Concert Review
Dierks Bentley
Darien Lake PAC
Darien Center, NY
Friday August 4, 2017
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
Despite the stormy weather they came out in droves to see Dierks Bentley bring his big show to the Darien Lake PAC Friday night. The lawn usually lite in attendance for the opening acts, was half way full by the time second act Cole Swindell’s set was just three songs old. After all it had been some eight years since Bentley’s last visit to the venue when he opened for Brad Paisley, so the crowd was craving for his return this time as a headliner.
Bentley opened his delayed set with “What The Hell Did I Say”, his most recent single from Black which was released in 2016. Appropriately it also serves as the name of his current tour. Quickly following up with “5-1-5-0-” the appreciative crowd roared in approval. Shortly a fan held up a sign asking Bentley to shotgun a beer with him. The fan was then brought on stage and got his wish.
Cole Swindell came out and joined Bentley for “Flatliner”. The crowd ate that up.
For the encore any fan of Bentley’s could guess “Drunk On A Plane” would be played but many were surprised to see a cockpit of a plane appear on stage. As Bentley stepped out of the plane, he had the perfect ending to his 90-minute set. A perfect way to leave em begging for more.
Swindell had a strong set of his own as he delved out such songs from his arsenal as “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight”, “Middle Of A Memory” and “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey”. His brief set showed the has a lot of potential to headline the big sheds on his own in the very near future.
