Dierks Bentley August 13, 2021 USANA Amphitheater
Review By: Justin Lagman
The Beers On Me Tour kicked off in Salt Lake City, August 13th, 2021 and it was a packed house. It was a beautiful summer night and I was excited to immerse myself in something new. My knowledge of country music and culture is very little. Coming into this I’ve never listened to Dierks Bentley and it was something I was ready to experience.
I think as a fan of music you have to keep yourself open and experiencing different cultures.
I told a couple of my friends the night before that I’ll be reviewing Dierks Bentley and they were shocked I didn’t know who he was. They continued by describing how he’s extremely beloved here in Utah. The day of the show I spent all day anxious to get back into the live music scene and seeing the stage and feeling the energy of the country fans.
It has been a while since I’ve been to USANA Amphitheater and it felt so good to be back at a venue that can handle a big crowd. I arrived as soon as Parker McCollum was finishing up his set, so I made sure to be ready for the next opener. The temperature was cooling down and the cups of cold beer kept the concertgoers loose and warm. Riley Green was up next and the seats were starting to fill up and the crowd was ready for a night of Country music.
Riley Green
The band was on stage and as soon as Green took the stage, the crowd was cheering and dancing. It was amazing to see everyone sing along to his songs. As for someone that appreciates songwriting a lot. I was really happy that he took the time to break down the songs he was about to perform and why he wrote it and where he was in life during the song.
Green’s voice was strong and deep toned just like many male country artists perform and it was very captivating and keeps you in the moment from start to end. The band was amazing and seeing the guitarists jam with each other was something I’ve missed seeing.
Towards the end of his set he performed a solo acoustic song called “I wish Grandpas never died.” and it was a nice change of pace and very touching to see the crowd sing along to every word.
The crowd was ready for more. While the stage was getting set up for Bentley’s set, The DJ kept the vibes going and at this point I’m thinking to my head “Ok this crowd is ready to party.” It was an amazing sight to see people enjoying their friends and family and dancing along to the music.
Dierks Bentley
As soon as the lights went down and the guitar riff played. The crowd was on their feet. Dierks stepped on stage and the atmosphere of the amphitheater was through the roof. He opened the show with his single “Gone.” I really wanted to take in and listen to his lyrics and I was amazed at his songwriting and storytelling through his music. Dierks strummed his guitar as he danced around on stage and interacted with the crowd. Switching on and off between his guitar and a red solo cup with his Bud Light. Dierks was in his element and it was a blast seeing him bring so much energy into his set. He played his classics and instantly it really showed me that these fans are loyal and have been following his music for a while now.
A couple of songs in and I totally understood what my friends told me the night before. Dierks Bentley was an outstanding performer, but he was also more than that. The substance and range of his songs were unbelievable. Bentley had the crowd singing and living their best lives. The highlight for me during his show was when he played “Am I The Only One.” and towards the end of the song he brought up a fan on stage to shotgun beers together. Right after that song a couple audience members saw me laughing and in a way shocked. They informed me that he would always do this during his live shows. I was fascinated and I have been to plenty of concerts in my day but this was the first time I’ve seen this happen on stage.
For my first Country show, I would say I had it pretty good. Learning about country artists and its fan base at one of my favorite venues in Utah, you just can’t beat it. I’m excited to review more and attend more shows this coming year. This was the perfect show to kick off the Beers On Me Tour and we wish Dierks Bentley and the rest of the team a safe and fun tour.
Setlist
Gone
Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)
Am I the Only One
Burning Man
Woman, Amen
Black
Up On the Ridge
The Devil Went Down to Georgia
Somewhere On A Beach
Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do
Riser
Beers On Me
5-1-5-0
John Deere Green
I Hold On
What Was I Thinkin’
Drunk on a Plane