Dierks Was "Travelin' Light" For 2019 ACM Awards

The 2019 ACM Awards had definite "light" moments for Dierks Bentley, including a performance that's being talked about across the country.

The night kicked off in the most perfect of ways, with the ACM social media pages announcing an early win for Dierks and Brothers Osborne. They walked into the event having already won the Music Event of the Year for their "Burning Man" collaboration.

Just announced! @DierksBentley & @brothersosborne win #ACMawards Music Event of the Year! Tune-in tonight at 8/7c on @CBS to watch their performances! pic.twitter.com/ySqKgxXcQm

— ACM Awards (@ACMawards) April 7, 2019

While this doesn't come with an official acceptance speech, Dierks and the guys were quite grateful for the win, and sent out a tweet to say thank you!

Earlier on the red carpet, @DierksBentley and @BrothersOsborne celebrated their win for Music Event of the Year! Was it the beard or the guitar solo? We'll never know! #ACMawards pic.twitter.com/q7qceHZ3NZ

— ACM Awards (@ACMawards) April 8, 2019

(This win is extra sweet after Dierks' earlier interview where he noted his kids always remind him he never wins anything. Not tonight!)

Speaking of the red carpet, Dierks and his wife, Cassidy, looked absolutely stunning (thank you to CMT for this wonderful photo of the Bentleys (right) with Catherine Shepherd and Brandi Carlile (left))!

While Brandi is a Grammy award winning singer, songwriter and producer, many might not have known there were ties between her and Dierks. For those of us who have had The Mountain on repeat for the better part of the last year, her voice is a familiar one gracing our speakers. And DB Congress members were elated to have the chance to see their duet "Travelin' Light" live at the awards show, which Billboard said, in the most positive of ways, that it was "almost as if they were having fun at a karaoke session with friends--just with all-star vocals!"

You can watch their performance here.

Brandi's newest collaboration, Highwomen (a play on the 80s and 90s supergroup Highwaymen which includes Maren Morris, Amanda Shires, Natalie Hemby and Lori McKenna), even gave a Twitter invite to Dierks as an honorary member!

They sound so good together ❤️ @DierksBentley you wanna be a Highwoman?

— Natalie Hemby (@nataliehemby) April 8, 2019

Based on the banter between Dierks and Brandi before the show, it was clear the two love to perform together and they embrace a live show audience. In another interview, they discussed the evening itself was light. As Dierks noted, "There isn't a lot of heaviness to this show. It's just a fun place to be. It's Vegas. It's springtime. It feels pretty good."

As Brandi said of "Travelin' Light" and of Dierks, "I wanted to sing it because I felt [the song] and I felt Dierks' voice so much. I'm a big fan of his humanity, the kind of dad he is, the guy he is, the kind of husband he is. He's just somebody I want to spend a lot more time with."

Perhaps Brandi will "lay it down" again on a future Dierks album? We're ready!

Bonus: This "light" photo was captured at the event, and our DB Congress friends across the pond had a little fun, seeking captions. How would you caption this photo?

Caption This Picture...?! #Just4Fun 😆 pic.twitter.com/C5z55Iyg2k

— Dierks Bentley UK (@DierksBentleyUK) April 8, 2019

Jessica Borrelli
DB Congress Rep, WA
@AllTheWayToMe

Burning Man Music Video Is Fire!

It's no surprise a music video with a song title of "Burning Man" would be filmed someplace hot, but even Arizona native, Dierks Bentley, wasn't prepared for what the Palm Springs, Calif., desert held for the video team in the July heat. 

"I’m from Arizona, and this was hot. I felt bad for everyone involved,” Dierks said when reflecting on the video shoot.

Several members of the crew experienced heat stroke, vehicles got stuck in the sand; there was even a rattlesnake tamer with them at all times. 

But ... anything less and this video wouldn't be fitting for the song itself. And the video turned out exactly how they wanted it.

After the sun went down, though, the energy shifted, and the team soaked up the desert air. With the stars out and nothing else in sight, the other side of the burning man came to light.

“We went absolutely crazy,” Dierks said. “It felt so good—we had the music cranking, we were in the middle of nowhere and the stars were coming out. The fun we were having was true to a fault, we didn’t have to fake that at all.”

Joined by Brothers Osborne duo--T.J. and John--"Burning Man" is a reflection on Dierks' life, where he's come from and where he wants to be.

"I live in these two completely different worlds,” Dierks said. “I’m in my house in Nashville right now and I’m about to fly to San Francisco to do a show. And it’s not just physical, but also mentally I am always switching gears and trying to be successful in both of them. One day I’m doing something with [my] four-year-old with a bunch of their moms and the next I’m on stage ... I’m knee-deep in adulthood. I thought it would be fun to sing [this] with someone who doesn’t have three kids and isn’t as far along as I am or as old as I am.”

Directed by Wes Edwards (who also directed "Black," "5-1-5-0" and "Riser"), the video pulls in elements that Dierks fans will recognize from his career journey. It includes footage from every era of his music career, clips of his family, even a subtle nod to his Riser logo. 

Dierks' heart, passion, contemplation, and joy radiate throughout the video, continuing the 2018 trend we've seen from Dierks in his introspective year. 

"I wanted [this video] to be about my own journey in music--how many nights I’ve been on stage and the years I’ve put into this—who I am," he said. He added in a different interview, “This song is a personal reflection and it was important to me that you feel that with the video."

Jessica Borrelli

DB Congress Rep, WA

@AllTheWayToMe

Exclusive: Special Video Message from Dierks Bentley to His DB Congress!

Dierks Bentley has a heart full of grateful and he's letting his DB Congress know just how much we mean to him in this exclusive, special video message!

 

For our hearing impaired reps, here is the full transcript:

DB Congress!

What is goin' on guys? I cannot even think of where to start when it comes to thanking you guys for, man, all the support all you guys do, all your enthusiasm, all the stories you guys have shared with me and my team, my band, my crew, everyone back in Nashville over this last album campaign, especially the "Woman, Amen" stuff. Just all the support for this project--it’s been such an enjoyable ride for me.

You know, the journey itself has been the reward. It was so fun making this record, so fun writing it, recording it, working together with my team and working together with you guys to get the news out there to spread the news of the new album being released.  

Looking back on it, it was such a frenzied, kind of 18 days of album release week. But really just a much longer campaign, starting all the way back to when I first started writing this record. Kind of laying the groundwork. And to see you guys embrace the work, embrace the music and see your faces out there at these shows now, especially when we’re doing the new songs—it means the world to me.

Especially with the new album release, and just playing new songs and knowing that you guys are gonna be down front supporting us means so much to me and the guys in the band. 

So, I can’t say enough. Man, it’s been a great number of years. This last 18 months have been so special for me. Just having the time of our lives out here on the tour now because you know we did all the work, made the record, and now we get a chance just to enjoy summertime and the shows and this Mountain High Tour with Brothers Osborne and LANCO. 

So we’ll see you all out here! Me and the guys refer to it not so much as a tour as a celebration of the music and we’re having a great time celebrating every night. 

Thank you guys so much!

-------------------------------------------------

Thank you, Dierks! This means the world to us!


Ronna Clark,
DB Congress Chair (FL)

Hey, congress! Leave a comment here under this blog of what Dierks and "The Mountain" mean to you and you will be entered to win a Hatch Show Print from The Mountain album release show at The Ryman! Most original comment wins! Deadline July 6, 2018.

Dierks Bentley On Another Level for Opening Night of the Mountain High Tour in Columbia, MD

Photo Credit: Mary Lou Greene 
Cassady Feasby, Ben Helson, Dierks Bentley, Steve Misamore, Dan Hochhalter, Tim Sergent,
Opening Night, Mountain High Tour, 5/18/18, Merriweather Post Pavillion

Dierks Bentley was nine songs into his opening night of the Mountain High Tour before he drew a breath. 

"I didn't get a chance to introduce myself....Hi, I'm Dierks Bentley, I'm your lead singer tonight and you guys are amazing.  You guys are so incredible I cannot believe ...just blows my mind you guys are all here, everywhere, alright! up top!"

The Merriweather Post Pavillion was a gorgeous setting, and the fans in Columbia, Maryland on Friday, May 18, 2018 didn't seem to mind the rain to have the chance at the Dierks Bentley Mountain High experience.

All six 'Team Dude' members managed four costume changes (and wigs) in record time from the VIP 'mountain-clad' acoustic set, to 15 minutes later opening for LANCO in overalls as "The Maryland Monroes," then the new set, and a psychedelic '70's-themed encore--complete with platform shoes, bell bottoms and oh, yeah, a pilot's uniform.

The VIP acoustic set started out with stripped down versions of 5-1-5-0, Up On the Ridge, Drunk On A Plane and new from The Mountain album, "You Can't Bring Me Down." Fantastic fiddle playing by Dan Hochhalter! At one point, someone in the crowd was face-timing and Dierks took the phone and introduced the band to them. Dierks on the mandolin was having a blast, then traded with Ben Helson for the guitar.  Thank God for the versatility of this skillful group of musicians! Check out the VIP acoustic videos on our DB Congress Facebook page!

It's 9:20 pm and the lights go dark.  The intro music starts..."Well I bet my soul on a six string gamble, and I climbed like hell through the brush and the bramble. Even though I had my doubts, told myself, don't look down, and I turned that hill into a pile of gravel.  It was only a mountain, nothing but a big ole rock.   Only a mountain,  it ain't hard if you don't stop.  It just took a little step, a right then a left then a couple million more, who's countin'?  Hell, it's only a mountain, Hell, it's only a mountain...then BAM! An explosion --90 seconds of electricity and elaborate new lighting (compliments of Chris Reade), and live electric guitars, drums, bass, and banjo. Dierks, Ben Helson, Cassady Feasby, Dan Hochhalter, Steve Misamore and Tim Sergent rocked 'The Mountain' hard, straight into the next song--I Hold On.

Transitions were tight--they never stopped playing. Ending each song on the same note the next one began--seamless.  Before Somewhere On A Beach, Dierks quipped, if you want to climb a mountain, you gotta start at the bottom, you gotta start at sea level before you reach that altitude. The wild drum sound of Woman, Amen was augmented with LANCO and Brothers Osborne drummers in addition to Bentley's own Steve Misamore and perfectly positioned Black as the chaser.

Burning Man brought Brothers Osborne to the stage again--a much anticipated number since the Brothers are featured on the album cut.  And many DB Congress reps heard it live first in Vegas in December 2017. Ben Helson and John Osborne killed it while Dierks,  jumped up and down excitedly:

Up On The

Ridge took a turn to Hillbilly Shoes (a nod to Montgomery Gentry), spotlighting the vocal talent of bass player, Cassady Feasby. "You think you know me, but you ain't seen nothin' yet.  Til you walk a while, a country mile in my hillbilly shoes, he belts out while Bentley harmonizes with background vocals:



During 5-1-5-0, LANCO lead Brandon Lancaster returned to duet with Dierks on the 90's throwback, "Sold" (Grundy County Auction).



So how did the tour name come about? Dierks tells us.

"Ah man, we've been off the road for a while...this is our first night of the Mountain High Tour.  I got a record coming out called The Mountain, so me and the guys we're responsible for the "Mountain" part of the name, Brothers Osborne are responsible for the "High" part of the Mountain High Tour.  Pretty good, right? We're just so relieved to be back on the road, this is where we love to be.  We had to take some time off to try to make the best record we could, but we missed you guys, miss being around you guys."

"It was a crazy year last year, it was a hard year for a lot of us in country music, in the country music community and a lot of difficult times out there that we all went through together.  I was meeting earlier tonight with a girl who was here with her family and its her first concert back since Route 91 and I want to recognize her and her family--thank you for coming out tonight and letting us be your first concert since then--really means  a lot to me and the guys that you guys came here."

"I know everybody here, you all have your own mountains you're climbing, your own personal battles, and I tell you the one thing I know is that country music fans have more perseverance and determination than any people I've ever met in my life and we're gonna send this song to all you risers out there tonight--this is for you guys, you are risers, there's nothing you can't do, nothing we can't get through together. Isn't that right?"

Am I The Only One? allowed the guys to all sit down for a minute (whew!) on the new stage with a U-shaped set of lighted steps, and Dierks introduced each of them, then strolled out to the B stage for Tip It On Back--a perfect fit for the fans on the lawn- and Say You Do, before heading back to the main stage for Living, Thinking and Sideways.

When darkness comes to town, I'm a lighter...the stage goes dark for a short time and then a 70's clad crew come back for the lively Drunk On A Plane encore and suddenly Dierks is maneuvered high up in the stage clouds for the Mardi Gras tune in a make-shift plane.

As if our clear eyes weren't even blinking, it was over, leaving us with a heart full of grateful for all Dierks and his crew gave us tonight, an uplifting evening, allowing us to feel that fire we've been missin', we were living!

Don't miss the Mountain High Tour tonight in Camden, NJ.  See all tour dates here.

Ronna Clark
DB Congress Chair

Don't Miss Dierks Bentley's 2018 Mountain High Tour!

Dierks Bentley announced his 2018 "Mountain High Tour" this week in a unique way--by channeling his inner Billy Bob Marley, yet another persona to add to his growing repertoire of characters. (Remember Captain Holden Johnson of Drunk On A Plane fame, and Big Rhythm Doug Douglason from 90's country band, Hot Country Knights? And then there's the 2017 bluegrass jokester, Dirty Doug, where Dierks opened for himself on the What The Hell Tour!)

Supporting acts on the Mountain High Tour, Brothers Osborne and LANCO, played along. How did they all keep a straight face? Looks like this tour will be full of awesome "mountain" music, on a path to enlightenment!

Watch the video here.

The tour kicks off in Columbia, Maryland, May 18 and presale for fan club (DB Congress) starts tomorrow, 1/24 at 10am eastern! Take a look at the rest of the cities so far and start thinking about your DRTs (Dierks Road Trips). You're gonna want to see this tour more than once!

As soon as we know more dates, we will update the list! *All dates below are tentative (except 5/18), based on Country Megaticket website--they are NOT official yet! 

Join The Congress today at dierks.com to get access to fan club presale tickets and Meet & Greet opportunities!

Columbia, MD - 5/18
Holmdel, NJ - 5/19
Philadelphia, PA
Cincinnati, OH - 5/31 (Megaticket)*
Detroit, MI
St. Louis, MO - 6/2 (Megaticket)*
Kansas City, MO - 6/9 (Megaticket)*
Pittsburgh, PA - 6/15
Indianapolis, IN - 7/21 (Megaticket)*
Bethel, NY - 8/3 (Megaticket)*
Darien Center, NY 8/4
Saratoga Springs, NY - 8/5 (Megaticket)*
Raleigh, NC - 8/9 (Megaticket)*
Charlotte, NC - 8/10 (Megaticket)*
Alpharetta, GA - 8/11 (Megaticket)*
Salt Lake City, UT - 8/30 (Megaticket)*
Virginia Beach, VA
Bristow, VA
New York City, NY
Jacksonville, FL
West Palm Beach, FL - 9/14 (Megaticket)*
Tampa, FL - 9/15 (Possible)*
Austin, TX
Houston, TX
Dallas, TX - 9/22 (Megaticket)
Albuquerque, NM
Phoenix, AZ - 9/29 (Megaticket)*
Mountain View, CA - 10/5 (Megaticket)*
Sacramento, CA - 10/6 (Megaticket)*
San Diego, CA -10/12 (Megaticket)*
Los Angeles, CA