Dierks Bentley Shares Stories, Songs from Riser & More at Intimate iHeartRadio Theater Performance in NYC

Our DB Congress President had such a busy album release week! We all know Dierks released Riser, on Tuesday February 25^th.  He and the guys flew into the Big Apple on Monday and one of their many stops was as exclusive performance for the iHeartRadio Country Live Series at the 200 person capacity iHeartRadio Theater in NYC.

Bobby Bones from WSIX hosted the event which was broadcast live on-air as a thirty minute special on Clear Channel radio stations with a sixty minute live video stream online across station websites and iHeartRadio.com.

The weather in New York City was less than ideal for doing the long waiting in line that we die-hards do. It was super cold with a wind chill that brought the temperature down to the single digits, but we bundled up in multiple layers, gloves and scarfs to withstand the wait because we knew that the good times were ahead. Many thanks to the nice guys who worked the theater for letting us come into the building to warm up by the heaters and use the facilities. 

Finally, everyone was allowed to wait inside the building due to the freezing temps. At 8:30 p.m. sharp, they let everyone into the tiny room and we walked quickly to get those coveted front row spots (because really, there is no other way to see a Dierks show). I had previously seen Dierks and the guys in this venue, one of my favorite in the city for it’s size and intimate feel, and knew this was going to be a heck of a show.

For the first thirty minutes, Bobby Bones interspersed questions, anecdotes and humorous banter with Dierks in between performances of songs from Riser. The night started off with Dierks singing the title track, “Riser.” He went on to explain how the record, whose bookends were the passing of his father and the birth of his son, was such a personal one having started in a place of grief and ending in a place of gratitude. Those emotions are not only reflected in the album, but in the Riser documentary, which premiered this past weekend.

Bobby then told the humorous story of how Dierks tweeted out his personal email address. Dierks said he was so excited that his iTunes preorder of Riser (yep, he pre-orders his own albums and don’t we love that about him!?) was available, that he tweeted out a screen shot of it, which accidentally included his personal email. He then received a reply tweet from a hard core fan stating “you’re gonna regret that” and soon his in-box was flooded. 

Bobby joked that now everyone knew Dierks’s email was dierkshotboy69@hotmail . Dierks replied that was his other personal address, which had the entire crowd in stitches.

Next came “Drunk On A Plane” which is about a guy who has a broken engagement, but decides to take the honeymoon anyway. It’s a funny, up tempo tune that Dierks said “balances the heavy” on Riser. When the song was over, Bobby commented that the crowd could sing every word back to Dierks even though the record was just released that day. 

Dierks acknowledged how appreciative he was that many of his hard core fans, faces that he recognized, were in attendance. He added that he knew many of them lined up outside for hours waiting to see him and the band. He also commented that he has played every part of New York and knows there are devoted country fans all over the state that, like the crowd at the theater, always bring it.

During the performance, Dierks on more than one occasion mentioned his hard core fans, pointing to the front row and beyond, showing his appreciation. We surely don’t attend Dierks’s shows to be recognized by him, but really appreciate how he can make everyone feel appreciated and is just so grateful.

From there, he played his current autobiographical top five single, and Bobby’s jam, “I Hold On.” Then, at Bobby’s request, Dierks and the band went old school when his hairstyle was the “Dierks-fro” and played “What Was I Thinking.” Finally, he played “Home,” sending it out to our military.

The Q&A portion may have ended there, but the music did not. Dierks and the band, which includes Steve Misamore (drums), Cassady Feasby (bass), Dan Hochhalter (mandolin, fiddle, guitar and more), Tim Sergent (steel guitar and banjo) and Brian Layson (guitar) played for an additional thirty minutes. The crowd truly was full of people who loved his music because with every song people were singing along. From “Am I The Only One,” to “Come A Little Closer” (because he “would get shot” if he didn’t sing that song) to “Free and Easy,” the whole room was rockin’ and having a terrific time.

Dan "FiddlinDan" Hochhalter

Even though the room was tiny, Dierks and the guys played like there was a much bigger crowd. You could tell they were having a great time with each other, and with the audience. Dierks has an unparalleled energy onstage and even though the stage was tiny, he still goofed around, jumped up and down (that famous 'Tigger-like" Dierks bounce) and interacted with the audience every chance he had.

Brian Layson

Additionally, they played an amazing country cover of Avicii’s “Hey Brother” that has been going over so well live that Dierks said they might add it to the Riser tour set list (yes, please!). They also performed a couple more songs from Riser, including “Say You Do,” which Dierks knew fans liked “from reading Facebook comments, tweets, and emails,” and “Bourbon In Kentucky.” Dierks said he knows BIK is a heavy song; it’s one that was written in a time when he was “going through some stuff.” He commented that the song won’t push you up emotionally, but smiling added, “That doesn’t matter because I’m playing it anyway.” No one minded. The fans that filled the room loved that song and, like ones before it, sang along to every word. 

Dierks has been known to take chances in his music endeavors and the fans at the iHeartRadio Theater knew that about him and seemed to respect and admire him for it.

The night ended on a high note with “Lot of Leavin’ Left To Do.” The red guitar with the #7 came out and since I knew the night was coming to an end, I was putting the camera away. Then I looked up and saw Dierks looking at me with that look, you know it, when he stares ya down, but he’s smiling. And he’s pointing. Jay comes over and tells me to go up there (I think, it’s all kind of blurry).

However, we were at the rail and there was no way to just get over it. So he says “put your arms around my neck and I’m going to carry you over there.” And there ya go. I am not a person who really likes attention called to them and never thought in a million years I would be on that stage playing that guitar, but surprisingly when I got up there, I wasn’t nervous and didn’t just stand there like a bump on a log (at least I don’t think I did). It’s odd, being up there; it felt like I was with friends having a good time. When I walked over to Dan and said “I have no clue what I’m doing,” he replied smiling, “I don’t have a clue either.” Cassady “jammed” with me for a little bit and then Dierks had me doing some sort of dance in unison with him and the guitar. There was a lot of laughing and a lot of fun. See the video here.

Thinking about it gets me kind of emotional because…wow…they are just such a great bunch of guys. I am so proud to be a fan of such an amazing group of people. Thankfully, since I can’t remember every detail of being on that stage, great friends took a video for the entire thing. It felt like I was up there for an eternity, but that’s not a bad thing! Thanks Dierks and the guys for making my 40^th show one I will never forget!

Gracious as always, Dierks signed shirts, photos and hoodies on his way out of the theater.

Dierks’s Riser will certainly be a contender for Album of The Year at all of the award shows this year.  I’m sure you have a copy, but get another because, as Dierks said that night “you can have one to listen to and one as a coaster for your beer.”

Tara Joan

DB Congress (NY)

Dierks Bentley Single Review: "I Hold On"

We've been telling you about Dierks Bentley's new single, "I Hold On," since his first live performance of the song on the Locked and Reloaded Tour in January. We told you how much meaning it holds for our president and for us! And you may have seen him debut it on The View last week.

But we weren't fast enough in asking one of our very own DB Congress reps, Tara Toro, to write a review for us.  Got Country Online got to her first!  Here is the New Yorker's perspective, posted today on GotCountryOnline.com.  


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Do you want to know who Dierks Bentley is? Then look, and listen, no further than his new single “I Hold On.” Even though he has been playing the song at his live shows since January, Dierks officially debuted “I Hold On” this past Friday on “The View.” The song, which will be on his upcoming fall release, ‘Riser,’ was written by Dierks and Brett James.

Dierks has said this is probably the most personal song he has written, yet the song’s theme makes it universally relatable. “I Hold On” is both poignant and exuberant. We not only learn the things in his life that make him who he is, he also tells us “I can’t change who I am….right or wrong”. The things that make him who he is (and those that make us who we are) are unchangeable like the “stripes on the flag, like a boy to his Dad.” It’s a mid-tempo anthem to celebrate not only who we are, but remember and honor the things that make us that way. You can just hear an amphitheatre full of people singing “I Hold On” with him at the 3:25 mark, knowing at that moment every single person is thinking of something/someone that they hold onto.

As he sings in his unmistakable gravely voice, the song’s three verses open the curtain on who he is. The first verse refers to his truck, Big White (currently with about 200,000 miles). She brought Dierks to Tennessee with his father from Arizona back when he was 19 years old. The meaning of Big White and that trip impacts on a whole different level when you hear “she’s still here now he’s gone.” (Dierks lost his father last June)

As most know, the “beat up box” with “dents and scratches that makes it sound real good” is of course his guitar. Dierks has said he has been offered many a new guitar but prefers this one: the one that holds many memories from when he started out to this day (and has George Jones, George Strait and others’ signatures on it).

The third and final verse is something we all want to hear from our significant other: “there ain’t never been no doubt….Without you I’d be nothing….So if you ever worry about…..me walkin’ out….let me tell you something.”

The truck may be beat up, the guitar may have a hole, and his boots may need duct tape, but he is one guy who knows what is important in life: his faith, the love of his family and his country.  These are the things he can “count on to keep me going strong.” These are the things we all can count on. People, things, experiences all make our memories: whether it is a guitar, a car, a mother…this song will make you remember and think about what is at the heart of you as a person. It’s an anthem to keep those things that matter close, cherish memories and be yourself.

Look for the single to be available soon. 

[Just announced today: The song will go for radio adds on August 12!]

Recap of Dierks at Joe's in NYC: CMA Songwriters Series

DB Congress Cabinet member, Tara Toro, reps for Dierks in New York and is our DBC Facebook page researcher.  She was fortunate to get tickets to the sold out CMA Songwriters shows at Joes' Pub in NYC on September 13, 2012. Check out her inside scoop below!

 L to R: Bob DiPiero, Jim Beavers, Dierks Bentley, Jaren Johnston

Joe's Pub in New York City is such a fantastic venue to see live country music. It is very intimate and reminds you of having a show in your living room since the place only holds 160 people. So when it was announced Dierks would be there on September 13 for a CMA Songwriters series, I knew I had to go. I had seen him there a few times prior and it was amazing. I was very blessed to have gotten tickets for both the 6:30 pm (stage seating thanks to my friend) and 9 pm shows.

The show basically goes in a round, each songwriter playing a song acoustic and telling a story about or related to the song. That night with Dierks it was Jim Beavers, Jaren Johnston from the Cadillac Black and CMA Songwriters Series host Bob DiPiero, who has written more hits than you can imagine.

Dierks first sang, "Am I The Only One," adding that “special third verse” he always does, this time adding in lyrics about bringing country music to NYC. 

His second song was "5-1-5-0."  He told the story which we all know about how he and Jim wrote the song. He also talked about how he was at a school that day in the city and had no idea what to sing to a bunch of 4^th graders. He said he told his wife his songs work for a bunch of rowdy people in a bar and she said those type of people and 4^th graders are kind of the same.  Dierks sang a few bars of Dora the Explorer to us in the crowd, but then said when he got to the school, some of the kids were singing "5-1-5-0," so he sang that song for them. He said he was happy to be a part of CMA bringing music into classrooms.


After that, he sang Home and as his final number went “back to the beginning” and did "What Was I Thinking."  All of his songs were so well received with everyone singing and clapping and having a great time. Bob said,  “they love the sh—out of you Dierks,” to which he and Jim responded, “ew.” 

At some point he dropped his pick into his guitar and lifted the guitar over his head shaking it until it finally came out about one song later. He also demonstrated how Conway Twitty never used to announce his own songs; his bass player would do it while Conway went to the back of the stage for a drink. So Dierks went to the back of the stage, back towards us while I believe Jim did announcing.

The camaraderie between Jim, Dierks and Jaren was evident from the get go. Dierks said Jim was one of his best friends and seemed very proud that Jaren was there. Instead of Bob introducing Jaren, Dierks did the honors. You could tell he sort of has taken him under his wing and is friend and mentor. Dierks said one of his favorite lines is from Jaren’s song, "I’m Southern": I’m Southern and it ain’t my fault, my daddy came from Louisiana like the hot sauce.” 

Jaren was fantastic, but joked that no one knew him and playing his songs after Dierks was the worst place to be in the round. They played, "The Woods"  together, a touch off at first because they each like to play it in a different key but then they got in sync. Jaren joking around said that Dierks had promised him it would be a single and how disappointed he was. They also joked around that Jaren’s song for Keith Urban, "You Gonna Fly," knocked "5-1-5-0" from the top spot.

The 9 pm show was just as fantastic. It started out with them joking about Jim changing his shirt while everyone else wore the same clothes. They also kidded around about how "Red Solo Cup (Toby Keith)" and "5-1-5-0" are sure to have their lyrics engraved on the Country Music Hall of Fame. Dierks teased Jim about how he never offered him RSC and being friends he should have given him that song. 

Dierks sang all of the same songs as the first show, adding "Grab A Beer" with Jaren.  By that time it was almost 10 pm and you could tell they definitely grabbed a few beers. The show closed with "Home."  

Tara was able to give Dierks a growler of some locally brewed NY beer

Lucky for me, I had a street and greet after the show with Dierks and got Jaren to sign my Cadillac black CD.  I cannot wait until the next time Dierks is at Joes Pub!

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