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For this week’s CAW, I chose newcomer Bucky Covington. I’m not a big American Idol fan myself, but I remember seeing his audition tape as he sang “Simple Man” from Lynyrd Skynyrd and thinking “God I hope this tv show doesn’t eat that boy up and spit him out!”. He’s not pretty, he’s not full of forced politeness, and he’s not today’s typical prissy and preened radio star. Bucky gritted his teeth and toughed it out in America’s biggest dog and pony show, making it all the way to #8 before being voted out in favor of Taylor Hicks (who is now all but disappeared off the map entirely). Meanwhile Bucky Covington has got a record deal with Lyric Street, and a 2008 concert tour with Dierks Bentley. It’s no wonder why he’s singin’ “It’s Good to Be Us“! Stay tuned throughout the week for more hot facts about Bucky Covington!

Bucky Covington 2008 Concert Tour                                Dierks Bentley 2008 Concert Tour 

It’s Good To Be Us - Bucky Covington

Arizona native and Nashville bound Dierks Bentley is our latest Artist of the Week. I chose Dierks because he takes a completely grass-roots approach to touring and playing. Performing live has always been his passion, and his real reason for making music. Bentley calls himself a country music missionary, and the live show is his testament.

“I want to wake up every morning thinking I’ve got to make the most of this day,” he says of his open-armed embrace of the road. “If we’re playing a corn-dog fair, I get out there and check out the horses and the cows and the prizes and hang out and meet people. You get to be a country music missionary. You’re touching people’s lives every day. You’re influencing these people. So I try to make the most out of every day.”

When asked about his influences, many of them gained from his time as an intern at The Nashville Network, Dierks Bentley has this to say:

“I’ve stolen from the best, man, for sure. Waylon Jennings’ grit and that attitude, we try to toss it into our show a little bit. Johnny Cash, sometimes you can’t tell if it’s a love song or a spiritual song. I think that’s really cool.”

“It’s not your dad’s country music,” he said. “It’s youthful, it’s runnin’ around, it’s people jumping off stage, it’s a wild show. I think it’s still country music, but I definitely incorporate some other genres in there as far as the feel of the live show goes.”

Dierks Bentley kicked off the latest edition of his live show last week. The Throttle Wide Open Tour features opening acts Bucky Covington and Luke Bryan.

For Dierks Bentley 2008 concert tour dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On Tour