Dierks Bentley: Why He Rehearses His Shows So Much
Dierks Bentley wrapped his summer “Gravel & Gold” tour with a two-night stint at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado.
For the special show last week (9/5-6), Dierks welcomed special guests Harper O’Neill, The Red Clay Strays, and Ashley McBryde. Bentley invited Red Clay Strays’ vocalists Brandon Coleman and Drew Nix back to the stage for a special cover of Waylon Jennings’ “Lonesome, On’ry and Mean.” McBryde also made a second appearance; she and Bentley performed their honky-tonk duet “Cowboy Boots.”
Night two (Wednesday, Sept. 6) saw opening performances from Tanner Usrey, Kaitlin Butts, and Colorado mainstays The Infamous Stringdusters, who later joined Bentley for a rendition of the bluegrass standard “Rovin’ Gambler.” During both nights, Bentley played a discography mix of old and new, including fan favorites from Gravel & Gold, “Gold,” “Something Real,” and “Sun Sets in Colorado.”
Dierks said in a statement, “I’m always trying to create a rollercoaster that I get to ride on, not just the fans. The second I walk on stage, I don’t want to have to work anymore. I want to have fun. And that’s why I spend months rehearsing this show over and over and over and over and over and over.”
He added, “I don’t have to rehearse anymore. I step on the escalator, and it’s going to take me exactly where I want to go–the fans. And this one, I think, does it better than ever.”
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Bentley’s duet with Grammy winner Ashley McBryde is called “Cowboy Boots.”
Dierks said of the song, “When I first really fell in love with country music, Jim Beam and cowboy boots came along for the ride. I’ve had a few pairs of boots over the years, many requiring duct tape at times. But they’ve been my consistent and steady companion through this crazy ride.” He adds, “Not only does Ashley have one of the best voices in country music, but she also always rocked a pair of boots when we were on tour together last year. I wanted someone that I could authentically sing this song with, and I didn’t have to look any further than stage left. She’s the real deal.”
The chorus of the song includes the lyrics, “Don’t be surprised / They got a warning in their name / And the one that’s got ’em on / Can’t take all the blame / They got a reckless reputation that they always live up to / That’s why they call ’em cowboy boots.”
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