The Drifter and the Preacher: Barney Bentall at The Dakota Tavern
On a beautiful October Thursday night, friends, family, and fans filled The Dakota Tavern for a sold-out show to hear Barney Bentall play songs from his newly released album The Drifter & The Preacher, with some old favourites thrown in for good measure.
It’s been thirty years since the Something to Live For video propelled Barney and his band into our living rooms. Throughout those thirty years, we’ve had the pleasure of six Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts albums, six solo albums and three albums released as Brandon Wolf.
Live, on stage, it didn’t feel like thirty years, it felt like yesterday. Smiling and looking very comfortable Bentall remarked how many familiar faces there were in the crowd.
“It’s very nice. There are a lot of familiar faces out there, wherever I turn. I think as an entertainer, well it can do one of two things. It can make you kinda nervous, that’s not a bad thing but it can also make you feel very secure, so thank you for being here.”
Sipping a large glass of water between songs, Barney spun many stories for us. He gave us a real glimpse into the stories behind the songs, and it left me feeling privileged, and lucky.
Throughout the night we were treated to six of eleven songs from the freshly released album. The new music was well received and continues to highlight Bentall’s songwriting gift. He sings about real life, about love, and about sorrow. We’re very glad Jim Cuddy suggested Barney make another record and it’s a nice little bonus that we get to hear Jim sing on Won’t Change the World.
The Drifter & The Preacher feels like a Barney Bentall album and that’s pretty close to perfect. Barney is joined on the opening track, The Miner by his son Dustin, and during the show, he told a story about being nervous about the track. We think they’re spectacular together and I can only hope there are more collaborations in store.
It’s been five years since we’ve heard new music from Bentall, but he hasn’t been sitting on a beach somewhere, he’s been busy. When he’s not making music or otherwise enmeshed with the arts, he’s a cattle rancher. A profession which is very hard work and he’s the first to admit, it may have taught him to complain just a little bit less about the life of a musician.
I’ve been listening to the album for a little while now and to be honest, I still haven’t picked a favourite song.
The Drifter & The Preacher is available everywhere. You can get it on Apple Music here, on Amazon here and you can listen on Spotify here.
Barney Bentall Setlist: The Dakota Tavern
※ Hold My Heart
※ A Man IsThe Miner
※ Sending Out a Message
※ The Drifter
※ Dream of a Day
※ Life Could Be Worse
※ In The Morning
※ Come Back to Me
※ The Preacher
※ Long Lovely Love Affair
※ The Balad of Old Tom Jones
※ Something to Live For
※ Don’t Wait For Marie
※ Say Goodbye to Albert Comfort
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