The Driver Era pulls out all the stops at a sold out Greek Theatre
June 11th, 2023- LOS ANGELES
With growing anticipation of a new documentary movie filming at the venue, you can expect a show unlike any other. Following their Summer 2022 Tour the brother duo of Ross and Rocky Lynch brought The Driver Era back to Los Angeles this past Sunday for an electric night under the stars at the legendary Greek Theater in the Hollywood hills.
To help warm up the crowd’s vocal cords and get our blood pumping, leave it to no other than the San Diego Indie-Pop Trio Almost Monday to have everyone up on their feet. Leading their set with “Only Wanna Dance” allowed for a constant wave of movin’ and groovin’ from the crowd rolling in. Special thank you to Almost Monday for bringing the summer sun vibes to a cloudy Hollywood night with their hit songs from 2022 like “sunburn,” “sun keeps on shining,” and “cough drops” along with a special debut of their brand new song “life goes by.”
Rocky and Ross Lynch. Photo via @TheDriverEra on Instagram by Nadja Aumueller.
Between sets, a wave of screaming cheers and waving hands roll through the bowl while a drone flies overhead capturing the excitement and pure thrill in a sea of cowboy hats and sparkly makeup. The screams kept coming with a special guest introduction to the show by Ryland Lynch and Austin and Ally star Calum Worthy. Prepping the crowd on the night’s energy which included the addition of 18 cameras around the venue filming for their new movie.
With a flash of the house lights and a pump of smoke, the fans are standing by ready to greet The Driver Era.
“Los Angeles! Welcome to our movie!” screamed Ross after coming to the stage.
Kicking off the show with “Feel You Now,” from their 2019 Album X, the build of flashing lights, smoke, and Rocky’s guitar solos performed right on the edge of the stage, you already knew you were in for a special treat.
Following up with a “Natural” the lights shift from yellow to red while the fans’ screams get even louder as Ross Lynch “turns it up and strips down” his sparkling sequin jacket giving the fans a tasteful shoulder tease while pulling his shirt collar down.
Heart hands rise to the sky from the crowd with the start of the unreleased “Summertime Baby” “cause we all might fall in love tonight” with Driver Era of course.
“Holy f*ck…Wow,” said Ross in between songs while staring into a sea of nearly six thousand fans. Couldn’t have said it better myself. The group followed that with a massive thank you to the crowd in saying “best fans in the world.”
Splitting the venue in half down the middle, “Afterglow” became a Rocky Side versus Ross Side duet. During a pop/rock blend of “OMG Plz Don’t Come Around” to “Like a King” visuals of cassette tapes fly through the screens.
Without a doubt watching them on stage, you will never not hear a scream come from the crowd. Never a quiet moment at a Driver Era show. “Sorry to your hearing,” said Ross as he unbuttons and takes off his shirt during “When You Need A Man.” Rocky absolutely killing a guitar solo at the end of “Places” right up on the edge of the stage giving those on barricade the time of their lives.
“Question -- Do ya’ll see Calum Worthy and Raini Rodriguez?” said Ross after sitting down center stage with his acoustic guitar. The crowd instantly cheers while the screens show a camera pan to Calum and Raini in the crowd. After asking the crowd to follow in the iconic three claps from the main title song “Can’t Do It Without You” from Austin and Ally the crowd is hit with a wave of nostalgia as everyone screams the 2012 lyrics back to Ross. But the Disney nostalgia doesn’t stop there with “On My Own” from Teen Beach Movie 2.
If you are looking for a way to get a crowd of around six thousand to all jump in unison just play “Nobody Knows” and have Ross Lynch break dance on stage. It’s just that simple. Bright flashing neon lights fill the Greek with lyrics of “Keep Moving Forward” flashing on the screen, and with its funky guitar riffs there is not a fan in the building that isn’t grooving to the beat.
The audience is met with some thunder and lightning, which luckily for the outdoor venue it was only on the screens to lead in a shirt strip from Ross introing “Fantasy” and a roar of screams from the crowd.
Following a quick outfit change, now in a sheer red top paired with black leather pants bring on “Heaven Angel” which get accompanied by a ballerina dancer (Leah) coming from the middle of the crowd and ending up on stage to dance out the extended rock outro and smoke pyrotechnics.
Slowing it down just a bit to let the crowd catch their breath, Ross dedicates “I Got You, You Got Me,” to his family. While swaying back and forth Ross, Rocky, and Riker, the duo’s oldest brother and an original R5 member, harmonize the chorus while the screens show fans swaying and hugging one another while singing back.
It wouldn’t be a Driver Era concert without an R5 reunion onstage. Welcoming out Rydel Funk, and Ellington Ratliff they cover “All Night” while playing old tour footage of R5 behind them on the screens with ironically matching choreography.
Bring out your phone lights because it’s time LA’s clouds part so we can see some shining stars. With Ross on piano and Rocky seated beside him with a guitar they cover yet another R5 song “Lay Your Head Down.” “Bro Look,” Ross said to Rocky as he gestured his head at the crowd and their swaying lights.
Ross Lynch and the crowd at the Greek Theatre. Photo via @TheDriverEra on Instagram by Nadja Aumueller.
Before starting “San Francisco” Ross pulls at everyone’s heartstrings by briefly talking about the heartbreak he felt while writing the song. He even goes on to say “You know the thing about heartbreak… the only thing that helps is music.” The Hollywood Hills are illuminated once again by twinkling lights from the crowd and everyone is struck with heartwarming visuals of Stormie and Mark Lynch (parents of Rocky and Ross) at the front of the stage watching in awe as their kids sing at the iconic Greek Theater, in front of thousands.
“Take Me Away” follows with Ross still on piano with its slower intro making way for an explosive beat drop with Rocky and Riker in the back on guitar and bass.
“You like to dance,” asked Ross after having a three-song slow down, “Malibu” is just what the crowd needed to bring the energy back up. With its salsa, hip-swing beat it’s a perfect moment for the dancing bootcamp Ross Lynch got from the Teen Beach Movies to pay off as they bring two Salsa dancers to pair with Riker and Ross on stage.
With one last song before encore, we are met head to head with a drum solo to introduce “Preacher Man.” The energy on stage from Ross Lynch was infectious not a single person could be spotted sitting in their seat, especially when Ross comes down off stage to greet those on the barricade.
With an encore chant from the crowd, and a static moment of house lights the encore has begun with everyone coming to the stage in a suit and tie looking classier than ever with “Heart of Mine.” During this song, it was hard to not stare at the crowd instead of Driver Era as a sea of rainbow lights fill the venue with a fan project of colored paper hearts successfully working in every section.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you. We wouldn’t be doing this without all of y’all, and especially all of y’all,” said Ross as he motioned to both his production crew and the crowd.
“Low” follows with a Ross and Rocky face-to-face guitar solo battle, with Ross playfully pushing Rocky leading Ross to somehow fall back to the floor. “Kiss” closes out The Driver Era Movie at the Greek Theater. Ross blows a kiss to the crowd as they leave the stage, and roll the credits — legitimately.
Turn the music up with The Driver Era on the road this summer while they continue to tour the globe headlining shows and playing at festivals like Pinkpop, Lollapalooza Paris, and more!