Dierks Bentley
Laurie and I made our way to the media pit while the Carrie Underwood fans left the main stage area and Dierk's fans entered. This crowd was pumped up, ready to party and jam to some good country music and they weren't disappointed.
The packed crowd went into wild screams and cheers when Dierks Bentley came on stage to greet everyone and sang "Every Mile A Memory," "I Can't Live It Down" and "A Lot Of Leaving Left To Do." Dierks jumped and danced around the stage area climbing on speakers, bouncing along to the music before jumping off and dashing to the other side of the stage.
After these first songs in Dierks' set, we made our way to the end of the catwalk for the rest of Dierks' show. The crowd pushed against the catwalk trying to get closer to this talented, energetic performer. Dierks explained that being the headliner, they had to arrive at 8 am this morning because all of their equipment had to be set up first and then the other artist's equipment was layered on top so their equipment would be the last one left at the end of the night. He went on to say they made a trip to the campground area and enjoyed jamming and partying with everyone there.
Next, Bentley treated the audience to "Cab Of My Truck," "How Am I Doing," and his newest single, "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go.)" These fan favorites had the audience dancing and singing along with him. Dierks descening the stage stairs heading to the catwalk brought fans pushing and pressing trying to get close enough for Dierks touch to reach their outstretched hands. At the end of the catwalk Dierks teased the female fans by reaching out and briefly holding their hands. It was great for me since he pulled their hands out of the way of my photo shots of him before turning and running towards the stage.
Back on the stage, Dierks asked the crowd "Is everyone was ready for a drink?" He was answered with whistles, screams, cheers and applause. He went over to one of his speakers on stage and opened the front of it like a refrigerator revealing it was fully stocked with beer. He laughed saying something like "I wish I had enough for everyone, but since I don't let's start a tab with the beer vendors here and tell them to put it in Luke Bryan's name." The audience roared with laughter and applause.
Next, Bentley slowed things up a bit singing Hank Williams' "I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry," and two of his own slower songs, "Settle For A Slow Down" and "Long Trip Alone." At one point Dierks pulled a young lady onto the catwalk with him, and danced with her. The young woman was so excited and touched that she started crying as he danced her around in circles. Another female fan further down the catwalk was lifted up onto the catwalk by fans. Bentley's security was on hand and quickly removed this fan before the situation escalated out of control.
Then, Dierks explained that he wrote the next song for his wife, to express what she has to go through by being married to him. He went on to say he loves her a great deal, but he has to do his job. One example is part of his deal with his sponsor Bud Light was to perform at the Hooter's International Bikini Contest in Las Vegas. He said something along the lines about that being a perfect example of why he wrote this song, and launched into "That Don't Make It Easy Loving Me" coming back onto the catwalk.
Back on the end of the catwalk Dierks teased female fans while singing, "So, So Long" by bouncing up and down moving closer to the fans just out of their reach before pulling away and bouncing closer once again. He made direct contact to as many fans as possible with this size crowd, sending girls into screams and squeals of repeated and breathless "Oh My God's" as he sang to each of them.
Afterwards, Dierks left the stage, which bring chants, clapping and banging on the catwalk for his return. Bentley reappeared raising the volume of the already screaming crowd with his encore set of "My Last Name," "Come A Little Closer" and "What Was I Thinking." During this last song, Dierks jumped off the end of the catwalk and climbed up onto the walk separating VIP and general admission sections. His security and the venue security held back the crowd of fans while he sang to the packed standing room only general admission audience. Nearing the end of the song, Bentley returned to the end of the catwalk to be hoisted up onto it by security. The audience cheered screamed and beat on the top of the catwalk as Bentley ran past them to the stage. He ended his outstanding and electrifying performance saying something like "We're not leaving yet, we'll be joining you all over in the camp grounds again" as he waved and left the stage.
As the lights in the audience area come back on most of the general admission fans were leaving the area quickly heading towards the campgrounds area to catch up with Dierks and his band and continue the party. Dierks Bentley's performance left his audience revved up and wanting more of this this talented artist's time and music.
