Girl don't lie, you know you cry...

DB Congress rep, Tara Toro, from New York, is our DBC "link-finder" for DBC on Facebook!  She had the good fortune to fly to California (on a plane bound west) for two back-to-back Dierks Bentley shows. Did he really make her cry?  Find out how and why...

I have been a member of DB Congress for only three years, but in that time I have kind of made it my goal to attend every Dierks show I possibly can (which can be challenging with kids). I wanted a DBC shirt, but they were always unavailable.  So when I saw recently that they had arrived, I was super excited because I knew a concert was right around the corner!

Happily, a work trip in California for my husband came up and we realized we had airline tickets that were going to expire. I did not have to ask twice about coming along for two shows-LA and Pozo, April 13-14. My husband said yes and we were on our way (with kids in tow). Thankfully, I have a very supportive hubby!

So off I went solo to the Nokia on Friday the 13th.  I met some really nice fans near me and we chatted until the show started. Will Hoge (he’s really good!!) and Eli Young Band got everyone’s energy up as the openers. Dierks and the guys came out and did an absolutely terrific set. They played five songs off of “HOME” and all of the hits. He also had two special guests, Chris Shiflett from the Foo Fighters and Garrett Hedlund, from the movie, Country Strong.

Everyone around me was out of their seats and totally enjoying themselves. He has such a rapport with the audience and succeeds in connecting with so many people. He and the guys never disappoint and always give more than 100%.

Then it came time for "How Am I Doin’."  I know this is the song where he goes to a gal and chats with her. I had the crazy pleasure of it happening to me two months ago in NYC during HOME release week. When it came time for that part, and he walked over to me, honestly the first thought in my head was “what the?!” I mean, once is a once in a lifetime thing, but twice? 

He slipped a bit on the way over, so I braced his leg, then literally he sat on the stage in front of me, held my hand, asked my name then the usual “where’s the after party?” To which I replied, “on your bus,” and he laughed. Got up, inserted my name into the “Tara, don’t lie you know you cry, cos you know how good it used to be...,” looked over at me and pointed, and I pointed back.

Seriously, what a thrill! I cannot believe it happened. The guys next to me were so happy for me, they high-fived me.  No photo though, their camera had died.

The show ended with "What Was I Thinkin’." I know I will be thinkin’ about this night for a long time.

Day #2:  This is not a ‘Dierks held my hand’ story for Pozo but simply what a gal will do to get to a DB concert--set off alone on a beautiful sunny day, ready to pop the Dierks cd in the player for the 4-hour drive in the rental car.  After driving through Chevron land, I should have had a clue the poor GPS was not leading me in the right direction. 

Then I saw “Pozo 20 miles” and was psyched. The joke was on me.  It took me on Forest Mountain Road (I believe), a dirt road about 20 miles long up and down the mountain cliffs, one lane if you can call it that, no railing, small boulders in the middle of the road, me crying and thinking, “this cannot be the right road, there is no way Goldie (Dierks’ tour bus) could have gotten through this!”  Lots of prayers, and then seeing cars/RVs/buses and thinking I have reached the land!

Pozo was a totally different venue than the previous night in LA, but Dierks and the guys are so versatile that the shows come off so well no matter if it’s outside, a 500 capacity dive, or the 5,000 seat Nokia Theater.

He opened the show with “Country and Cold Cans,” and did four other songs off of HOME: “Tip It On Back,” which he said he hopes to have as the fourth single in the fall, “Home,” which was almost magical as he sang it against the beautiful Pozo sunset, “5-1-5-0,” and “Am I The Only One,” along with his hits and some Buck Owens “Act Naturally” in a nod to the Bakersfield sound. The crowd loved it and went a little 5150 (crazy) with their very interesting dancing on the grass, (I wish I had captured Dierks' face as he watched that) and weed smoking, to which Dierks inhaled deeply a few times to laughter and applause.

The nice thing at Pozo is, I got to meet David and his wife Jamie.  It is true that through the DBC you get to meet so many nice people who become your friends! There may not have been any personal moments at Pozo, but it was another fantastic show that was totally worth the cross country plane ride. And it took me a lot less time to get back to our friends’ house on a much safer road!

Tara Toro

DB Congress Rep, NY

Dierks Road Trip 2012: LA to Pozo

DB Congress reps, Dave and Jamie Watts, promoting our president in California, set off on a DRT (Dierks Road Trip) to Los Angeles and Pozo last weekend.  Come along with them on their journey...

Dierks Road Trip 2012 

By Dave Watts (aka @DistantShore19 on Twitter) 

Hey y'all (dbcongress),

If all I had to do was tell you about how awesome the first weekend of the new "Country and Cold Cans Tour" went, that would be easy. With four hours of concerts over two days, there are many memories.

Dierks was in top form playing all the number one's, along with five off the new album, mixed in with covers from artists as diverse as Buck Owens to The Foo-Fighters. The sound was great, and the new light show was top notch [thank you Chris Reade!] (In LA; lights blew out in Pozo).  But no matter what kind of fan you are, Dierks did not disappoint!  Duh! Selling out Nokia (4,300) and Pozo--wow!  Bigger, better, with a new album in tow, Dierks was incredible.

But sitting here reflecting on the weekend, all I can think about is Dierks Bentley--the person--and the Band of Brothers he has surrounded himself with. 

Some of my most special moments were more personal.  They include my wife (@jkonthecoast) and Tim Sergent (steel guitar) discussing his "warm hands" and where he bought his gloves--how real is that?  Another was Cassady Feasby (bassist, aka @drfeasby) and Dan Hochhalter (aka @fiddlinDan) taking time to shake our hands and say hi.  By the way, they were NOT part of the Meet and Greet (M&G)! Dan was talking to my wife about her life and her profession.

Cassady asked how our kids were and how the drive was from LA to Pozo.  This was NOT acting.  These were real questions, real conversations, with real people. Simply genuine is how I would describe Team Dude.

And of course, there is Dierks.  During Home in LA, thanking the fans, he points to my wife (we were 28th row) and says, 

"I see you, I see you DB Congress.  I’ve got the best fans in the world!"  

Everyone was looking at us with our DB Congress shirts on and cheering.  It was crazy. By the way, dbcongress, when DB points at you, he really sees you.   When he says, "I see you up top, with that lil' white tank top," he really does. When Dierks says, "I love you guys," he means it! 

And then of course there was show #2--Pozo, CA, where we had a M&G with our President, Mr. Dierks Bentley!  Needless to say we were  jacked up to finally get to meet Dierks after so many shows (our first was in 2006). Once DB came out and started to chat with the group, I knew this was gonna be special.  DB talked about the LCB8 and told us about his solo drive through the "woods."  Very cool getting into Dierks' head.

When it was time for the individual M&G, I was standing in line watching my wife chat with DB.  I had it all planned out.  I knew exactly what I wanted to say! Ha! What a waste of time because as I walked up to Dierks he turned, looked at me and said, "Dave...DistantShore19, right?  It's a pleasure to finally meet you!"  I was floored! A pleasure to meet ME?  He thanked me for all my tweets and constant support.  

I realized at that moment, I didn’t have to tell him about all the shows I’ve been to, or all the TV performances (Leno, Ferguson, etc.) because Dierks remembered.  He sees you on Twitter/Facebook supporting him.  He sees you in the front and in the last row. Dierks is watching us, too! Dierks is a Fan of US (HIS CONGRESS). He genuinely appreciates his fans. I truly believe this is what separates Dierks from other artists.

And now he has a group of musicians ("dudes") who feel the same way about the fans.  It was simply one of the best days of our lives.  

Eight years ago when I first heard Dierks, I knew I was connecting with his music on a much deeper level than with other artists (of any genre of music).  It was touching my soul.  I always believed in DB, his music and his message.  It always felt personal with Dierks, And finally getting  that once in a life-time chance to meet him only affirmed what I already knew:  Dierks, “the human being,” is what makes Dierks, “the artist/musician,” so damn special.

Thank you, Dierks.  We love you, Brother!

Dave and Jamie Watts

DB Congress Reps, CA

Get Your Dierks Tickets Up To 25% Off the Post Padres Game Concert at PETCO Park!

Hey DB Congress in California!  Dierks Bentley is performing after the San Diego Padres game on August 20th at PETCO Park.  Do you have your tickets yet?  Use this promo code to get up to 25% off!  And, it looks like they are going to offer a special ticket that is for the field for the concert.  We hope to have all the details later this week, so stay tuned!

Bentley's "Old Goldie" Shines in the California Sun

Dierks Bentley affectionately refers to his tour bus as "Old Goldie." Why? If I had to guess it's because it's really old (he likes old things) and it's gold!

Brittany, DB's tour assistant, has captured yet another masterpiece in photography! I would vote for it for "photo of the month!" Earlier this month she captured the "guitar pics in the air" toss pic. You Rock Brit!

Dierks loved it so much he posted it on his Facebook and Twitter page with this caption:

california sunset looks good on Old Goldie.... killer shot by brit.