Dierks Bentley performs at Concord Pavilion in Concord, Calif. on July 28, 2022. Sean Liming/STAFF.

CONCORD, Calif.  — It was a gorgeous summer night at the Concord Pavilion as Dierks Bentley rolled through town on his Beers On Me Tour. Sunshine, 80 degrees and a light breeze set the stage for a night full of singing, dancing and country music.

Dierks Bentley performs at Concord Pavilion in Concord, Calif. on July 28, 2022.

Bentley came out with his energy cranked to 11 as he burst into “What Was I Thinkin’.” He jumped around the stage to start the evening. From that moment on, the mood was set for the next nearly two hours of music as Bentley and his band traversed his repertoire thoroughly. The group played a total of 20 songs and left no album untouched. Mid-set, he paired back the band to just himself, his bassist and his touring buddy, country songwriter Charlie Worsham for a three-song medley of some of his earliest hits, including “Come A Little Closer,” “Settle for a Slowdown” and “Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do.” After the deep cuts, Bentley went straight into one of his newest singles, “Gold,” which he’s releasing today (July 29).

The six other band members worked well with one another throughout the night. A large screen provided visuals that fit the themes of the songs. FDuring “Living,” there was a montage of personal and career-spanning photos from Bentley’s career, playing with country stars like Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban. Other songs like “Burning Man” included visuals of volcanoes and fire as he sang along with stage lighting indicative of a flickering fire.

One of the greatest parts of Bentley’s show was the appreciation he showed for his supporting acts. Partway through, after a bit with one of his bandmates about how the fiddle is dying in country music, Bentley brought Ashley McBryde back out to accompany them on a cover of “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.” Immediately after, Travis Denning returned and the three of them sang “Bad Angel,” which created a beautiful medley of voices that was a pleasure to experience.

Dierks Bentley performs at Concord Pavilion in Concord, Calif. on July 28, 2022.

McBryde exited stage right as Denning stayed behind for a duet of “Beers On Me.” Not only was Denning helping out on vocals, but he also helped Bentley toss out beers to the crowd, bringing a literal meaning to the tour’s name. Bentley then brought out DJ AYDAMN to help him out on “5150” as one of the final songs of the night.

Prior to the encore, Bentley played some of his biggest hits: energetic versions of classics like “Free and Easy (Down The Road I Go)” and “Drunk On A Plane.” Neither ended up being the conclusion, as the band members returned as their alter egos as  Hot Country Knights. This parade group played a number of ’90s country classics while donning outrageous wigs and neon colors. After a brief skit about the band taking too long, the “real” Bentley returned and played an abbreviated version of “Sideways” to close out the night.

Ashley McBryde performs at Concord Pavilion in Concord, Calif. on July 28, 2022.

Ashley McBryde preceded the headliner with an infectious smile. She played 13 songs over nearly an hour with a backing quintet she referred to as “the boys.” McBryde belted her heart out and displayed those impressive pipes that have made her one of country’s brightest stars. Her vocals are reminiscent of Shania Twain, with a Reba McEntire writing style. But in the end, the performance was entirely her own. She performed everything from new songs to a perfectly fitting cover of “Boys of Summer” that got the crowd in prime singalong mode.

Travis Denning began the night with a high-energy set despite the sparse attendance to start the evening. An eight-song introduction to his catalog gave the audience an opportunity to warm up its dance moves. He played songs from his early career as well as newer songs like “Buy a Girl a Drink,” off new EP Might As Well Be Me, out Aug. 5.

One of the surprises of the show was DJ AYDAMN, who played before the show started and in between set changes. Everything from “Cotton Eyed Joe” to Justin Bieber’s “Baby” to Waka Flocka’s “No Hands” was fair game.

Follow writer Piper Westrom at Twitter.com/plwestrom.