Summer concert season is officially here!  Dierks Bentley got the season off to a rocking start last night when the first stop on the “Somewhere On A Beach” Tour hit the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ.  He set a very high standard for the rest of the shows we’ll go to this Summer.  It was a high energy show from start to finish, and his 90 minute set seemed to fly by!  Dierks gets an A+ in fan interaction, constantly hi-fiving and pausing for selfies during the set without missing a beat.

We got an exclusive first listen of Dierks’ new album, “Black,” in his mobile listening tour bus.  (yes, we fangirled hard at getting to be on an actual tour bus).  If you’re a black card member you can get on the bus too!  You can pre-order the album and get a card at the show if you don’t have one already.  We pre-ordered “Black” without hearing a single track from the album, knowing it would be awesome, and it even exceeded our expectations.

Opening acts Tucker Beathard, Cam, and Randy Houser set the tone for the evening with their lively sets.  Cam’s set showed the range of her music, from fun tracks like “Go Get ‘Em Cam!” and “Country Ain’t Never Been Pretty,”  to her emotional hit “Burning House” and new single “Mayday.”  The singalong and cheering during Randy’s performance of “Like A Cowboy” was one of the loudest and craziest we’ve ever heard.  New Jersey country fans, we are proud.

On to the main event:  DIERKS!!   He encouraged the crowd to tip it on back and get a little sideways, free and easy.   The crowd was certainly there to get their good time on.  His set included hits from all of his albums along with new material from “Black.”  Some die hard fans (ourselves included) already knew the words to the new tracks like “What The Hell Did I Say” and even the title track which was as steamy live as the brand new video!

One of the more emotional moments during the show came during “I Hold On,” which is in memory of Dierks’ father.  As the crowd loudly sang along, he told them that was always his favorite part of the night.  Later, Dierks decided to get a little closer to the audience and jumped from the stage into the middle of the crowd to make his way to a stage in the back.  He was joined by Cam and Randy for “Take It Easy.”  From the main stage to the B stage, Dierks’ knows how to get every single part of the crowd involved and  keep them entertained even if he’s not right in front of them.

We almost don’t want to ruin it for you, so maybe stop reading this if you’re going to the tour.  During the encore Captain Dierks came out on an actual Dude Air plane.  Cam and Randy joined him on stage one last time, before members of the crew ran out, some in their Riser flight attendant outfits.  After the show, Dierks stayed on stage and signed anything people handed or tossed to him for a good 10 minutes as “Wanted Dead or Alive” was pumping through the venue. As if we didn’t love him enough already.   Check out the dates for the “Somewhere On A Beach” tour HERE and get your tickets now!

Setlist:
Up On The Ridge
Free And Easy (Down The Road I Go)
Tip It On Back
Am I The Only One
5-1-5-0
Say You Do
Lot Of Leavin’ Left To Do
What The Hell Did I Say
I Hold On
Every Mile A Memory
Black
Feel That Fire
Take It Easy (cover)
Freedom
Somewhere On A Beach
What Was I Thinkin’
Sideways
Drunk On A Plane