Nashville’s famed Exit/In was part of the early days of Dierks Bentley‘s career, and now he helped be part of the music venue’s final chapter. After the disappointing closure of Exi/In in November, Bentley returned to record his performance video for “Same Ol’ Me,” from his forthcoming Gravel & Gold album.

“My first time playing Exit/In was just as meaningful to me as playing the Ryman and Bridgestone Arena,” Bentley maintains. “I opened for Asleep at the Wheel before I had a record deal or anything. A manager was supposed to come watch me play, but they didn’t show up. I had a few too many Busch Lights and passed out under a bench. The last thing I remember hearing was Ray Benson’s booming voice.

“I woke up around 4:00 AM and realized I was all alone!” he continues. “It was bittersweet to be in there during the last days of December as they were closing it down. I felt honored to take a shot with the guys and toast to the history there and turn the lights off.”

Bentley’s Gravel & Gold, out on February 24, is 14 songs that became a labor of love for Bentley to create for his fans.

“It’s been a long road. A 20-year journey filled with highs and lows, twists and turns,” Bentley said in the album’s trailer. “My love for country music, that’s what’s always kept me going. Town to town, show to show, small clubs to packed arenas. I worked hard, I took chances, went for things. The journey isn’t where I’ve been. It’s the thing I carry with me into my tenth album. I wrote, I recorded. It wasn’t good enough.

“I threw it out and started over. Twice,” he continues. “I had to get it right, for the fans, for me. It had to be the best country music I’ve ever made. Everyone showed up. My heroes and my friends. We did it together. It’s the love, the lessons, the gravel and gold.”

Exit/In is reportedly reopening under new owners. The venue, which was purchased by AJ Capital, was found severely vandalized when they entered the property after the first of the year.

“Upon entry, we were shocked and disheartened to find both buildings vandalized with significant damage including broken and/or missing fixtures, broken glass, and destroyed utilities and infrastructure,” Tim Ryan of AJ Capital said, via The Tennessean.

Pre-order of Gravel & Gold is available here. Find all music and tour dates at Dierks.com.