Jay Leno Gets His Bluegrass On With Dierks Bentley
Dierks Bentley was on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on Tuesday night (April 27), and I finally got around to watching it. (I love you, DVR.) But I am always so stunned when there are only three minutes left in the show and the country artist still has not come on yet. Why are they wasting all that time on other guests when they could be letting Bentley steal the show with the title track of his upcoming roots music album, Up on the Ridge? His slot was way too short, but I'm guessing it was enough to get people to stop whatever they were doing and watch as Bentley's six-man band did their thing and did it so well, especially Bentley himself on vocals and his Martin guitar. And then that insanely good Sam Bush was by Bentley's side on a resophonic mandolin he was playing with a slide. Frankly, Leno probably should've devoted the whole show to this band.
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David B Mattingly says:
Icouldn’t agree more with Alison - way to short! But Dierks did a awesome job!!
merlefan49 says:
Where was the bluegrass? This is not bluegrass by any means.
Please anyone that thinks this is real bluegrass is look up the following on you tube
Don Rigsby and midnight call
James king
Daily and Vincent.
Alacia says:
Dierks has been quoted by saying this is not traditional bluegrass its his version. He has said Bluegrass style. That is why you don’t think it is real bluegrass it is the coolest song on radio right now that and Miranda the house that built me actually sound country!! Love it GO DIERKS!!!
Hope this clears things up for you merlefan49
MichaelW. says:
This song absolutely rocks. Yes I agree it is not traditional bluegrass, although I’m sure some of the other songs on the album will gear a little more towards the traditional style, but it is his version of bluegras. You just have to take it for what it is. Good music.
merlefan49 says:
I didn’t hear even a bluegrass style from the Tonight show clip. Coolest song on the radio would that be mainstream radio? Go to a hard core bluegrass festival or concert put a drum set on the stage play songs like that and watch the stampdee for the exit and listen to the boos from the ones that stay.
solongsowrong says:
Merlefan: It is what it is. He clearly describes it as just being Bluegrass “influenced”, so these guys are right on by saying that it’s just his version.
What I can’t figure out, is why so many Mainstreamers who come here to complain and say todays Pop Country artists aren’t really Country… can’t apply the same reasoning to it all, as those responding to this blog have done… it’s simply their version of Country.
This album is what it is. You can either love it or leave it. I’ve decided to leave it. I have a feeling you’ll do the same.
merlefan49 says:
Yea I’ll probably just leave it.
Mick says:
Well the music is ok but that performance was bad. I kept thinking what Dolly Parton could have done with that song. Maybe the recorded version on the cd will be much better.
solongsowrong says:
Don’t get you hopes up, Mick. Even Alison Krauss singing back-up vocals on the studio version, didn’t really help this song out.
Patty says:
Mick, the performace was bad?? are you kidding me? Dierks sounded great, and even though this is not what some would say is “bluegrass” it’s the closest thing I’ve heard to country music in awhile. And Dierks’ performance was amazing. If you want to hear a bad performance, watch Taylor Swift live a couple times- now that’s bad!
merlefan49 says:
Patty,
No offense but I hear more country music all the time on the station I listen to. Dierks song is okay but the songs I hear are more country than “up on the ridge”
Mick says:
I am not one of those people who think just because he sings some songs great that everything he sings or does is great. I like most of his ballads or slower songs but for me when he tries to do uptempo the voice is not as good. But the singing on this particular performance was dreadful. Not near as dreadful as a live performance from poor Taylor trying to sing. But it was still bad. Maybe the next few songs I hear will help.
merlefan49 says:
Mick,
Your a true fan. I have my favorites but will be the first to admit when I don’t think they gave their best profromance