relax and eat dinner before attending an evening show. The thing that made this trip so special was it was my first time seeing Dierks Bentley perform in an intimate venue in New York and the first night of his 4-day bender in the Big Apple. On the Amtrack into Grand Central I sent a tweet out from my phone about my evenings plans, NEVER in a million years did I think the dude himself would respond back.

After a year of tweets to @Dierksbentley and finally a response....I was ELATED! I was bargain shopping & haggling with vendors on Canal St. when my pocket vibrated. It was a tweet/response from Dierks saying he was heading down to Little Italy for lunch himself and that he was "needing a break from making up the evenings setlist...taking a walk to get some fresh air." Suddenly every curly headed man in plaid that walked by me on the city streets made my heart stop! Us CT girls never did bump into Dierks, but who really cares. We still couldn't believe I got a tweet response. I knew this night would be magical for me...the miles & miles are always worth if for DB.

@CTcowgirl: On my way to NYC for some shopping, Little Italy & @Dierksbentley concert at Bowery Ballroom :)

@DierksBentley: @CTcowgirl right on! headed there myself.about a 20 minute walk to Bowery. been holed up working on setlist...liking it a lot. need air! #fb

So my concert buddy Becky and I eat a delish dinner, grab a canolli and head to the venue. The line was about 40 people deep which dampened my hopes of getting up close enough to see. General Admission is always a little sketchy. Low and behold the bartender told us girls to stand at a back entrance, and when the doors opened we bolted towards the stage. FRONT and CENTER...elbows under the microphone. I was floating on cloud one billion! I also was standing right next to three other DBC reps that I had never met until then & they introduced themselves--from all ends of the US they came to see Dierks. Great girls...the congress always brings us together eventually.

This concert was sold out and the people were really packed in. Bowery Ballroom is a gorgeous venue. Dierks had a great opening act that really got everyone warmed up, but didn't take the stage until 10 pm. He was full of early evening energy like he'd been waiting all day to come out with guns blazing as he performed his regular crowd pleasing concert for this city crowd. I was psyched because he stopped the show to point out his "from the beginning fans"--the Congress girls in the front--and sang a few songs that I had never heard him perform live in concert until then: "Wish It Would Break," which got a tremendous applause from the audience and immediately followed it with "My Love Will Follow You." I sang every word; it brought me back to when I first listened to his first CD over and over and over. Oh how the years have gone by. His music brings the memory right back though.

After Free And Easy, Dierks tells the story of how he came to write "Wish It Would Break," an old school favorite of the fan club's (and DB knows and recognizes that fact!) that never got released as a single, but should have.



Dierks is a real comedian though, I have to say. He had me roaring laughing that night, making fun of his new guitarist's T-Shirt that had Randy Travis' head on it. Dierks totally thought it was Arnold Schwarzenegger, getting the entire audience to scream "Hi (name)..." to every other single band member, and telling funny stories about each bandmember's nicknames and busting their chops, and making fun of Steve and his pinstriped pants or as Dierks called them "Easter pants." He really interacted with the audience that night too. Towards the end of the show DB was rolling laughing after he pointed out a guy in the audience that looked almost exactly like his "hero" Will Ferrell. The entire crowd was in hysterics. This guy was almost identical to the "Old School" star. DB seemed very giddy that evening. It's great to see him truly having an excellent time up there.

He broke down a couple of bluegrass songs off of the Up On The Ridge CD and the city crowd turned completely hillbilly country. They loved every bit of it. The band seemed pleased that their audience welcomed the acoustic jam session as they sang "Fiddlin Around," and other covers of bluegrass favorites from a long, long ago.

Of course my favorite parts personally were every time Dierks gave me some front row love. He pointed his finger down during Come A Little Closer... "girl it's right here at our fingertips" ...and joined fingertips with me and then repeated the same motion during Free & Easy "...if you only get to go around ONE time" Fingertip again. He knew I'd get it.

A single fingertip touch from Dierks is like an all over hug for me!



The very ending of the concert was interesting--not sure if the guys had too much Patron Tequila, but it got real rowdy. All of a sudden a Will Ferrell look-alike was pulled up onstage by Dierks. Then a girl with a little white tank top, then another then another, and another, then a GUY with a little white tank top on. It was an all out party.





By this time Dierks was trying to orchestrate a final bow with the boys and it just was like a wave, up down up on the right down on the left up on the left down on the right...Dierks fell to his knees in laughter.



Another amazing trip to the city and incredible show--one I'll never forget and it all started with a tweet from D.

The night ended with a tailgate handout of beers to a crowd of people on the sidewalk & Dierks Bentley songs blasting in the city streets from the Will Ferrell look-alike. He was an instant celebrity thanks to our other favorite curly headed Comedian Dierks and looked just as elated as I was for having such a memorable evening.

Never a dull moment in NYC, and this was only night one...

Thanks for sharing, Renee! Stay tuned for the Day Two - City Winery blog!

VIDEO ALERT: DIERKS SINGS WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE WITH BON JOVI

Dierks Bentley was like a kid in high school last night with the widest smile on his face. He couldn't hide his excitement as he sang live on stage with the legendary Jon Bon Jovi!



Immediately after the show last night at HullabaLOU in Louisville, Kentucky, Dierks couldn't wait to post his unbelievable experience:

"had "sometimes u tell the day by the bottle that u drink" in my high school yearbook (we thought we were pretty cool).still processing.. #fb"

"just sang "wanted dead or alive" with @BonJovi in front of 5 billion people at @hullabaloufest in Kentucky. still processing... #fb"

Special thanks to CTcowgirl (Renee), a DB Congress rep in Connecticut for tweeting and posting the You Tube video!

Dierks, just so you know, you are just as cool as Bon Jovi, and we all have that same smile on our face every time we see you in concert!

DBC Member of the Week - BLUUBABY25(Renee)

Renee joined us this week from Florida making FL one of the states with the most reps with 27! WOW!

What is your favorite DB song? Come a Little Closer
What is your favorite DB album? Feel That Fire
What is your favorite DB music video? What was I Thinkin’

How long have you been a fan of DB? Ever since I heard that unique smooth voice on the radio. From the very first song I was hooked.

What led you to be a fan? His drive and heart for true country music that keeps getting better and better with every passing song. And not to forget his loyalty to his fans!

How do you promote Dierks? Constantly calling radio stations and request his songs, always telling friends and family about the BEST country music and needing to buy his music, and having window clings on the car so everyone knows about Dierks.

"I will and always have been a loyal true Dierks fan. Making sure that his music becomes #1 is something I have been trying to play part of since day 1 and every little bit helps. I want every fan to know that every request and anything each and every one of us can do to help support Dierks become #1 will add up and make a difference and hopefully get him to the top."

Welcome to Renee and our newly joined DBC reps:
chrissyfl - Florida
Keesha12 - Michigan

Thanks for supporting our Prez!!


-Amanda Morris (DBC Secretary/MS Rep)

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

CT CREW SUPPORTS DB ON JIMMY FALLON

DB Congress Connecticut was 'in da house' Wednesday night/Thursday morning, supporting the self-proclaimed public servant to his fans--Dierks Bentley. The aforementioned "house" was located at 30 Rockerfeller Center--Late Nite With Jimmy Fallon--NBC TV studio in New York City!

CT reps and best friends Renee, Lauren, Mandy, and Becky arrived with just enough time to get their VIP wristbands. "We were led to a security area, and while walking through the building my friend Becky spots those infamous curls of our favorite man Dierks just hanging out talking to someone in the doorway of the plaza," said 'CTcowgirl' Renee. "He traded in his cowboy boots for black and white Adidas sneakers, Jeans, and a black shirt...and he looked absolutely amazing as always!"


Just last week, Renee saw the announcement on dierks.com to "BE IN THE AUDIENCE TO SEE DIERKS ON LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON!" and immediately entered for her chance to win seats in the "Band Bench" and an opportunity to surround the stage during Dierks' live performance on the show! After four agonizing days, she got a phone call the day before the show saying she'd won.


"During the taping of the show, we were allowed to, along with 40 other winners, be onstage with Dierks and the boys as they performed his latest chart-climbing hit, Sideways.

We giggle, he waves, we giggle some more. Gotta Love that DB smile! We couldn't talk to him or get pictures because security was whisking us off through the metal detectors. Dierks hugged a fan farther down the line and everyone got out their cameras for a quick snapshot of the country star before going into the studio.


The taping was very interesting to be a part of, lots of production people working on the set making the show run smoothly. Lots of laughs, too. Jimmy Fallon is extremely hilarious. When it finally came time for the winners to join Dierks onstage we couldn't have been more excited. There were three balconies onstage that held about 13 people each for the winners of the "Band Bench Sweepstakes." We were on Dierks' right-hand side.

The producers encouraged us all to dance and have a great time up there which isn't hard to do when Dierks is performing. Although in the playback you can hardly see us girls in any of the footage, you can definitely tell we are there. Dierks kept looking over at our side, partying it up just for him, and was smiling because he knew we were his congress, there supporting him.

He even laughed at us on our balcony during the performance when he sang "Gotta Make 'em wanna"...and we shouted "What"..."Gotta make 'em wanna"..."What"..."Gotta make 'em wanna come back for more!"

We all were doing the signature dance and you can see Dierks check our side one more time during the chorus to make sure we are all waving our hands to the left, then right, gettin' a little bit 'Sideways.'



At the end of the performance he raised his fist in victory to us girls and throws us up his guitar pick, which we caught. After closing the show with Jimmy Fallon, Dierks went around to all three of the balconies and shook everyone's hand. Our balcony was about eight feet high and I couldn't reach down to Dierks for my goodbye handshake, so he leaned back to make sure he made eye contact and gave me a wave and a smile.

What a wonderful ending to a perfect day in New York City!

We all waited in the lobby for a bit, but the band must have left through another entrance. Dierks knew we were there in support of him, and to represent the congress, though. It doesn't matter if he didn't come out for a final goodbye. I was hoping somewhere in the city he was enjoying the beautiful cool evening, and a nice cold beer after that great show!

So with that we packed up to get back on the train and head back to Connecticut. That one day in the city will forever be embedded in my Dierks memory bank. We will always take the opportunity to go out for Dierks and show our support. He is totally worth the miles and memories.

I wish we could do yesterday over. I would have gone right up to Dierks and told him Ronna sent me!"

Thanks Renee for the great play by play of the evening! I wish I could have been there with you!

To see the video, go to the link below and choose the Dierks Bentley Chapter 5, May 20. Dierks performs at the 38:00 minute mark:

Dierks on Jimmy Fallon

~Ronna
DB Congress Chair
Florida Rep