We Hold On and On and On and On and On

If you've seen Dierks Bentley live in concert lately, you know he's added a new song to the set list. Known for his awe-inspiring, autobiographical songwriting skills, Dierks hits the nail on the head with, "I Hold On."  Not only does it hold true to his character, but it inspires us (DB Congress) as well.

"If I had to play one song for a complete stranger, it would be this one. This is what I'm all about."  ~Dierks Bentley

Last weekend in Estero, Florida, Dierks introduced the self-anthem and we held up signs for the last verse to show how we feel about our favorite artist--just like the song says. Dierks picked up the last sign and held it up to the crowd and said, "thank you!"

See full lyrics below, but here's the last verse:

Yeah baby look at you right now

There ain't ever been no doubt

Without you I'd be nothin'

So if you ever worry 'bout me walkin out

Yeah let me tell you somethin'

I hold on

I hold on

IIIIII Hoooooold On

Let us tell you somethin'...

I Hold On – Dierks Bentley

It's just an old beat up truck

Some say that I should trade up

Now that I got some
jangle in my pocket

But what they don't understand 

Is its the miles that make a man

I wouldn't trade that thing in for a rocket

What they don't know's
my dad and me

We drove her out to Tennessee

And she's still here and now he's gone

So I hold on

Yeah it's just an old beat up box

Six rusty strings across the top

It probably don't look like much to you

But these dents and scratches
in the wood

Yeah that's what makes it
sound so good

To me it's better than brand new

You see this here flat top guitar's

Had my back in a million bars

Singing every country song

So I hold on

To the things I believe in

My faith, Your love, our freedom

To the things I can count on to keep me going strong

Yeah I hold on

I hold on 

I hold on

Like the stripes to the flag

Like a boy to his dad

I can't change who I am right or wrong

So I hold on

Yeah baby lookin' at you right now

There ain't ever been no doubt

Without you I'd be nothin'

So if you ever worry 'bout me walkin out

Yeah let me tell you somethin'

I hold on

I hold on
I hold on...can you hear me baby?

IIIIII Hoooooold On

To the things I believe in

My faith, Your love, our freedom

To the things I can count on to keep me going strong

So I hold on

Yeah I hold on 

I hold on and on and on and on and on

### 

So if you ever worry about whether or not to include this song on your upcoming album, Dierks, just know that we hold on no matter what. But it sure would keep us going strong if you did.

Dierks & the Guys Surprise Nick Malloy in Macon

Thursday night in Macon Georgia was not just a typical stop on the Locked and Reloaded tour. Of course the show was amazing, the guys were high energy, Dierks gave away a guitar, but Dierks and the guys ended with a surprise; for both the audience and a certain member in it. See, Nick Malloy, a long time friend of  DB's lead guitarist, Brian Layson (from Macon, like Nick) and Dierks was there at the concert that night with his father. As Nick told WMAZ in Macon:      

"I was sitting side stage last night, and Dierks tour manager, came and unlocked my wheel chair and wheels me out there."

Before he knew it, Nick was out there playing and singing along with Miranda and Dierks to Bad Angel. Unfortunately, Brian was ill and unable to play that night, but sent his love along in a tweet:

“@NickMalloy You deserved it bro. Sure hate I missed it. Much love to ya”

Dierks tweeted the above photo adding:

"meant alot to me and @mirandalambert to close the show with @nickmalloy on stage."

Nick said that his father, Frank, who had met Dierks for the first time that evening, knew of the plan but kept mum. The icing on the cake was that Dierks and the guys were all wearing Nick Malloy Band t-shirts for the encore, which made Nick’s father tear up.

Frank Malloy has worked at WMAZ for 30 years. He was first sports director and then in 1993 went on to anchor the evening news, a position which he still holds today. He said, "I know how much Dierks and the band mean to him (Nick), but to find out last night how much he means to them, and then for them to go out of their way to do this. It was just a neat moment. It gave me a sense of peace. That we’re going to get through this thing."

Almost a year ago, Nick Malloy was in a very serious one-car accident in Macon. He was driving home on little sleep after a gig in Macon around midnight. He fell asleep at the wheel, hit a tree and crashed into a ditch. He was there trapped in his car for six hours until daylight came and a father and son saw the wrecked vehicle and called 911. His injuries were serious: an incomplete fracture of T8 spinal cord injury along with much damage to his left hand and arm and paralysis of his legs. This happened on Nick’s 23rd birthday, March 28, 2012. He spent months at the Shepherd Center and graduated from day treatment rehab this past August.

Nick got his first guitar at 13 and started playing bars at 15. He had a promising country career with an EP (available on cdbaby.com) produced by Brian Layson with lots of gigs lined up through 2012. But the “physical and emotional toll of the accident” halted his promising career. Hopefully being up on stage this past week will help to change that. Nick himself said,

"I gotta find the spark again. Hopefully it will be soon. Last night was a major help." "It's humbling, and it makes me want to get back out there." 

Frank also hopes the moment motivates his son. 

"They want something in exchange. I think Dierks and guys, they're doing this but I think they think Nick, you can do it, and we want you to do it. You gotta just get out there and wade in, and just get back on that path."

We are all rooting for you Nick. You are incredibly brave and resilient. We hope you resume making music again, there are alot of us out there who want to hear what you have to play.

You can find the Nick Malloy Band here.

And thank you Dierks and the guys for being so generous and having such huge hearts. Time and time again you give us all more reason to love ya.

~Tara DBC Rep NY

Feature: Meet the Newest DB Congress Rep: Amanda Walsh

The DB Congress is not only a place for all of the die-hard Dierks fans to come to support our Pres. on a daily basis, it's also a family where new friendships are forged. Welcome to our newest member, Amanda Walsh, from NY. Amanda had the pleasure of seeing Dierks and the band in Albany, NY on March 2, 2013 on the Locked and Reloaded Tour. Amanda told us about her experience.

"I first heard Dierks' music on the radio! I fell in love with him when I heard What Was I Thinkin. His voice is so different from anyone else you hear. I have been in love with his voice ever since--which was years ago!! I could listen to him 24/7 and never get tired!! 

Even though I've been a Dierks fan for years I just joined the fan club in November when I heard Dierks was coming to a city near me, Albany, NY. I wanted to see if there was any chance of being able to meet such an incredible artist. I was sooo thrilled when I got that email that I had won--seeing I don't win anything!! I met him on Saturday and I'm an even bigger fan of his now! He is an incredible person! I really hope to meet him again!! I'm so happy to be a part of a wonderful supportive fan page!"

Welcome, Amanda, we hope you enjoy being part of this terrific family and hope to see you at a show! If you would like to join the fun email us at dbcongress@yahoo.com.

~Tara DBC Rep NY

Dierks Bentley Rewarding Hard Core Fans with Fender Guitars, Experiences of a Lifetime

Got a guitar, got a guitar on my back...

Hard core, DB Congress fan club members have been singing along to those lyrics from Dierks Bentley's top 5 song, "Trying To Stop Your Leaving" for years, never dreaming they would be acting out the words for real--on stage with the man himself!

Seems Dierks, along with a little help from Fender Guitars, is showing lots of love for his myriad minions in every show of the Locked and Re-loaded tour with Miranda Lambert.  It's as if he's "thanking" his loyal fan club members by bringing them up on stage and giving them a special experience--an experience of a lifetime--during "Lot of Leavin' Left To Do."

And even though the two songs both have "leaving" in the title, DBCers sure are "staying" up on stage, rocking out with the boys in the band for the rest of the song on his red #7 Fender Custom Thinline (*thanks, Dr. Feasby)!

At the end of the show, Dierks brings out a fresh Fender Telecaster, autographs it, and hands it to the 'with the band' member of the night.

Stage Manager, Jay Ballinger (@Jbgod222), recently tweeted the latest shipment:

"Whats in the box?"Thanks to @fender 50 lucky @dierksbentley fans will find out! #lockedreloaded"

The fans aren't the only ones enjoying this streak of giving.  Dierks is getting a lot out of it as well.  He was so taken by one girl's reaction, he made it his Twitter (@DierksBentley) profile photo:

"maybe my favorite pic of the #lockedreloaded tour so far. love her expression!!!"

We told you about the first guitar give-away in Knoxville, Kentucky to DB Congress member, David. Here are a few more stories below.  Who will be next?


STACY LOBDELL (IL) - Dekalb, IL, Valentine's Day - Feb. 14, 2013

This was her second DB stage experience.  The Illinois DBC rep has been known as 'Stage-dive Stacy' ever since she took a leap of faith with Dierks six years ago.

"Dierks is the best to his fans and if I wasn't already, I'll be a fan for life." 

ASHLEY WARDRIP (KY) - Baltimore, MD - January 24, 2013

She doesn't remember much about being on stage...

"It all happened so fast. I went to the Baltimore show by myself, got there at 2 pm and doors opened at 7 pm. I got in the corner of the stage and pit on the left side of the stage. I had a sign that stated I drove 10 hours just to see him (from KY).

During "Lot Of Leavin' Left To Do" he took my sign, showed it to the cameraman and then reached his hand out. I said, "Are you serious?" and he laughed and said "C'mon!" I, not so graciously, climbed on stage where he put his guitar around me. I have never touched a guitar and I was so nervous that I was strumming the wrong part so he had to grab my hand and put it in the right spot. No idea how long I was playing but I saw him staring at me, and I asked him if he needed his guitar back. He gave me the biggest hug and escorted me off stage. 

Afterward they brought out a guitar, he knelt down in front of me and signed it and gave it to me. Since I was by myself and not in the greatest part of town I had 3 security guards walk me to my car. Best day of my life!"  

DAVID WATTS (CA) - Scottsdale, AZ - January 31, 2013

It must have been the shirt.....that earned him a trip to the stage.

@DistantShore19 David: "I named her Fae. #ILoveHer"

David tweeted to Dierks the next day: "Dude, when I showed my 12 year-old son the guitar, he said, 'That's so cool, Dierks made your dream come true!' He was right! Ty Bro."   David also tweeted that the best part of the show was not getting pulled on stage, not getting a guitar, but watching Dierks shed a tear for his dad when he sang his new song, "I Hold On."




STEPHANIE LANHAM (MO) - Kansas City, MO - March 9, 2013

Stephanie Lanham (MO), is also a member of our DBC Cabinet, serving as Historian and graphic designer!  Fellow Missouri rep, Takara, captured Steph's special moments on video:






Dierks knows how many miles his fans travel to see him.  He knows we get there early and stand in line for hours in the cold, heat, sleet, rain and snow--just to secure that front row, elbows on the stage, spot in the pit.  He knows we do all that to have that 'come a little closer' moment with our number one artist.

He knows how much we support and promote him every day in between shows.  And this is his way of recognizing our dedication and showing his appreciation!

Every mile a memory
Every song another scene
From some old movie goin’ back in time to you and me
Every day a page turned down
Every night a lonesome sound
Like a freight train rollin’ through my dreams

We love ya, dude!

~Ronna
DBC Chair (FL)