Videos: Dierks Performs at The White House!

How appropriate for our president of the Dierks Bentley Congress (Dierks), to open the "Country Music: In Performance at the White House" show with his newest single, "Home."   The PBS music special aired last night from the East Room of the White House, hosted by President and Mrs. Obama.

What an honor for Dierks to represent country music in our nation's home, along with eight other artists who performed: Lauren Alaina, who did a duet with Dierks (see video below), The Band Perry, Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Mickey, Darius Rucker and James Taylor.

"Standing in the East Room of The White House last night rehearsing ‘Home’ was a surreal feeling,” Dierks said. “No matter who you vote for or what you believe, it is one of the greatest symbols of our country. It is our nation’s ‘Home.’ I’m honored to have been asked to perform there, and tonight when I sing this song, I will definitely be thinking about all of the men and women in the military.”



What's Your Favorite Song?


From The Washington Post:

Dierks Bentley on being excited to be here:

"On my phone... I keep going to down to my Google maps, trying to get my blue dot to go on the White House. Hey! It worked! ... I guess ‘cause we’re outside... [Let me] take a screen saver shot of that blue dot.”

Bentley on why we should support our returning veterans:

“Now is the time that these guys are coming back, you know, with health problems and obviously they’re trying to put their families back together. And the economy’s crap. Now is the time to really show your patriotism, your support, and do something... It’s more than just a yellow ribbon... How do we incorporate these folks back into our society, into our economy, so they can have productive lives?”

In case you missed the show, here are a few videos for you. 

1-Behind the scenes, with DB interviewing the other artists.  Check out the "hugs" at the end!

2-President Obama's opening remarks

3-Dierks performs "Home," and dedicates it to the guys and girls in the military who are coming "home." (Thanks to Janet, NJ rep)

4-Lauren Alaina performing the Willie Nelson classic, "You Are Always On My Mind," duet with Dierks.













The show ended with Kris Kristofferson singing "Bobby Magee" and all the artists joined him on stage and sang a line or two.  Then, as the credits rolled, President and Mrs. Obama thanked each performer by shaking hands and freely giving out hugs.  Another great feat for the history books!

DB Congress President To Perform for the US President

Our DB Congress President--Dierks Bentley--will perform for the President of the United States of America on Monday, November 21, 2011.

"Country Music: In Performance at the White House" is a PBS music special in the East Room of the White House, hosted by President and Mrs. Obama. The evening celebrates Country music, whose roots run deep throughout American history. Taping on November 21, this concert honors the rich history and resilience of this uniquely American musical form. Leading contemporary Country artists pay tribute to many of Country’s iconic figures, tracing the history of Country music through performed songs.
Among those performing Monday night: Lauren Alaina, The Band Perry, Dierks Bentley, Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Mickey, Darius Rucker and James Taylor.

Some of the performers also will take part in an afternoon workshop at the White House for 120 local students about the history of country music and its cultural significance.

The 2 p.m. EST workshop and the 7 p.m. EST concert will stream live on www.whitehouse.gov/live.

The concert also will be broadcast by PBS on Nov. 23 at 8 PM ET.

Be sure to tune in!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

Source

DIERKS BENTLEY'S UP ON THE RIDGE PREVIEW LISTENING PARTY

Apparently, a priviliged few were lucky enough to hear a few cuts from Dierks Bentley's upcoming Up on the Ridge Acoustic Album, during a March 30 listening party at Gary Paczosa's studio in Nashville.

CMT.com has the scoop!

Dierks and his producer, Jon Randall Stewart, previewed tracks from Bentley's impending country-bluegrass album, Up on the Ridge, during a Tuesday afternoon (March 30) listening party at engineer Gary Paczosa's studio in Nashville. Although the instrumentation and sensibility of the 12-song album are solidly bluegrass, the project ventures well beyond the traditional sounds of that genre. The title cut, for example, is a rap-flavored, banjo-inflected paean to rural living, which Bentley co-wrote with songwriter-producer Angelo Petraglia, best known for his works with Kings of Leon.

Besides marking a return to the music that influenced Bentley early in his career, the album features guest appearances from such bluegrass luminaries as Del McCoury (one of the artist's regular picking and recording buddies), Alison Krauss, Sam Bush, Sonya Isaacs, the Punch Brothers (mandolinist Chris Thile's current group) and the SteelDrivers' Chris Stapleton.

Stewart has a distinguished bluegrass pedigree, as well, having toured and recorded as the lead guitarist in Emmylou Harris' fabled Nash Ramblers band.

Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson contribute stellar vocal performances on a lyrical exorcism called "Bad Angel," a Verlon Thompson-Suzi Ragsdale tune. Aided by McCoury and the Punch Brothers, Bentley also takes on U2's throbbing and incantatory "Pride (In the Name of Love)."

He resurrects "Rovin' Gambler," the old folk song, and creates a new one with the ancient-sounding coalfields lament, "Down in the Mine," a co-write with Stewart.

According to Esquire Magazine, the album is scheduled for release in May. That's a whole 30 days from now!

What I wouldn't give to have been a fly up on the ridge, uh, wall of that listening party! Congrats to all the DB fans who will get to see him and the Travelin' McCoury's live on the April-May bluegrass tour! Sadly, nothing is scheduled close to me. Guess I'll just have to wait for the album!

DIERKS BENTLEY NEW ALBUM, "UP ON THE RIDGE" ON SALE THIS SUMMER

New Album News: "Up On The Ridge" Posted by morgan on 08 Mar 2010 in News (http://dierks.com/news/new-album-news-ridge)

Singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley has said many times that if he hadn’t discovered bluegrass, he’d never have become a country singer or landed a record deal. His love for country was kindled by the energy and artistry of bluegrass, and he’s never lost his passion for it.

Now, seven years into one of the most distinguished and critically acclaimed country careers of modern times, Bentley has plunged deeply into acoustic roots music. The results of that creative journey will come out this summer as the very special new album Up On The Ridge.

Much more than just a bluegrass concept album with guests, Up On The Ridge features Bentley working with some of the finest acoustic musicians in the world, including long-time collaborators the Del McCoury Band and a magical new musical partnership with Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers. The disc also features a number of vocal and instrumental contributions ranging from Alison Krauss and Miranda Lambert to Tim O’Brien and Sam Bush, among many others.

“This album won’t come as a surprise to my hard core fans,” says Bentley. “They've asked me: ‘when are you going to make a bluegrass record?’ And I was just waiting for the right time.” So with a grueling tour behind him, Bentley felt liberated to pursue the project. And for his career home, Capitol Nashville, Up On The Ridge represents a rare and exciting opportunity to capture an artist working entirely from the heart.

“I didn’t want this to be ‘Dierks Bentley and friends’ or a ‘Dierks does bluegrass’ kind of album. I wanted each song to have something special about it, and in the end I think each song really does have its own thing going on.”

Those songs came from Bentley’s proven pen, as well as some unexpected sources, such as Bob Dylan. Working with an award-winning singer/songwriter/producer Jon Randall Stewart and world-class recording engineer Gary Paczosa, Bentley has crafted an album with rooted familiarity as well as big surprises. “It’s my version of bluegrass music,” he says. “It’s not just banjos cranked up to eleven. It throws out a big net.”

In the 1950s and 60s, bluegrass and country music overlapped, living side by side on the radio and in record bins. Even though that’s rarely the case today, Bentley sees no reason why he shouldn’t be able to pursue all the styles that influenced who he is as an American musician. He is clearly destined for a long career, and Up On The Ridge is likely to be regarded as one of its highlights.

IN THE STUDIO WITH BENTLEY AND KRAUSS

Dierks Bentley tweeted this pic and caption yesterday from his Twitter page: http://twitpic.com/14z447 - "alison krauss in the studio today...killer #fb"

I hope that means Alison will be one of his duet partners on the upcoming bluegrass album! One of my favorite duets is Dierks and Alison singing "Good Things Happen" on the "Modern Day Drifter" CD from 2005. Their voices harmonizing together sound so sweet!

DON'T DRINK AND TEXT!

The Boot posted this story about Dierks Bentley, drinkin', textin', sad-song listenin', and Alison Krausss. In true David Allan Coe code, sounds like the perfect country and western song except there's nothin' about Little White Tank Tops!

We all know the hazards of "drunk dialing," but what about texting after you've enjoyed a few cocktails? Dierks Bentley found out the dangers when he sent a text message to one of his musical idols, Alison Krauss, while under the influence. On a recent tour bus trek from Nashville to Iowa, Dierks and his band mates were passing the time by having a "battle of who can play the sadder song" from their iTunes collection, he tells The Boot.

"We're drinking all these beers and I go straight to [Krauss'] 'Forget About It.' You should never listen to Alison's music before 6:00 PM. It's nighttime music. Have a Bud Light or some Jack Daniels with a couple of cubes of ice ready to go. It's heartbreak music."After several adult beverages, Dierks texted Alison. Two days later, he received a response from the multiple-Grammy winner asking, "Did they hurt or did they help?"

With no memory whatsoever of texting Alison, Dierks figured she'd erroneously replied to him. He texted back, gently suggesting that as happy as he was to hear from her, perhaps she sent her message to the wrong guy. She texted him back, writing, "No, you texted me a couple of nights ago. You did say you were drinkin'." Her text jarred his memory. A chagrinned Dierks wrote her back, confessing, "You're right. I'm so sorry. I'm so embarrassed. Yes, it did help because our goal is to get as lonesome as possible, and your music causes that. So thank you." Krauss reply? "Ha!"

FROM ONE PRESIDENT TO ANOTHER...

A few minutes before Dierks Bentley was to perform last night, he was backstage at The Grand Ole Opry House catching up on his text messages. One in particular caught his attention from his pal Brad. So, the president of the DB Congress decided he wanted to share a "tweet" with all his Twitter friends...

wow...the president of the usa just said "Dierks bentley calls country music the best shrink 15 bucks can buy." thx @bradpaisley for text#fb 8:27 PM Jul 21st from TwitterBerry

The Tennessean reported on President Obama's White House Music Series: A Country Music Celebration in the East Room, with live performances last night by Charley Pride, Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss--all members of The Grand Ole Opry.

“A lot of people think I’m a city boy, but I do appreciate listening to country music,” Obama said in his opening remarks. The President praised country’s dedication to storytelling, said the music “contributed to the life of this nation and chronicled the history of our people” and quoted Harlan Howard, Garth Brooks and Dierks Bentley.

“Dierks Bentley called (country), ‘The best shrink that fifteen bucks can buy,’” Obama said, drawing laughs from the D.C. crowd and reassured glances from the Nashvillians in the room, who were thinking, “Hey, he pronounced ‘Dierks’ correctly.”

Funny. That's the first thing I wondered--did Obama say Dierks' name correctly? Affirmative!




Opry membership requires a passion for country music's fans, a connection to the music’s history. And it requires commitment – even a willingness to make significant sacrifices to uphold that commitment.

Commitment is something Dierks has always had in abundance. Several of us DB Congress reps were listening online at wsmonline.com and chatting. From the screams we were hearing, we knew he was on stage and sure enough they announced, "It's time to get a little sideways with Dierks Bentley!" But he started out with Free and Easy and it was 'rollin' like Mike Snyder's old banjo'. His voice sounded like he had a slight cold but the gravel sounded great to me! Commitment--the show must go on. He followed up FAE with Feel That Fire and finally closed, surprisingly, with Beautiful World--mentioning the text from Brad and the Presidential quote as his intro to the song he says he would like to be known for. He introduced his "band of brothers" and Jon Randall was actually playing with the band as well.

Dierks said he used to sneak in back stage to the Opry years ago to pick up tips of how to be a better singer. It worked!

God bless you, Dierks! We love you too!