Sunday, September 30, 2012

DB Congress To Meet During Dierks' Miles & Music For Kids Weekend

"Living life like a Sunday stroll...free and easy down the road I go!"  Dierks Bentley's 7th annual Nashville Miles and Music For Kids celebrity motorcycle ride and concert follows that mantra, and they are gearing up for a great event on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

Two weeks from today, Dierks and about 1,500 friends will ride from Ricky Kelley's (@TheHarleyGuy) Harley Davidson of Columbia to the Riverfront Park stage downtown Nashville, Tennessee, where Kix BrooksSheryl Crow, Chris Young, Brantley Gilbert, The Cadillac Black, Craig Campbell and, according to their website, Southern Drawl Band, will perform.  

It's all to raise money for the Monroe Carell Jr.'s Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

DB Congress has an annual tradition of meeting with fellow fan clubbers and Dierks fans the night before to sign get well cards for the kids.  This year we will meet at Joe's Crab Shack on Saturday, October 13 at 7 p.m.  Get all the details and RSVP to join the fun HERE!

We'll need close to 300 cards, so while you're out and about this weekend, stop by the dollar store and pick up a couple packs of children's get well cards!  If you cannot be there in person, and you want to donate cards, please email me at Ronna@dbcongress.com to arrange to mail them to me.

Here are a few photos from the 2010 MM4K Nashville event.






We look forward to a special 2012 MM4K weekend!

Check out our stories from previous MM4K events HERE.  For tickets, click HERE.



Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Dierks Performs Tribute to Ricky Scaggs


At the untelevised ACM Honors last night at The Ryman Auditorium, Dierks Bentley played humble host to his heros, as the pioneers of country music performed and received well-deserved awards.

DB Congress rep, Ali Rae Satter, was able to be there in person and capture this audio of Dierks singing, "I Don't Care," a tribute to Ricky Scaggs.

Ali also tweeted all throughout the evening.  One of the best laughs of the night had to be when Dierks joked, "What does a Motel 6 and Luke Bryan's pants have in common? No ballroom."

On a more serious note, when introducing Vince Gill, Dierks admitted:

"When I first came to town I had no money, so I was playing for tips down on Broadway in this little club.  One night I look up and Vince Gill walks in, and he played with us for an hour and 22 minutes. I know because I kept looking at the clock thinking, why is he still here? That demonstrates the goodness of Nashville and all the people who are here for the music."
When Vince got on stage, he replied: "On my way home after playing with Dierks, who I didn't have a clue who he was at the time, I told Amy, 'You know that guy playing guitar has that 'thing.' I think something good will happen to him."

Check out a more detailed recap at The Boot.



Monday, September 24, 2012

Dierks Fan Club Members Are There When Others Need Them

Because of Dierks Bentley...

For a few years I have been a member of the DB Congress, and over these years, I have made some great friends. These friends have become like my extended family. We send each other birthday cards, Christmas cards, get well messages and text/facebook/tweet each other on a daily basis. The DB Congress is the one fan club, that seems to always stick together when a fellow fan club member is going through some rough times in their personal life.

Recently, I tweeted that I needed prayers for my grandmother who is 82 years old. She had become sick, and was having medication reactions. Several DB Congress members tweeted me back and some texted me to say that they were praying for her. I was so blessed to know that just because I tweeted "Prayers needed for my grandma" so many people who have never met her wanted to send their warm thoughts and prayers to not only her, but myself and my family.

We thought we had it all figured out and my grandma was going to be okay. Then this past Tuesday, I went to my hometown to see her and take her to run a few errands. When I got there she looked really sick. At first, grandma didn't want to say anything, but I am one who never gives up on her. After about five minutes, I finally got her to say that she had fell and hit her head really bad. Since I come from a medical background family, I knew by looking at her that she needed medical treatment. I knew I could get her to the hospital quicker than the EMS could get there, so I rushed her to the emergency department.

When we got there, they automatically took her back and began ordering multiple tests. Knowing that it had been about four hours since the fall, they were trying to make sure there was no internal bleeding. The moment that we got back the room, I began texting my family and letting them know what was going on. Then, I tweeted that once again I needed prayers for my grandma.

It wasn't but just a few minutes until my phone was buzzing letting me know that I had been mentioned on Twitter. Before I could get it unlocked, more messages were coming through. Several members of the DB Congress were tweeting me and saying that they were praying. So of course, I responded by saying thank you.

It wasn't too long that I began receiving text messages from some of these fans, asking how my grandma was doing, did I need anything, etc. My grandma heard my phone buzzing a lot and said is that your sisters messaging you. I replied, a few of them are from my sisters, but the others are from friends. I told her about how I had asked for people to pray for her.

She simply replied, "you mean, there are people I don't know praying for me?" My response was "yes ma, lots of people!" She started getting tears in her eyes, and I asked if she was in pain. She said "no, I am just amazed at how I don't even know these people, and you haven't known them too long, yet they are concerned for me...like a big happy family." I told her, well the DB Congress sticks together no matter what.

A few minutes later, grandma started getting a little worse. So the doctors had to run more test. I wanted to boost her spirit a little, so I told her that if she could be strong, and make it, I would make sure that she became a member of the DB Congress. To my surprise, she laughed and said, "you mean there is no age limit?" I replied by saying "no there isn't." She just smiled.

While we waited for the test results to come in, some DB Congress members tweeted and text me asking for updates. And just like they were family, I keep them updated every step of the way. When the doctor's finally decided to let me grandma come home, as long as someone would be watching her, (since she was diagnosed with a severe concussion) the first words out of my grandma's mouth was "you better message all your friends the good news." I knew right then, she was talking bout the DB Congress. So I messaged everyone and everyone messaged back and said they were happy my grandma was going home.

Since then, these fellow DB Congress members have still been asking about my grandma. I feel so blessed to have such great friends, because of Dierks Bentley. I know without a doubt, they all were praying and getting others to pray for my grandma, and still are. Since coming home, my grandma's main doctor has told us that we need to spend as much time as we can with her, because he feels that her time is near because of her recent declining health.

And like a lot of people I didn't want to believe it. Last night, my grandma told me she dreamed of my late grandpa and he said she didn't have much longer to battle this war. She told me I needed to be strong, keep my head up, and always follow my dreams.

Over the past two years, my grandma has become a fan of Dierks Bentley (hmm I don't know why that would happen...lol). I have bought her every copy of of his albums and she listens to them daily. About a week ago, despite being sick, she heard a song on my I-pod playing, and said what song is that? I told her that it was "The Heaven I'm Headed To" by Dierks Bentley.

She looked at me and said "Adrian make me a promise that when I die, you will sing this song at my funeral." Of course, I told her to quit talking like that, because she was going to be around for a long time. Again, she said for me to promise. So I said, I promise grandma. She later told me that she was glad that I had met Dierks, and that she wished she could meet him, but she didn't think that would ever happen. I told her that I would try to get her to a concert, and she said okay.

After the recent medical issues, the doctors have advised us that she can not travel any more than one hour. So now, it's becoming a challenge to get her to meet someone that my grandma is a fan of.

Even though she isn't a member of the fan club yet, my grandma wanted to send a few words to the fan club.
"I would like to thank all of the friends of my granddaughter who have prayed for me. I have never met you, and probably never will, but Adrian tells me that you all are the best. I do not know if I would of made it without all of the prayers, so thank you. It's good to know that Dierks has such a loyal group of fans. I wish I could send you all cards or letters thanking you, but it is hard to say thank you for praying. But I just wanted you all to know that I am so blessed to know that there are people out in the world who care about people they do not know. Thank you again, and God Bless each and every one of you. --With love, Juanita Roberts"
Personally, I want to thank a few of the DB Congress members, for asking about how not only my grandma is doing, but how our family is holding up. Even if I forget to send them a daily text, they will message me and ask. So a big special thanks to: Sherrie Shamon, Lee Ann Boyle, Harriet Watkins, Tara Joant and Mustachedan, you all have been my rocks during this time. Whether it be from chatting on facebook, tweeting or texting anytime I needed you, you were there. And I really appreciate it and there is no way that I can say thank you and tell you how much your thoughts and prayers and concern has helped all of our family during these struggling times.

With my grandma not knowing if she will ever get to meet Dierks, she asked if there was a way to send him a card to tell him that he had a good group of fans. I told her I was sure that we could send him a letter. So today, I got an email back from The Green Room, The Grand Ole Opry and The Ryman, all saying that whatever my grandma wanted to send, to send it, and they would make sure that Dierks receives it.

When I told my grandma it was time to write Dierks, she smiled. She then said that she was one step ahead of me. She handed me a notepad and on it, was a letter written to Dierks. I told her that tomorrow we will mail it. I noticed she had mentioned the DB Congress and Dierks' father in it.  In the letter, my grandma wrote:
"I can never repay your fans for the prayers that they have prayed. And despite never meeting you, I want to thank you for being a great artist. My granddaughter told me of your father's passing a few months back, so in honor of your fan club, I am donating money to the Hospice and the Wounded Warrior Project."
This is my grandma's way of saying thank you to each member of the DB Congress. Again, I want to thank you all. You all are the best!

-Adrian Taylor
DB Congress, North Carolina Rep

Friday, September 21, 2012

Dierks Bentley On CMTs Empowering Education

Dierks shared his thoughts about pursuing his education beyond high school with CMT:

I'd always loved music... but I knew education was really important as well. I was able to put the two together and get into a school in Nashville so I could really focus on the music but try to get a college education as well.
"By getting that secondary education, by going back to college and getting that degree, its really a special thing. I would definitely not pass it up 'cause its kind of a once in a lifetime thing."





Thursday, September 20, 2012

Dierks Bentley's Video for Tip It On Back Now on CMT!

Dierks Bentley's newest single is on the tip of the top 30, and the video is sure to make you feel good! Enjoy!

Be sure to vote on CMT.com when the video gets added to the Top 20 poll!


Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Recap of Dierks at Joe's in NYC: CMA Songwriters Series

DB Congress Cabinet member, Tara Toro, reps for Dierks in New York and is our DBC Facebook page researcher.  She was fortunate to get tickets to the sold out CMA Songwriters shows at Joes' Pub in NYC on September 13, 2012. Check out her inside scoop below!

 L to R: Bob DiPiero, Jim Beavers, Dierks Bentley, Jaren Johnston
Joe's Pub in New York City is such a fantastic venue to see live country music. It is very intimate and reminds you of having a show in your living room since the place only holds 160 people. So when it was announced Dierks would be there on September 13 for a CMA Songwriters series, I knew I had to go. I had seen him there a few times prior and it was amazing. I was very blessed to have gotten tickets for both the 6:30 pm (stage seating thanks to my friend) and 9 pm shows.

The show basically goes in a round, each songwriter playing a song acoustic and telling a story about or related to the song. That night with Dierks it was Jim Beavers, Jaren Johnston from the Cadillac Black and CMA Songwriters Series host Bob DiPiero, who has written more hits than you can imagine.

Dierks first sang, "Am I The Only One," adding that “special third verse” he always does, this time adding in lyrics about bringing country music to NYC. 

His second song was "5-1-5-0."  He told the story which we all know about how he and Jim wrote the song. He also talked about how he was at a school that day in the city and had no idea what to sing to a bunch of 4th graders. He said he told his wife his songs work for a bunch of rowdy people in a bar and she said those type of people and 4th graders are kind of the same.  Dierks sang a few bars of Dora the Explorer to us in the crowd, but then said when he got to the school, some of the kids were singing "5-1-5-0," so he sang that song for them. He said he was happy to be a part of CMA bringing music into classrooms.


After that, he sang Home and as his final number went “back to the beginning” and did "What Was I Thinking."  All of his songs were so well received with everyone singing and clapping and having a great time. Bob said,  “they love the sh—out of you Dierks,” to which he and Jim responded, “ew.” 

At some point he dropped his pick into his guitar and lifted the guitar over his head shaking it until it finally came out about one song later. He also demonstrated how Conway Twitty never used to announce his own songs; his bass player would do it while Conway went to the back of the stage for a drink. So Dierks went to the back of the stage, back towards us while I believe Jim did announcing.

The camaraderie between Jim, Dierks and Jaren was evident from the get go. Dierks said Jim was one of his best friends and seemed very proud that Jaren was there. Instead of Bob introducing Jaren, Dierks did the honors. You could tell he sort of has taken him under his wing and is friend and mentor. Dierks said one of his favorite lines is from Jaren’s song, "I’m Southern": I’m Southern and it ain’t my fault, my daddy came from Louisiana like the hot sauce.” 



Jaren was fantastic, but joked that no one knew him and playing his songs after Dierks was the worst place to be in the round. They played, "The Woods"  together, a touch off at first because they each like to play it in a different key but then they got in sync. Jaren joking around said that Dierks had promised him it would be a single and how disappointed he was. They also joked around that Jaren’s song for Keith Urban, "You Gonna Fly," knocked "5-1-5-0" from the top spot.


The 9 pm show was just as fantastic. It started out with them joking about Jim changing his shirt while everyone else wore the same clothes. They also kidded around about how "Red Solo Cup (Toby Keith)" and "5-1-5-0" are sure to have their lyrics engraved on the Country Music Hall of Fame. Dierks teased Jim about how he never offered him RSC and being friends he should have given him that song. 

Dierks sang all of the same songs as the first show, adding "Grab A Beer" with Jaren.  By that time it was almost 10 pm and you could tell they definitely grabbed a few beers. The show closed with "Home."  



Tara was able to give Dierks a growler of some locally brewed NY beer

Lucky for me, I had a street and greet after the show with Dierks and got Jaren to sign my Cadillac black CD.  I cannot wait until the next time Dierks is at Joes Pub!