Just hours after performing at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville for the UMG Showcase during the Country Radio Seminar, Dierks Bentley wowed the Southern California audience at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario with a performance that showed absolutely no signs of jet lag or slowing down.
He attributed his energy to his kids, noting that having children will teach you how to keep going. He kicked off his set with the song that inspired the name of his tour, "Burning Man," and followed it up with the bluegrass-inspired "Up on the Ridge."
The video screens behind him revealed a look into his personality, background, and influences, as images of legendary female country artists like Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Reba McEntire, Tammy Wynette, Shania Twain, and Patsy Cline were shown during "Woman, Amen," and pictures of his family were displayed during his new single, "Living."
Up-tempo songs like "Somewhere on a Beach" and "5-1-5-0" brought the audience to their feet, while a move to a smaller stage at the end of the floor allowed for a more intimate feel for the romantic "Come a Little Closer" and the longing "Say You Do." "Am I the Only One" included a Luke Bryan name-check in the line about "American Idol."
He brought opening act Tenille Townes back on stage to sing the Elle King portion of the duet "Different for Girls," and "West Coast Cowboy" Jon Pardi returned for a couple of '90s country covers: Joe Diffie's "John Deere Green" and Dwight Yoakam's "Guitars, Cadillacs."
Saving his most popular songs for last, Dierks ended his set with a high-energy finale that included "What Was I Thinking," "Sideways," "Drunk on a Plane," and "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)."
Jon Pardi, who'd also performed in Nashville earlier in the day, brought his traditional sensibilities to the stage with a set that included "Ain't Always a Cowboy" (from the album he'll drop later this year), the sexy "Cowboy Hat," and rollicking new "Me and Jack." "Heartache on the Dancefloor" had the crowd singing eveery word, as did his first #1 single, "Head Over Boots," followed by "Dirt on My Boots."
Tenille Townes' unique voice and old soul were well-worth the early arrival, thanks to songs like the poignant "Jersey on the Wall" and her debut single, "Somebody's Daughter."
Hot Country Knights, a '90s country cover band, was a fun first act, performing Travis Tritt's "T-R-O-U-B-L-E," Sawyer Brown's "Some Girls Do," and unexpectedly, Reba and Linda Davis's "Because of You," and Shania Twain's "Man! I Feel Like a Woman."
Overall, it was a sweet way to spend Valentine's Day evening.
Setlist:
1. Burning Man
2. Up on the Ridge
3. Somewhere on a Beach
4. Woman, Amen
5. Black
6. I Hold On
7. 5-1-5-0
8. Living
9. Riser
10. Different for Girls (with Tenille Townes)
11. The Mountain
12. Am I the Only One
13. Come a Little Closer
14. Say You Do
15. John Deere Green (with Jon Pardi)
16. Guitars, Cadillacs (Dwight Yoakam cover) (with Jon Pardi)
17. What Was I Thinkin'
18. Sideways
19. Drunk on a Plane
20. Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)
1. What I Can't Put Down
2. Night Shift
3. Paycheck
4. Lucky Tonight
5. Ain't Always a Cowboy
6. California Sunrise
7. Drinkin' You Off My Mind
8. She Ain't In It
9. Cowboy Hat
10. All Time High
11. Me and Jack
12. Heartache on the Dance Floor
13. Head Over Boots
14. Dirt on My Boots
1. White Horse
2. Where You Are
3. Jersey on the Wall
4. I'm Gonna Find You
5. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (U2 cover)
6. Somebody's Daughter