Who: Dierks Bentley, Josh Gracin, Joe Diffie, one other guy and a girl
When: October 2004 (I think?)
Where: University at Buffalo Center for the Arts/ Buffalo, NY
With: Somebody? I have no idea
Of Note: Dierks Bentley being the cutest cutie to ever cute
So, most of the time, when I set about writing up a concert, particularly one that's not very recent/ fresh on my mind, I consult the internet to jog my memory a bit - exact dates, set lists...details that pair with my overall emotional memories to help me put together the whole picture. I also listen to the artist I'm writing about as I put the post together, which has been so much fun rediscovering music I may have neglected.
This concert is an absolute anomaly in that, I can find no record of it on the internet. So either I made this show up and it's a figment of my imagination or my google-fu is lacking. I also have no idea who went with me to this, but I'm pretty sure I didn't go alone. If it was you, let me know! (Jenn? Steph? Melissa?)
So, the local country station puts on a couple of concerts annually - this was the WYRK Four Guys and a Girl Acoustic Country Jam. (That's a mouthful, eh?) The show featured Josh Gracin, Dierks Bentley, Joe Diffie, one other guy and a girl. I believe the girl was from Australia? The show was really cool, in that, there were no bands, just acoustic guitar accompaniment. It was a bit "story tellers".
I was familiar with Josh Gracin in that I knew he was part of the Idol machine, though I hadn't ever watched Idol at that point. He was polite, well spoken, very patriotic - he spoke about his time in the military and told stories about how thankful he was for all the support he received through the Idol process. I remember thinking that he had a very big voice.
Joe Diffie closed the show, as the industry veteran. People went crazy for his classics, 'Pick Up Man', 'Third Rock From the Sun', and 'John Deere Green'. He was obviously a seasoned performer and was a great ending to the show.
What I remember most about this show was, however, Dierks Bentley. This was right at the cusp of his explosion - 'What Was I Thinkin'' was all over, but that was still his "only" single (if I remember correctly). He was the cutest cutie pie ever to cute - all aw shucks, I can't believe I get to do this; you're such a good crowd! in a flannel shirt. He told us that his guitar player missed the flight and so he was feeling a little lonely on stage. During 'How am I Doing' (I think), he played the chords where the guitar solo was supposed to go and then sang, "This is where the guitar solo goes. Please imagine that instead of my lame attempts to cover up the fact that it's missing." He gave a shout out to "all the girls in little white tank tops" and the crowd went nuts. (There were, interestingly enough, a fair number of girls in little white tank tops.) He got a bit emotional introducing 'My Last Name' - you could tell it meant a lot to him.
I would see him again a bunch of years later and be absolutely stunned by the transition from this floppy haired, plaid shirt wearing, "I can't believe this his happening to me" guy to full on country star with some serious front man swagger.
This show, though, is one that's awesome to look back on and think, "That was a real 'I saw him when' moment, huh?"
When: October 2004 (I think?)
Where: University at Buffalo Center for the Arts/ Buffalo, NY
With: Somebody? I have no idea
Of Note: Dierks Bentley being the cutest cutie to ever cute
So, most of the time, when I set about writing up a concert, particularly one that's not very recent/ fresh on my mind, I consult the internet to jog my memory a bit - exact dates, set lists...details that pair with my overall emotional memories to help me put together the whole picture. I also listen to the artist I'm writing about as I put the post together, which has been so much fun rediscovering music I may have neglected.
This concert is an absolute anomaly in that, I can find no record of it on the internet. So either I made this show up and it's a figment of my imagination or my google-fu is lacking. I also have no idea who went with me to this, but I'm pretty sure I didn't go alone. If it was you, let me know! (Jenn? Steph? Melissa?)
So, the local country station puts on a couple of concerts annually - this was the WYRK Four Guys and a Girl Acoustic Country Jam. (That's a mouthful, eh?) The show featured Josh Gracin, Dierks Bentley, Joe Diffie, one other guy and a girl. I believe the girl was from Australia? The show was really cool, in that, there were no bands, just acoustic guitar accompaniment. It was a bit "story tellers".
I was familiar with Josh Gracin in that I knew he was part of the Idol machine, though I hadn't ever watched Idol at that point. He was polite, well spoken, very patriotic - he spoke about his time in the military and told stories about how thankful he was for all the support he received through the Idol process. I remember thinking that he had a very big voice.
Joe Diffie closed the show, as the industry veteran. People went crazy for his classics, 'Pick Up Man', 'Third Rock From the Sun', and 'John Deere Green'. He was obviously a seasoned performer and was a great ending to the show.
What I remember most about this show was, however, Dierks Bentley. This was right at the cusp of his explosion - 'What Was I Thinkin'' was all over, but that was still his "only" single (if I remember correctly). He was the cutest cutie pie ever to cute - all aw shucks, I can't believe I get to do this; you're such a good crowd! in a flannel shirt. He told us that his guitar player missed the flight and so he was feeling a little lonely on stage. During 'How am I Doing' (I think), he played the chords where the guitar solo was supposed to go and then sang, "This is where the guitar solo goes. Please imagine that instead of my lame attempts to cover up the fact that it's missing." He gave a shout out to "all the girls in little white tank tops" and the crowd went nuts. (There were, interestingly enough, a fair number of girls in little white tank tops.) He got a bit emotional introducing 'My Last Name' - you could tell it meant a lot to him.
I would see him again a bunch of years later and be absolutely stunned by the transition from this floppy haired, plaid shirt wearing, "I can't believe this his happening to me" guy to full on country star with some serious front man swagger.
This show, though, is one that's awesome to look back on and think, "That was a real 'I saw him when' moment, huh?"
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