Dierks Bentley Reveals Release Date and Reason for Naming the Album, "Riser"

As hard-core fans, DB Congress reps, maybe more so than the casual fan, are consistently in a state of anxiousness, always awaiting new music from our president, Dierks Bentley!  And he is always worth the wait, and we finally have a date!  RISER will be released February 25, 2014!

"I hope the fans, when they listen to the record, I hope they hear their involvement in the record, because they really were the reason why I was able to get from one spot to the other [from his dad's death to his boy Knox's birth] and find that happiness and joy that is who I really am," Dierks admitted.

You may know that "7" is Dierks' lucky number (also the number on his Iceholes hockey jersey), so with RISER being his 7th studio album, it's sure to be  a phenomenal project, "grounded in lyrical substance with a new sonic power that spotlights Bentley's distinctive gravely voice, one of the most original and recognizable in the genre," according to the press release.

We've already witnessed a few of the songs we believe will be included, like "Bourbon In Kentucky" and "I Hold On," and if you attended Last Call Ball in June, you heard a few more, namely, the title song, "I'm A Riser," written by Travis Meadows and Steve Moakler (Read our exclusive interviews with them here and here), and "Drunk On A Plane."  At the Arizona firefighter's benefit concert, Dierks performed the personal "Here On Earth."

Other tracks that Windmills's Musical Musings says will be included are: "Hurt Somebody" (previously recorded by The Dirt Drifters), "Say You Do" and "Pretty Girls Drinking Tall Boys."

"I named the album RISER because the lyrics in that song perfectly articulate who I want to be, who I try to be," Bentley explains. "There's a lot of really intense material on this record, but there's also a lighter side that is equally important in telling the story of the last two years of my life. When I first started writing for this album, I was in a place of grief over the loss of my dad, but over the course of the next 18 months, my wife and I had our son Knox, and I ended in a place of real joy and gratefulness. Both sides of that coin are what country music has always been about, and I hope that my fans can feel how much of myself I put into this project. It's all out on the table, for sure."

Last year, we posted our exclusive interview with Ross Copperman (Tip It On Back co-writer and Riser producer), where he revealed some unique strategies and tactics to recording "Riser."

The lead single, "I Hold On," is currently at #18 on the Billboard Country Airplay radio charts. "Written by Bentley and Brett James, the track is drawing attention from other artists, critics and fans for its authenticity and emotion with Music Row calling it a "song that shakes you," and American Songwriter comparing the track to U2 with Bentley "rocking a little harder than most of contemporary country's crooners.""

Watch RISER: Making The Album:



Keep requesting "I Hold On," congress!  Let's get it to top ten for album release week!   We need a #1 debut!

Map of Home Contest Winner Collects From Dierks Bentley

Justin Bockbrader is one of two grand prize winners from Dierks Bentley's "Map of Home" contest, and he spent the day on the road with Dierks and crew in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan yesterday, collecting on his grand prize package!

The Map of Home contest was created to promote Dierks' new single, “Home.”  DB Congress members were encourged to "pin" their "home" on a giant map of the world, and tell their story of what home means to them, with words, pictures and videos. 

Justin lives just outside of Bowling Green, Ohio in the country side of a very small historical town.  Dierks' Mt Pleasant, Michigan show on January 21 was the closest tour date near Pemberville.

"I just started this past summer to be a fan club member (now listed on the dbcongress.com rep page under Ohio!).  I never knew it existed. But I came to know of Dierks when I listened to some of his older stuff and loved it because he sings about heart break and at that time I felt like I was in every song because I've went through all of that," Justin told us.  "I respect and love how he writes the majority of his own music--now a days that's very rare." 

Justin's winning entry is below.

I chose this picture because it is a true definition of home. This farm has been in our family for many generations. From the flag that hangs that was given to us at my uncles funeral, to the 1941 John Deere thats plowed many of fields and helped the family survive. My uncle lived on the farm right after WWII was over. He served for his country just like thousands of others did, and once he passed we could not give the farm away, so now we have family reunions and gatherings at the homestead. All 150 people come out year in and year out to see the old tractors and barns that stand tall for over two centuries. We still farm the land because thats what my uncle and our ancestors would want. I always stop out to see the flag drapped over the beams and think to myself I live in the greatest country in the world and nobody could ever take that from me. God Bless.

Dierks posted a series of tweets to introduce us to Justin:

"the first winner of our HOME map contest is here at our show in Michigan. about to go meet him. he is hanging out with us all day"

"say hi to justin bockbrader! or @bockbutt10. cool HOME story" (Justin tells us the nickname "bockbutt" was given to him by a buddy in the 6th grade and it has stuck every since...)

"he's a hockey player AND the number 7 is his number like me. liking this dude"

""I'm pretty sweet at #NHL Xbox".... wow, its on."

Justin told us that hockey was another huge influence on why he's a fan of Dierks.  "I've played since I was four and it's rare to see any artist lace them up (hockey skates) let alone a country superstar like Dierks."


"1st preshow prayer and huddle with our HOME map contest winner @bockbutt10. thx justin for hanging w us all day."

From Justin's Perspective"

My day with Dierks was one of the coolest experiences ever--the man is so down to earth and the nicest dudes I've ever met. Not only him but also all his band members and stage crew guys. Such good people involved with Dierks. We started out eating lunch and meeting all the members, then we went to the tour bus and played some video games but the NHL game was scratched (he knew I would of owned him). 

Next I watched the sound check to all the songs he was doing that night. Later in the day my parents and I got to do the meet and greet and attend the show.

Justin watches Dierks and the guys at sound check

"Finally after the show we got to hang out on the tour bus with guys and tipped a few brews back. Dierks is a big fan of old classic country music like Hank, Johnny, Strait, and Waylon which I love about him. I always felt like he would be a good man to tip a few back and listen to country gold saturday nights with." 

Dierks lived up to that sentiment by opening the show with a new song from the upcoming "Home" album, "Tip It On Back."  Justin and his dad got to do just that. 

"Just an overall hell of a time," adds Justin. And one final Tweet:

@Bockbutt10: @DierksBentley Dierks man, really appreciate everything, was a badass time and experience, thanks for everything brother hope to see ya soon

Congratulations, Justin! Thanks for sharing your experience! And welcome to the DB Congress!

~Ronna
DBC Chair, FL