Saturday night was the CD Release Party for Dierks Bentley’s latest CD, Home. About 300 lucky fans purchased tickets to this event held at the Hard Rock in Boston, MA benefiting the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center and hosted by Country 102.5. For $10 you had general admission and for $25 you purchased a limited VIP ticket which included a Meet and Greet and a copy of his soon to be released CD, Home.

Any local Dierks Bentley fan knows he was in college with our favorite goalie of the Boston Bruins, Tim Thomas. I attended our February 2 game which was a heartbreaking loss to the Carolina Hurricanes and that started the Bruins/hockey talk with Dierks. He mentioned that the game on Saturday was close and they should have won, but just didn’t pull it together. He was extremely laid back and fun to chat with… then it was time for the show!

Dierks Bentley at Hard Rock Cafe Boston

He was introduced by Country 102.5’s fabulous mid-day DJ, Carolyn Kruse. She chatted with him about his career, the new CD and his family. He shared stories and laughs. Dierks told stories of how he spent the day doing some sightseeing in our lovely, cold, historical city and he wrapped his day of tourist adventures by relaxing at the Union Oyster House watching our beloved Bruins! Dierks was a completely likeable guy and with his new hair cut, he resembles Bradley Cooper.

Dierks Bentley at Hard Rock Cafe Boston

He performed a selection of old and new songs… he mentioned that he wanted to share new songs, but also wanted everyone to have fun hearing the songs that made him famous. He performed an hour long mix of songs including: Am I The Only One, Home, 5-1-5-0, Up On The Ridge, Come a Little Closer Baby, and closed with What Was I Thinking. The show was acoustic, energetic, and an all around blast. He even sang a little Clear Solo Cup, after being handed a drink. This was quite fitting as a number of the songs on the latest CD were written with Brett & Jim Beavers, writers of the amazingly famous Toby Keith hit Red Solo Cup. He sounds no different than his recordings and had a great time up on the stage with his fans.

Occasionally, I give concert/show etiquette comments… if the girl with the whiteboard happens upon this review… the first two times you wrote notes to Dierks it was innovative and, dare I say, cute. By the 20th time, and after you moved up to the rope, you were blocking those behind you. Next time, please stop at 3 whiteboard notes, as to not highly irritate those behind you. Thanks.

To my dear friend, Tracy, I again apologize for whacking you in the head with my zoom lens. I wasn’t accustomed to the zoom and misjudged that movement – unfortunately, also missing the shot. I hope we are still friends… I’d hate to see 15 years down the drain over a zoom lens mishap. Love ya girl!

Thank you once again to Country 102.5 and Carolyn Kruse for hosting such a wonderful evening with a well-respected, talented and equally entertaining artist. I have a new must-see performer on my list.

Check out Dierks’ performing What Was I Thinkin’ and Home below:

As mentioned, a few of us were lucky enough to purchase VIP tickets and by doing so we received copies of Home. Below is my quick review of the CD…

After, trying his hand at a bluegrass flavored CD in 2010, Dierks Bentley is back to his country roots on the latest CD, Home, being released Tuesday, February, 7. I am going to start out saying – this is a must have CD. I haven’t stopped listening to it since Saturday night. I literally grabbed the CD and brought it to work today so that I could continue listening to it on replay…you know, like I use to when I was 16 with the New Kids on the Block CDs. Yes, I just admitted to that. Don’t judge me; just know, my music taste has obviously improved.

There are 12 new songs on this CD – each with its own unique sound. With two hits already on the charts, Home and Am I the Only One, he is sure to secure his spot as a leading country singer/songwriter. He has everything from driving country beats to some emotionally inspired lyrics. This CD is absolutely superb and I dare anyone to not love 5-1-5-0 – after seeing him perform this, it was immediately clear it would be a favorite of mine. The other standout song on this CD is his duet with Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild, When You Gonna Come Around. If you have this CD playing in the background, and are like me, and you begin to hear a child singing, don’t worry it isn’t your biological clock ticking… it’s his adorable 3-year old daughter, Evie, singing on the final track, Thinking of You.

Dierks Bentley at Hard Rock Cafe Boston

I can’t say this enough, you must purchase this CD. It is truly a wonderful collection of songs and his delivery of each is heartfelt and done with a steady voice of perfection fitting the mood of each song.

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