Up On The Ridge: tour review

For the record, there are a LOT of country music fans in New York City and when we gather, I dare say we rival any honkey tonk south of the Mason-Dixon. Such was the case on May 5, 2010 when the Highline Ballroom, smack dab in the middle of NY's meat-packing district, hosted Dierks Bentley's Up On The Ridge tour. I think we even surprised Dierks!
What makes this especially noteworthy is that this was no pop-country crossover act, even though Dierks has certainly had his share of radio friendly hits. (And not that there's anything wrong with pop-country crossover, in this writer's opinion..) No, what makes this noteworthy is that it was a roots/Americana/bluegrass laden show, and that is not something the average person would think would go over big in this urban jungle. Although, NY'ers know differently. We are the poster children for diversity, after all and that diversity certainly extends to musical genres as well as ethnic foods, etc. They don't call us the great melting pot for nuthin' you know!
And, not for nuthin', we proudly accept the title!

The crowd was more than ready for some good music when the Hayes Carll Band took the stage to warm them up for the main event. I'd have to say the highlight of their set was when Bonnie Whitmore dueted with Hayes on the satirically humorous I've Never Seen Another Like You.

After a short break, Dierks and his band took the stage. The musicians included Rob and Ronnie McCoury, sons of the famous Del McCoury. Rob played banjo and Ronnie was on the mandolin.
Tim Sargent was on steel and Jason Carol was on fiddle. I have to apologize to Steve, who was on the bass for not hearing his last name above the crowd.

Dierks started his set with one of his big hits: Free and Easy(Down the Road I Go). The pleasant surprise was that the arrangement sounded nothing like it did on the radio. No.. this, as well as all of the reworked hits he played that night were all in the bluegrass and Americana style that his latest album Up On The Ridge was recorded in. The crowd roared it's appreciation, partly because they recognized the song, and mostly because they loved hearing it changed up the way it was. Part of what makes seeing a live show so enjoyable is NOT hearing a carbon copy of the recorded version. That's what got the crowd immediately with Dierks, and it stayed there all night.

From that first taste of what the night would hold, Dierks and the band broke into a bit of the classic Foggy Mountain Breakdown. What a treat! The hits continued with Feel That Fire, Settle For A Slowdown, Sideways, Come A Little Closer, How Am I Doin', and What Was I Thinkin'.

Dierks brought out Angelo Petraglia, the co-writer of the title song as well as a producer who has worked with Kings Of Leon to join him on Up On The Ridge. Other songs performed from the album, to be released on June 8, included the beautiful ballad Down In The Mine which was dedicated to our country's miners, Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) by Bob Dylan, Kristofferson's Bottle To The Bottom, and U2's Pride (In The Name Of Love).

In addition, Dierks did some pretty cool covers, all in the aforementioned bluegrass style. The Southern Rock classic Midnight Rider sounded amazing done in that style. Also covered were the Hoyt Axton song Evangalina and Willie Nelson's Bloody Mary Morning.
Right in the middle of How Am I Doin' Dierks stopped and broke into the George Strait classic All My Ex's Live In Texas. The look on his face was priceless when we all started singing along, as though he never dreamed we would know it so well, and not just the chorus. He sang the whole song and we matched him word for word. I believe his words to us were "Alright, New York CITY!" and then he finished up the last verse and chorus of How Am I Doin'.

He ended with (what else?) What Was I Thinking (the little white tank top song). For the encore Dierks brought out Gabe Witcher. He plays fiddle for the Punch Brothers and dueled with Jim Carrol on the Jerry Reed classic East Bound And Down.

When the music ended, the crowd wasn't ready to let Dierks go. They gathered near the stage and Dierks accomodated them by shaking hands and signing autographs. He seemed to be having as much fun as the crowd. As the crowd filed out of the Highline Ballroom, the smiles on their faces told the story of the night: great music and a great time. Thanks for coming, Dierks. Come back soon and tell your friends in Nashville to come visit us more often!