John R. Emens Auditorium was filled with 3,100 country music fans on Saturday night, as Dierks Bentley performed chart-topping hits such as "What Was I Thinkin'" and "Am I the Only One."
"It is really cool to see up and coming acts in Muncie," junior sales major Aaron Vaughn said. "The atmosphere is great and it really adds to the excitement of Homecoming Weekend."
The concert began at 7:30 p.m., with special guests the Eli Young Band and Jerrod Niemann. Fans cheered, danced and sang along during these opening acts.
The Eli Young Band performed titles such as "Jet Black and Jealous" and "Guinevere." The band closed their set by playing "Crazy Girl," which is number seven on the American Country Countdown and in spot 38 on the USA Singles Top 40 charts this week.
"Even though I came for Dierks Bentley, I love the Eli Young Band, too," Amara Knox, freshman elementary special education major, said. "At first, the atmosphere was pretty chill, but then it got much more concert-like."
Many fans danced and sang along.
"‘Crazy Girl' was my favorite song to dance and sing along to because it's a good groove tune," Mallory Blocher, graduate sports administration major, said.
The Eli Young Band announced that they will be appearing on David Letterman and said that they were shooting footage around campus. The band included the audience in this footage by asking everyone to stand up and shout "Hi, Dave."
"I am just here enjoying the country music tonight," Jordan Huber, sophomore accounting major, said. "I liked the David Letterman announcement and the fact that [some of the performers] wore a hat from BSU."
Niemann followed the Eli Young Band with titles such as "The Buckin' Song" and "I Hope You Get What You Deserve." Fans also recognized songs such as "One More Drinkin' Song," which is number 17 on the American Country Countdown this week. Niemann performed "For Everclear," which he dedicated to the college students.
"I liked Niemann better [than the Eli Young Band], but I came to see Dierks Bentley. I pretty much like all of his songs," Gavin Boshers, freshman secondary mathematics education major, said.
After Niemann's set, Bentley took the stage to perform fan favorites as well as new music. Bentley announced it was good to be back in the area and that he was glad that the audience came to party with him.
"Tonight was fun," Spencer Conner, freshman secondary history education major, said. "I think it's tight because it's on top of homecoming."
Bentley connected with the audience by adding "Ball State" and "Indiana" to his song lyrics. The artist even joked about applying to Ball State.
"It blew my mind when Bentley added Ball State into his music," sophomore business major Briana Jutte said.
As Bentley performed his new single, red, white and blue lights filled the auditorium and he paid tribute to American soldiers for their service.
Wrapping up his performance with "Come a Little Closer," Bentley thanked the audience for coming a little closer at his concert.
"‘Come a Little Closer' was my favorite song tonight," Kimmy Douglas, sophomore hospitality management major, said. "The concert was absolutely amazing and I'll remember the new songs, especially when he mentioned Ball State."
Bentley responded to fans cheering for an encore with "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)" and "What Was I Thinkin.'"
"Bentley was my favorite act tonight," junior biology major Jessica Royse said. "I think this concert was better than homecoming."
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