Dierks Brings Iowa 'Home' on 9/11/11

According to the Spencer Daily Reporter, "Country superstar Dierks Bentley asked the crowd if he was the "only one who wanted to party" and the crowd let him know he wasn't alone. Bentley performed before a large crowd Sunday night, the first of two major country acts playing the Clay County Fair grandstand. Bentley performed several hits and had the crowd in the concert all night long." Photo by Michael Fischer.

Fellow Iowan and one of the DB Congress founding members, Mona Purdy, hadn't seen our president  (Dierks Bentley) perform in over 13 months!  Read her story here:

"This time I didn't have to drive at least two hours, he played in my hometown (Spencer, Iowa)! I had been very nervous ever since the date was announced because of the way ticket sales are handled. I did get standing room only! I arrived at the fairgrounds around noon and no one was around just yet. I walked around with the family and kept checking back at the gates. About 2 p.m. I found some friends had arrived so I joined them in line. I have seen Hollie, Kirsten, and Judy at several other shows. Doug would be joining us later. My friend Holly and her husband would also be joining us. This would be Holly's first time in a standing room only area and her first Meet and Greet!

When I went to check the Will Call Office for the M&G passes, a woman (Felicia) came up to me and asked if I was Mona. She told how she had been worried about her name change and if it would prevent her from picking up her pass. One of the people she had contacted had emailed her a photo of Dierks and I, and told her to look for me. She couldn't remember the name right away, but when she mentioned that person wanted a review, I knew it was Ronna!

This is weird, but to attend the M&G we had to leave the venue and were nervous about getting back inside. We were right up against the barricade in front of the stage and had many people saving our spots. Holly and I made our way back to the meet up area and met up with Felicia. She was the first in line but didn't want to be. So I went first! I'm not nervous about meeting Dierks anymore. But I really love to watch people meet him for the first time. It's awesome. During the M&G I asked him about an expected release for the new album. He said February. He told us he would be doing an acoustic version of the song "HOME" which would be the next single.

Later on stage, Dierks mentioned that his long time supporters had asked about the new music and he motioned towards the group dead center in front, my group!

During Frankie Ballard's show, Hollie and I had discussed the stage's height and our close proximity to it--perfect for catching sweat. Maybe 10 minutes later, Frankie stood above us (the stage was a couple of feet higher than us) and shook his head! We both started laughing as the sweat hit us! I was pleasantly surprised by Frankie's show. Not a big fan of A Buncha Girls, but he put on a good show. Enjoyed it. Between Dierks and Frankie's sets, a woman came up and asked if I was Mona. She had seen my tweet to the dbcongress!

@MLVSLTA:   "@dbcongress anyone in Spencer yet? Look for a fat woman in a white db congress tee. It's Mona!"

Then @dbcongress retweeted it, then...

@MLVSLTA:   "@dbcongress way to go Ronna! I just met the IA rep who was worried about the name change @ her M&G. she got it just fine!"

Dierks played almost every one of his singles, all but Long Trip Alone and Draw Me A Map. He played a new song about things that go together. That could be a hit single! He introduced his new song HOME. This was the tenth anniversary of 9/11. What a beautiful, awesome song! I can't wait to hear it at radio, and get the download! Dierks mentioned a few times about this being a Sunday--you couldn't tell it was by the crowd--we were loud! So Dierks announced that he was going to skip the encore and just keep playing.

It was a perfect night--Dierks playing live, and great friends to share the fun with!

My friend Holly is going to check out dbcongress.com.  She emailed me last night.  This show was a wonderful new experience and I think it will make her a devoted fan for life!"

~Mona Purdy
DB Congress Rep
Iowa

That's what we like to hear, Mona! We're growing the DB Congress, one fan at at time!

Dierks In Boone--The Final Frontier - Part 3

Ever since Dierks Bentley played in Boone, NC last weekend, I can't get the theme song to "Daniel Boone" the TV show out of my head!  When ASU Chancellor Peacock was introducing Dierks to the expectant crowd, he said, "When I found out Dierks was coming to play here I said, 'Dierks Bentley? He's HUGE!'"  The 6,000 fans and ASU students agreed, chanting "Peacock, Peacock!"

So I took some liberties with the lyrics (Substituted Dierks Bentley for 'Daniel Boone'). 
Dierks Bentley was a man,
Yes, a big man!
With an eye like an eagle
And as tall as a mountain was he!

From the Stubbs BBQ cap on the top of ol' Dierks...."

What a Bentley! What a doer!
What a dream come-er-true-er was he!

The singin'est, laughin'est, happiest man
The frontier ever saw!

Dierks Bentley was a man!
Yes, a big man!
With a dream of a country that'd
Always forever be free!

The minute he hit the stage, Dierks had an 'eye like an eagle' as he scanned the fan faces, made eye contact and pointed to everyone from left to right, front of the stage to back of the stadium.  One of my favorite moments of the night was when he sang Long Trip Alone, which is rarely part of the set list lately, reminding us of his patriotism and thankfulness for our armed forces. 

Later, in his Stubbs (not coonskin) backwards cap, Dierks sheds the plaid to unveil buff guns under a black T--Dude's been working out!

"It was an amazing night as usual but a few things stand out," recalls Sandra, DB Congress rep from North Carolina who was nice enough to pick me up from the airport.  "The country cuties with the rock-n-roll booties, singing How Am I Doin, into Dierks' mic, the recognition of DB pointing to our DBC white tanks when he sang, I can see you came to rock in your blue jeans and white tank top, but the kicker was the fact that he saw us outside in line, in the rain before the concert and came over and took pictures and signed autographs with us in the rain!"

Laurie and Tammi
"Boone turned out some beautiful but hot weather for the Outdoor Fireworks Festival. After waiting in the blistering sun, Tammi and I ran inside when the gates opened to get our bracelets so we could be down on the field. My boyfriend, Bobby, was kind enough to hold our “spot” right at the front of the stage, in front of the speaker while we raced back to the meet and greet."

"We were both so excited to have our first M&G of the year, even more so that we got to go together. I had Dierks sign a scrapbook Tammi made for me at Christmas that is filled of all of adventures from 2003 to present. When I walked up to Dierks he shook my hand and said “Nice to see you again.” I told him about the scrapbook and pointed back to Tammi. He said to her, “It has been a while, good to see you.” He also told me how it is nice to have a friend make something like that. I agreed; I am lucky to have her as my best friend. He told me he would be doing “Every Mile A Memory” second that night."

"Tammi had Dierks sign a picture of him singing to her (and she singing back) at the race in Charlotte. It was a great moment. He apologized for not remembering her name. She told him she didn’t expect him to but he said he should because she has been supporting him for a while now."

"When we were done, we left and headed back to our front row spot. Bobby was still there and everyone was so gracious as to let us back in. When John Carter came on stage to introduce Dierks we found out just how loud it would be. We were blown away with the sound out of the speaker but when Dierks hit the stage, it was worth it. We even heard Sandra singing through that speaker (smile).

As always, Dierks never disappoints. He is so full of energy and really lets it show that he loves what he does. I always love to look around at the people watching him. You can tell the true Dierks fans, as we are singing every line; all others are just staring at us like we are crazy! He gave a shoutout to his wolf pack…cool! We are proud to be supporters of Dierks and a part of his great fan club. We love everyone we have met and look forward to seeing everyone again soon!  Oh, and the fall tour was mentioned--let’s hope dates are released soon!"

Bobby, Laurie, Tammi: "The price of being up front, losing your hearing....but so worth it."

Angie and Keshia
"Hi everybody, this is Angie! What started out as one of the craziest road trips ever getting to Boone turned into one of the Greatest Dierks Road Trips EVER!  Keshia and I started out our day with somebody running late--we wont mention who that was--got to her house around 10, and a road trip that should have taken us about 2 1/2 hrs took more like 5. From wild animals in the road, wrecks and some places that looked like it should have been a horror film, we finally made it up the curvy mountain roads and into Boone."

"We checked into our hotel and met Ronna and Sandra in line who told us we had just missed Dierks coming out saying hello to everybody. I thought 'oh no another bit of bad luck after our road trip' so Keshia and I were even more determined than ever to catch him after the show. Soon Carrie and her husband joined us as well as Tammi and Laurie. Misty didnt get there unti later so we ended up meeting up with her after the show."

"When the gates opened we all took off like we were running a marathon to get our green armbands to get on the field.  We all ended up right in front of the catwalk! The show was awesome! I wish it could have went on all night!"

"As soon as the show was over we all headed to the bus in hopes of getting to see Dierks before he got on the bus. There was a crazy crowd by his bus so we stood between the two buses waiting. After a short time, Tim Sergent (banjo, steel guitar) came out, saw us and came over to talk.  It was great seeing him--it had been a while since we had a chance to talk to him. Chris (tour manager) came by and gave us a hug and told us Dierks would be out later. All the DB Congress hung out and talked to Tim and all had pics taken with him."

"Dierks came out a bit later and after the wild crowd in the line, he gave all us a hug and we got a Congress pic taken with him. He then got on the bus it was still kinda crazy out there.  Not long after that, Keshia says 'Angie, there's Cassady! (bass player), who I had been wanting to meet. We talked to him and got pics, then talked to Brian (lead guitar, mandolin) and everybody got pics with him.  I somehow didn't, so next time definitely have to get one!  Then Chris, Brittany (tour assistant) and the crew came out and we got pics with them and got to talk to everybody. The only person we missed was Dan who we will hopefully catch next time! Thanks Dierks, the band and the crew for making the night one of the best ever! I can't wait until we all get together again!"

Angie and Cassady

Angie, Sandra, Dierks, Keshia, Carrie, Ronna

So there you have it, the last in the series of The Final Frontier - Dierks in Boone.  Thanks for making it so, so special for the DB Congress, dudes!

~Ronna
DB Congress Chair
Florida