Showtime
During the Beers on Me 2021 tour, Dierks Bentley is determined to give fans an unforgettable experience. "Have a great time and have fun," he told E! News. "Like the song ‘Beers on Me' says, ‘Everybody's got a problem, so do I / But we ain't gonna solve 'em on a Saturday night.' This is the time to let it all go. Have fun, catch up with friends, scream, yell, shout. Just let it all go for a night."
Pre-Show Ritual
"Before the show, I'm just spending time with the band either on our bus or in the dressing room," Dierks revealed. "There are shots being passed around. There are old friends I haven't seen in a while. It's just a lot of excitement. I'm usually pretty busy for the two hours leading up the show to take care of friends and guests I haven't seen in a while."
Game On
How does Dierks and the crew unwind after long days of traveling? With a game of pickleball, obviously.
Ridin' Dirty
In between performing in Oregon, Utah and Idaho, Dierks, along with his band and crew, were able to enjoy the scenery while breaking a sweat on bikes.
Leader of the Pack
"I've done so much preparation for the tour in advance. Now, I really feel like my job is just to show up and be present in the moment," Dierks reflected. "It's a concert, but my job is just to get it started. Once the concert's going, it becomes a party and I just get to be bartender and oversee it. I love my role and I love what I get to do."
Teamwork
"I get to thank the band publicly onstage, but it's surreal what my crew does," Dierks shared. "The opening weekend reminds me of how much work goes into these tours. I get up from my bunk in the morning and I look out and my guys are already putting the stage together...These guys work their butts off, day in and day out…I have the best crew in the business."
Family Forever
With school in session, Dierks' three kids will likely come out to see a show once a month. According to the singer, they savor every moment on the road. "They're all involved in some way and they love it," he shared. "They love the bus. They say, ‘Dad, you can never quit.' It's pretty fun."
Opening Stars
"I feel super honored to have these guys on the road," Dierks shared after performing with his opening acts Parker McCollum and Riley Green. "Parker is already playing for 20,000 people back in his home state of Texas. He's going to be a huge star. He's a great guy, has great energy and is fun to be around."
Acts to Watch
"To me, Riley Green is like the next superstar," Dierks shared when discussing his opening act. "He's a great songwriter, great singer. He has that kind of quintessential Alabama country thing going on around."
Attention to Detail
No matter if your seats are in the pit section or the last row, Dierks wants to give you a show. "I'm just trying to reach every person that's there," he explained. "I went to a Garth Brooks concert when I was a kid and I felt like he was singing right to me and I was in the back...I still felt like he was singing right to me…You got to treat the amphitheaters like you're playing at the Honky Tonk and you want to reach out to everyone and sometimes that requires leaving the stage and walking physically out there to the grass or going for a stage dive."
Wait for It
Attention, concertgoers! Don't leave early or you may just miss the Hot Country Knights. "The Knights have to come out at the end of the night," Dierks teased. "You've got to stick around for the whole show if you want to get your '90s country fill."
Fashion Transformation
"We have wardrobe cases on the road, but most of that is for the Hot Country Knights," Dierks joked when discussing tour fashion. "They have more elaborate costumes. I try to keep it fairly simple. I start off with the same black jeans and then a pair of boots. Up top is Flag & Anthem...I guess I describe my fashion as efficient and utilitarian."