Dierks Bentley's CMT Unplugged Performance to Debut May 29

Dierks Bentley's gravelly voice is distinctive even with full-blown electric.  But in "CMT's Unplugged" special, his impassioned vocal shines even brighter, with acoustic instrumentation and his band of brothers complimenting him beautifully--Dan Hochhalter's fiddle, Steve Misamore on the snare, Tim Sergent on the banjo, Cassady Feasby on guitar, Brian Layson playing dobro, and of course Dierks on his trusty Martin.

“I love breaking my songs back down to their original acoustic foundation. When I write these songs by myself or with friends, we just use acoustic guitars… so, it’s fun to sometimes go back to just the simple groove and idea you had to begin with.”

During the acoustic set, Dierks sings a few of his own hits like, "Am I The Only One,” “Up On The Ridge,” “Home,” and current single already at #13 on Mediabase, “5-1-5-0.”   But the standout song might be his poignant interpretation of Adele’s “Set Fire To The Rain.” See video below.

Of the Adele cover, CMT.com says, "His signature vocals capture the remorseful tone of the song... Some covers come across like a cheap gimmick, but he shows how a great song in the hands of a great artist becomes a classic."

A few DB Congress reps were on set the day they taped the show, like Emily Morgan from Tennessee.

Dierks & Emily, 2-2-12, The Ryman

The taping was Wednesday, April 25 at the CMT studios in downtown Nashville.  The casting call for the audience was 7:45 a.m. and around 9 they were taken into the performance room. Dierks and the band  came in about 10, and the show lasted until 12:30.

"There were only about 35 people total, sitting on stools around the stage,"  Emily tells us. "Several stand-out moments come to mind.  One was when the stage manager was giving Dierks a Red Bull since it was 10 o'clock in the morning; we all needed a pick me up, so the first song was "Am I The Only One," to get the crowd going.  The band was making up lines fitting for breakfast like, 'it was Wednesday in the a.m.,' (vs. Friday in the p.m.)

They probably did 6-8 songs all at least twice to get the right sound.  Dan's fiddle playing was amazing! He is always great, but it may have been given that it was acoustic where you can focus on voices and instruments more directly, but especially on "Home."  He put chills down me and it may have been because I was sitting closely to the right of Dan, so I could hear it better.

"I know its already shown (really wish CMT would have waited on that surprise for the actual airing), but the Adele cover was last and he did it three times.  For me, he could have sang that all.day.long! Incredible! Then as a backup (in case the Adele cover didn't work) they sang "Pride."  Cassady's vocals were great as usual.

After the taping, Dierks took off his jacket while talking to Janet and me, showing us the mark his jacket had made on his arm from being too tight."

The show will debut exclusively on CMT.com Tuesday, May 29 at 1 pm/CT.

The episode will also air as a half-hour special Saturday, June 2 at 8 pm/CT on Palladia; Monday, June 25 at 9 pm/CT on CMT and CMT PURE. Fans of CMT’s Facebook page will be able to see the episode in a dedicated tab starting Tuesday, May 29.

CMT "Unplugged" will feature Dierks Bentley

Last year MTV's "Unplugged" expanded to include CMT, opening the series to country artists. Dierks Bentley, whose single "Home" is nominated for Song of the Year at Sunday's Academy of Country
Music Awards, will follow The Civil Wars, with an episode of "CMT Unplugged" to air this spring.

"I love breaking my songs back down to their originalacoustic foundation," said Bentley. "When I write these songs bymyself or with friends, we just use acoustic guitars ... so,it's fun to sometimes go back to just the simple groove and ideayou had to begin with."

Dierks Bentley Acoustic Performance On Walmart Soundcheck

Walmart Soundcheck - Interviews, Live Performances, Music Videos

What a treat! Prior to the Feb. 2nd Ryman special performance, Dierks Bentley did an acoustic performance, laced with personal interviews in between each song.  Be sure to watch and listen to the stripped down version of Dierks and the boys on the Ryman stage - no audience - just they guys in a circle singing and playing:  Tip It On Back, The Woods, Am I The Only One, 5-1-5-0, What Was I Thinkin', and Home.

Bentley's Acoustic Version of Draw Me A Map

Dierks Bentley jokes with his guitarist, Brian Layson, that he'll let him sing Alison Krauss' part in this acoustic version of Draw Me A Map:



"The fans have been asking for 'Draw Me a Map' ever since we released the album," Dierks says. "I can't wait to hear it through my truck speakers!"

Start requesting, congress! Several fans have already heard it on their local radio stations! If you request it and/or hear it, come back here and post the date, time, radio station and city/state in the comments! Thanks!

NEW JERSEY JANET FALLS FOR DIERKS

New Jersey DBC rep, Janet, shares her Dierks Bentley experience with us--her very first DRT!
I had previously meet Dierks at a meet and greet last August in Camden, NJ and saw him in concert for the first time that day. I couldn't wait to see him in concert again and I got my chance to see him on April 9, 2010 in Mansfield, PA. It was my first Dierks Road Trip and fellow DB Fan Club Member Marie from PA came along with me. She and I both where selected to have a meet and greet with Dierks for that day. It was a four hour drive for us to get there so we decided to book a room at the Comfort Inn to make life easy on us.

We got checked in at the Comfort Inn around 3. We decided to take a drive and see where to park and all that good stuff. We knew we were in the right place as we drove right past Dierks' tour bus that was parked on the side of the building. Turns out the road I was driving on was going to be only one way the night of the concert so we found an additional parking lot up the hill. No spotting of Dierks as we drove past his tour bus and into town to get something to eat and then back to the hotel where we met up with Jane, fellow DB Fan Club Member from NY and her friend Fran. Jane didn't get selected for a meet and greet this time but she has one in May when she will see Dierks in Maine.


Marie DB Congress Rep from PA, Janet (Me) DB Congress Rep from NJ and Jane DB Congress Rep from NY

We all decided it would be best to take one car and meet at the car after the concert. We got in line to get our tickets and meet and greet passes. They need to figure out a better system for this--it's very stressfull on a person! Once it got straightend out, we got in line and waited for the doors to open which was to be at 7pm.

Meet and Greet:
The 12 fan club members gathered on the stairwell for the meet and greet to begin. Dierks was meeting with another group first and wanted to spend some extra time with us so our group was last.


The last time we had met, I had given him a picture of my workspace cubicle that I had made a "Dierks collage" on my side file cabinet. I brought a more updated copy with me for Dierks to sign and one to give him. I should have kept one in my pocket because the copy got taken away--not a big deal since I gave it to him later. When it was my turn to meet Dierks he remembered my workspace cubicle pic from the last time. I didn't have any family pics on there the last time I told him, but I had a family picture with my grandfather. I told Dierks that my grandfather had turned 100 years old the day before and Dierks' response was, "Wow, that's amazing."


Now here's the part that nobody in the room will ever forget. As I was walking away from talking to Dierks I totally forgot there was a little step, and what do I do? I tripped and stumbled onto the floor in a big thud. I was ok just very embarrassed. I was helped up by his meet and greet staff person and Dierks asked if I was ok, which I replied I was fine just a little embarassed. His response back was, "don't worry about it...happens to me all the time on stage."
Dierks continued with meeting the rest of the fan club members. His staff members came over to make sure I was ok along with fan club members. I said I was fine just needed a bandaid for my finger.

Once Dierks was done with the last fan club member he walked us all back to his dressing room. I captured the moment of walking down the hallway with Dierks Bentley by taking a little video clip.

He gave us all a preview of his upcoming single, Up On The Ridge, which I really love and took a video clip of that, too. The room itself had a nice vibe to it with candles being used to light the room. Next was the group pic and then one final goodbye to everyone. I said to him, "Well you won't ever forget meeting me now." We both laughed and his response was asking if I was ok. I said I was fine as he gave me a hug goodbye.

I know I won't forget this meet and greet experience for all time along with the rest of the fan club members that were there.

1 night stay at the Comfort Inn... $120.00
Concert T-shirt.................................$30.00
Falling on your face in front of
Dierks Bentley after getting
his autograph..................................priceless

The concert, as I expected it would be, was awesome!

Janet (Wildcat)
DB Congress Member from NJ