Might Be Gravel, but it Feels Like Gold…

There are those moments in life you will never forget. Every year I look forward to going to see Dierks Bentley in concert. I love every moment from the rain beforehand, to the sweat during, and the CookOut hangover in the aftermath.  

I went to my first Dierks concert in 2005 when I was a college student at Meredith College. The ticket cost $5 and was held at Dorton Arena on the State fairgrounds. The venue was standing room only. I went with my college roommate, Kat. We had a fun time. I fell more in love with his music over the years until I got to see his first headlining tour in 2014. I have seen him every year since. Except for 2020 (because there was no concert), and 2022 because the concert wasn’t in Raleigh (it was in Wilmington, NC and was postponed due to weather). I have gone to VIP shows, have a setlist, and I have met the man himself, twice. 

This year, when I heard Dierks was coming back to Raleigh, I knew I had to get tickets. A new album came out earlier this year, and the anticipation of going to the show was built up. Like always, Dierks did not disappoint. The concert was more subtle and was oh, so good.  

Here’s my review of the setlist:

   Gold– An upbeat song to get the show started. This one is truly a toe-tapper, and I loved singing along to lyrics. (It’s also a Chevy commercial).

Dierks Bentley – Gold (Official Music Video) – YouTube

  Same Ol’ Me– Another toe-tapping upbeat song to sing along to. I love this song because one of my favorite thigs about Dierks is that even though he experiments with diverse types of genres in his music, he is the same artist he’s always been. The artist I fell in love with.

Dierks Bentley – Same Ol’ Me (Official Music Video) – YouTube

  I Hold On– This is one of my favorite Dierks’ songs. It’s inspirational. It’s authentic. I appreciate watching him sing it, and he still gets teary when he sing about traveling to Nashville. The song is a great reminder we all have moments in life we need to hold on to. The memories that helped shape our lives and made us who we are.

Dierks Bentley – I Hold On (Official Music Video) – YouTube

  Am I the Only One– This song is a great crowd pleaser. Dierks uses this song to get the crowd going. He held the microphone to us, and we same lyrics such as “fun” and “tonight. Unlike years before, I don’t think he ran around the stage as much as he usually does. Every time I have previously watched him perform this song, I have been exhausted by the energy he exhibits when he sings. How does he not run out of breath!

Dierks Bentley – Am I The Only One (Official Music Video) – YouTube

  Living– This song is amazing. While Dierks was singing, a video of him and his son, Knox, spending the day together—living—was playing in the background. I love that this song reminds me to enjoy every minute of every day. Life is truly about living.

Dierks Bentley – Living (Official Music Video) – YouTube

  Burning Man– Cue the flames. Behind Dierks were huge red flames. This song was originally song with Dierks and the Brothers Osbourne. I personally like the song better with them. T.J.’s voice enhances the song. However, just Dierks was still good.

Dierks Bentley – Burning Man ft. Brothers Osborne (Official Music Video) – YouTube

  Something Real– I was super excited when Dierks began singing this song. It is one of my favorite on Gravel and Gold. All too often life gets ahead of us, and we need to be reminded of what’s real. We need quiet. We need a little “backbone in our backbeat.” The first time I heard this song the lyrics really touch me, and they still do the same thing every time I hear the song.

Dierks Bentley – Something Real (Official Audio) – YouTube

  Gone– The Covid song. Dierks wrote the song while he was in lockdown in Colorado during the pandemic. This song is the reality of the time we all lived through—being separated from those we care about. Covid significantly changed our lives in so many ways. So much is gone from our lives that was there before, but there is always hope.

Dierks Bentley – Gone (Official Music Video) – YouTube

  Different for Girls– Dierks brought Elle King out for this song—she sang it with him for Black, and she’s this tour’s opening act, so it was perfect for them to sing it together. I always laugh when I hear this song because I remember Elle saying in an interview that Dierks is more like the girl they sing about, and she’s more like the guy. It’s interesting to think about gender stereotypes. I’d like to think I am a little bit of both.

Dierks Bentley – Different For Girls (Official Music Video) ft. Elle King – YouTube

Say You Do– This is one of my favorite Dierks’ songs of all time. Normally, he comes out into the crowd during his shows. I believe this would have been that song on this tour. As weird as it sounds, this song soothes my soul after I break up with an ex. It’s such a beautiful melody.

Dierks Bentley – Say You Do (Official Music Video) – YouTube

  Black– This was my favorite song performed during the concert. While Dierks’ sang it, there was a screen in front of him that displayed falling stars. Eventually, they went black. The lights had a lighter feel to them, but the show displayed the lighters instead of the crowd. I cannot describe how magical the performance felt, but it was beautiful.

Dierks Bentley – Black (Official Music Video) – YouTube

Up On the Ridge– Dierks always plays this song during his shows. It’s from his bluegrass album of the same name—which is my favorite. I think this is his favorite off the album. It’s energetic and fun. He used this song to introduce his band members. The banjo was amazing. The fiddle was even more amazing. I could have listened to this song all night.

Dierks Bentley – Up On The Ridge (Official Music Video) – YouTube

  Callin’ Baton Rouge– I am not a huge Garth Brooks fan, even though I love 90’s Country music. During his performance of this song, Dierks brought out the lead singer of the first opening act, The Red Clay Strays to sing with him. The singer’s voice fit the song. His voice is amazing. I loved his tone. The band has a Lynard Skynyrd feeling, but they don’t sound like them (www.redclaystrays.com).

Sun Sets in Colorado– When I first heard this song I changed the lyrics to “sun sets in Carolina.” Dierks said North Carolina is one of his favorite places. He loves to go to the beach, but he also loves the mountains. We have the best of birth worlds hers. I felt this song to my core when I first heard it, and it touched me in the same way when I heard it performed live. 

Dierks Bentley – Sun Sets In Colorado (Official Audio) – YouTube

  Long Haired Country Boy / Trudy /Texas /The Devil Went Down To Georgia– I feel like Dierks performed this melody to show off the talent of his band. It was fun.

Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)- Freezy! This song is an amazing crowd pleaser. It’s fun to sing along to, and it really lifts the energy in the ampitheater.

Dierks Bentley – Free And Easy (Down The Road I Go) (Official Music Video) – YouTube

  5-1-5-0- Of all Dierks’ song this is the biggest sing-along. Shouting “5-1-5-0″ and then “somebody call the po-po” is always an enjoyable time. During the performance, the numbers were displayed behind Dierks. This is another song where he runs around the stage, and exhausts me. Hahah

Dierks Bentley – 5-1-5-0 (Official Music Video) – YouTube

  Somewhere on a Beach / Beers On Me– During this song, beach balls fly around the audience, and Dierks threw beers out to audience members. He hit someone in the head with a can, which produced a hysterical moment. Beers on Me had been stuck in my head for days before the show, so I am glad he sang it. He only sang snippets of it, and I wished I would have heard the entire thing.

Dierks Bentley – Somewhere On A Beach (Official Music Video) – YouTube 

Dierks Bentley – Beers On Me (Official Music Video) ft. BRELAND, HARDY – YouTube

  What Was I Thinkin’– Dierks’ first hit. Another sing-along song. Even if people don’t know Dierks’ music, they know this song. This song is always fun to hear and experience.

Dierks Bentley – What Was I Thinkin’ – YouTube

  Drunk on a Plane– For years, this was the encore song. A makeshift plane would roll out on stage and Dierks’ would climb out of it, and sing this song. I appreciate, like always, Dierks mixing things up, and not playing this for his encore song. Instead, he came out in his Captain’s uniform, pretending to be drunk with his sunglasses on, a bikini top falling out, and some Mardi Gras beads tucked in his pocket. Another reason I love Dierks is he’s a big goofball. I love that he knows when to take himself seriously and when to be a dork.

Dierks Bentley – Drunk On A Plane (Official Music Video) – YouTube 

The lights went out. Cheers continued to blare through the audience. Then, everyone got quiet, and a parody of Back to the Future began to play. Before long, there was a VW bus on stage and out climbed The Hot Country Knights (Dierks and his band dressed in 90s garb singing 90s Country). If you haven’t heard this, check them out: Hot Country Knights Official Website. They always put on a good show. This year, they sang a medley of 90’s country, and a garth cover. Doug was in rare form, which was amazing.

  Ain’t Goin Down (Til the Sun Comes Up) / I Like It, I Love It/ Meet In the Middle/ Heads Carolina, Tails California/ Achy Breaky Hear/ Man! I Feel Like a Woman/ Friends in Low Places

22 MidKnight Rodeo 

Then, it was over. As a longtime Dierks fan, I will admit: this was the best Dierks’ show I have ever seen. It wasn’t because I missed last year. The subtlety showed a maturity, and I always love the nuances in his performances. I would recommend going to a Gravel and Gold tour date if you can! These are those times we should be living for, and I am appreciative of Dierks’ constant reminder to live my best life! 

*I am more than happy to give more details/show some pictures ( I have lots).