Saturday, June 3, 2023, was a rootin’ tootin’ good time! Here’s why:
Country megastar Dierks Bentley, who has won multiple Grammys, American Music Awards, and Country Music Awards, brought his Gravel & Gold (aptly named after his 2023 album release) to Northeast Ohio this past Saturday night at Blossom Music Center! The cowboy sang his boots clean off for everyone to enjoy, opening his set with the recent album’s first single, “Gold.”
Bentley played more than just tunes from his new album! As the audience expected, he played some fan favorites further into the show, with the most infamous ones (according to Spotify) being “Somewhere on a Beach” and “Drunk on a Plane.” The crowd (this reviewer included) nearly imploded when the first twangy chords resonated into the venue before screaming, singing, and dancing along. Throughout the hot June night at Blossom, the songs only became more nostalgic as the night turned into an absolute country takeover.
Dierks invited his openers back on stage to join in the fun and bring the action. Molly Tuttle and special guest, Dierks’ pal Jordan Davis reappeared. Tuttle earned her fast-fingered reputation again last night when performing “White Freight Liner Blues,” with Dierks barely keeping up! Davis accompanied Bentley on “What Was I Thinkin,'” a timeless bad-boy country anthem.
Although his more recent tunes are not barnburners like some of his previous work, Bentley was sure to bring energy to his newest songs, performing them loud and proud for fans to newly enjoy. After performing his thirteenth song of the night, “Sun Sets In Colorado”, it was time to kick it up a notch! After this slower, melodic, and sentimental song, Dierks and his band throttled into higher gear. Just like that, I, along with the rest of the Blossom faithful, were screaming out “5 – 1 -5 – 0” right back at Bentley, drowning out the performer’s voice!
Keeping the energy high, he fell back on his classics, having everyone get down to “Hot Country Knights” and “Ain’t Goin’ Down (Til the Sun Comes Up)” by Brooks Jefferson, one of Dierks major musical inspirations. With style and confidence, Bentley held up one of his many guitars high and screamed his gratitude for everyone coming out to see and support him tour and tour again.
The legitimacy Dierks Bentley and his band bring to his fans is commendable. Never seeming strung out, they impressed me, even as a mid-tier country fan. I moved along in my seat and on my feet to each tune and was happy to recognize so many heavy hitters in the set. Bentley’s voice and star power are palpable throughout the entire performance. As an audience, we fed off of that, and it only got better with each song. Like a large crescendo ending the night with no better singalong than “Achy Breaky Heart” itself, made famous by Billy Ray Cyrus as well as “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks.
Opening for Bentley was Jordan Davis, an American country pop singer and songwriter from Shreveport, Louisiana. He is signed to Universal Music Group Nashville’s MCA Nashville division, for which he has released the albums ‘Home State’ in 2018 and ‘Bluebird Days’ in 2023, as well as two extended plays. Jordan opened up to the crowd about how it was a dream of his to become a songwriter. He even mentioned how he use to drive around in his truck out in LA & Nashville blaring Deirks over his car radio, and now he’s here, opening for him at Blossom. The crowd showered him and his band in admiration. Before Davis performed “Next Thing You Know,” he told the crowd he and his wife Kristen brought in their third child (a girl!) to the world just the night before. A lot has changed for the 2020 ACM Best New Male Artist of the Year nominee!
