Songs like “Heart of Mine” tore into the crowd full of emotion while “cray z babe e” ensued a sultry dance party. All throughout the show the camaraderie could not be beat and every single song was a mind-blowing hit or an unstoppable fan favorite – or a cover song that ended up being both. It was even felt with the opening acts, Moontower and The Wrecks, who were accepted into the lineup, crowd, and night easily – as if every single person there were their biggest, most adoring fans… They probably left Terminal 5 feeling that way, though. They are a musical, entertained family who bounce love, melodies, riffs, and excitement off one another time and time again. The Driver Era and their fans are family. Terminal 5 lit up with cell phones, not lighters, and fans of all ages bounced and danced instead of ever thinking about throwing an elbow. The Driver Era blend the best qualities of true live music (Picture early 1990s-style club shows) with intense post-modern production (Think: Prince meets Fall Out Boy meets The Weeknd) for an event that is just as nostalgic as it is wholly in the moment. Their fans don’t look too much like rock ‘n roll groupies or even teeny boppers for that matter. These two don’t feel too much like rockstars when rocking out and trading instruments, nor do they come across as a band who grew out of Disney Channel. (With the addition of having to wait on a line two-and-a-half blocks long to get in, of course.) Attending one of their shows, as we did, is as humbling, communal, and fun as going out to see your best friend’s boyfriend’s band play some hole-in-the-wall bar downtown. Rocky and Ross are approachable, shining in front of an audience in a way only true passion and adrenaline can boast.
The Lynch brothers, and siblings altogether, might be notable figures in entertainment and may have some millions of followers caring about what they’re up to, but all of them are down-to-earth before, during, and after taking the stage at a sold out, headline show of theirs. Together, the live band that make up The Driver Era: On Tour encapsulate everything this group has been working toward since day one: reality. It’s expected with the brothers, so while the switch-ups wield little shock value, there is still a genuine thrill that shoots like lightning through the crowd when it happens – and we have to give credit to Rydel Funk and Riker Lynch, the older siblings of the duo, who are masters at keeping the tone of the night leveled out regardless of the spur of the moment happenings – and are simply warm additions to the concert as a whole. With The Driver Era, there is always something new to unlock – whether it be a note change, the evolution of a song’s tempo, or an updated meaning behind a lyric or two.
An energy beyond palpable takes precedence upon their entrance, not only because fans are thrilled to see the band behind some of their favorite songs, but because these favorite songs of theirs are coming to life in new ways. Their music fills a room and gets everyone to their feet like nothing else. Rocky and Ross own the stage from the minute they simply step into the wings. That concept might seem all over the place or that it wouldn’t translate too well on stage, but when we say that couldn’t be farther from the truth, we mean it. Rocky and Ross Lynch are multi-talented brothers whose only artistic fear is to not be 100% themselves in their work, so this literal ‘era’ of their music career is all about their homegrown creativity and DIY-style experimentation.
We are honored that The Driver Era are mainstays on The Aquarian, so they need little introduction. The proof is in this review, but it can experienced the most vicariously and wholeheartedly within the followin g set of otherworldly photos taken by Grace Prachthauser. Terminal 5 is not the most glitzy venue in the Big Apple, but The Driver Era did, in fact, bring all the glamour (and more) when rolling up with the Girlfriend Tour last week.