Dierks Bentley shines at GR concert that spans his entire career

“Lot of Leavin' Left to Do”: And many other popular songs are on Dierks Bentley's program on Thursday. (Photo/Joshua Tufts)

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In keeping with the title of his latest album, country star Dierks Bentley brought his “Gravel and Gold” tour to the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids on Thursday.

“It may be gravel, but it feels like gold,” goes the title track – and the singer’s music glittered during his deep and sweeping performance in front of his adoring fans.

Bentley had a catalog full of No. 1 hits and played most of them himself. “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go),” “5-1-5-0” and “I Hold On” were all crowd favorites.

But the Arizona native also played on his 2010 bluegrass album, Up On The Ridge, which featured talented band members like Charlie Worsham and Tim Sergent. Half a dozen musicians stood close together in the center of the stage, harmonies sparkling.

His Tom Petty cover of “American Girl” unfolded as a contest between country/rock and bluegrass styles, combining the two. An interesting mix.

The large LED/video screen at the back of the stage was a true marvel of scenery, providing an impressive backdrop of flames for the song “Burning Man” and an underwater atmosphere of swirling bubbles above the stage for the sensual “Black.”

Chase Rice: Came on stage before Bentley. (Photo/Joshua Tufts)

The band chose the confessional song “Drunk On A Plane” as their first encore. A second encore, however, was introduced by a video segment in which the band members traveled back in time to the 1990s in a magical bus.

They reappeared in period costume as the band Hot Country Knights (actually a parody band founded by Bentley). The musicians loosely and comically performed a medley of '90s country hits like “Achy, Breaky Heart,” “Meet in the Middle,” and “Friends in Low Places.” It was fun, but over the top. And after their earlier, more outstanding performances, it felt too long.

But the music set, which spanned 100 minutes and came in waves, created exactly the party feeling that fans had expected.

Previously, popular country singer Chase Rice and his musicians enjoyed their hour on stage. With a drink in hand, Rice led his song parade with “Bad Day to Be A Cold Beer” and got the crowd singing along to the chorus.

A touching moment was the introduction to his cover of the John Denver classic “Take Me Home Country Roads.” It was one of five songs the young Rice learned before his father bought him his first guitar. His father died two years later, and Rice still plays the same acoustic guitar in concert.

A new song, “Haw River,” proved to be a driving anthem with spiritual power. It was quite a contrast to the sentimental “Bench Seat,” for which Chase brought his dog Jack, who sat obediently next to his owner for most of the song. The obedient dog got plenty of camera time on the big screens on either side of the stage.

The evening was opened by singer-songwriter Ella Langley, who played six songs with her band, including her opener “Paint the Town Blue”.

PHOTO GALLERY: Dierks Bentley, Chase Rice, Ella Langley at Van Andel Arena
Photos by Joshua Tufts