Alternative pop musical duo The Driver Era are currently on their summer tour, and they made a stop in Chicago on August 12.
The Driver Era: From Disney Stars to Alternative Pop Masters
If you haven’t heard of The Driver Era yet, you will certainly recognize its members. The lead single is no one else other than Ross Lynch, a former Disney Channel actor you might know from portraying Austin Moon in Austin and Ally, or starring in Teen Beach Movie alongside Maia Mitchell. Along with his brother, Rocky Lynch, they used to be part of the pop music band R5, which gave us hits like “Pass Me By,” “Smile,” and “Heart Made Up On You.” Now that they’ve grown up, they decided to make their own band with a more mature sound.
Ever since they debuted their first single as The Driver Era, “Preacher Man,” in 2018, fans have just kept on loving their new style of music. Since then, they have already released two albums, 2019’s X and 2021’s Girlfriend. They have also already gone on three different tours, including the one they’re currently on. These guys never stop! And we’re not complaining at all.
This year, The Driver Era decided to embark on an extensive worldwide tour. Kicking off on August 1 in Sayreville, NJ, the boys are traveling all across the US and Toronto, Canada before heading over to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and Europe. After all of those shows are done, they will come back to the US for one last show in San Diego, CA, on November 18.
Former R5 Band Members Joined Them on Tour
I was lucky enough to catch their show when they made a stop in Chicago on August 12. Let me tell you, these guys put on one hell of a show. Their former R5 bandmates Ellington and Riker joined them on stage to play their respective instruments – drums and bass. Their sister Rydel couldn’t join them this time due to recently having a baby, but hopefully, she’s back on the road next time! Ellington, on the other hand, announced that the Chicago stop would be his last time performing with The Driver Era for a while.
The Driver Era took Summer Salt and Almost Monday on the road with them, and they did a great job warming up the audience as soon as the doors opened. By the time The Driver Era took the stage, everyone was ready to have a great night and sing as loud as they could.
An Extensive Concert Setlist
Their setlist included everything from new to old singles, and even some huge throwbacks to when The Driver Era wasn’t even a thing yet. They kicked off the night with “Keep Moving Forward,” one of their most recent singles released this year. “Natural” and “flashdrive” were next, two of their most chill yet uplifting songs.
They, of course, played “Malibu,” their most recent track released in July. The entire time, The Driver Era members tried to connect with the audience, making sure they were having a great time. At some point in the middle of the concert, even, Ross noticed that someone was not feeling too good, and called security to make sure they were safe.
The Driver Era Made Covers Their Own
Other highlights from the show were “Heart of Mine,” which The Driver Era performed as a remix with Drake’s popular single “Hold On, We’re Going Home.” They also took a fan request, and performed “Welcome to the End of Your Life” even though it wasn’t in the setlist originally. Needless to say, it was clear that the song was a fan favorite as people started screaming as soon as they heard the first notes of it.
The Driver Era showed their musical expertise by performing two other big covers too. The first one, “Rock With You” by Michael Jackson, made all the moms in the audience get up from their seats and start dancing and singing along. The same thing happened with the second one, “Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon. The band made both of the songs their own during the performances and made sure they showcased their dance moves.
Taking Us Back in Time
The band wasn’t done with the surprises, though. Ross took the center stage to perform “On My Own” from his Teen Beach Movie days, which made a lot of girls emotional (me included.) Not too much later, they all performed “Cali Girls,” a 2013 song from R5. Everyone knew all the lyrics by heart!
A Show to Remember
The Driver Era closed the show with “A Kiss,” one of their most funky tracks. The band made sure everyone would leave the show with a good feeling, and they invited the public to dance and sing along with them. Overall, it was a really fun show.
If The Driver Era is coming to a city near you soon, make sure to check them out! It will be a great night full of fun and dancing. I promise you, you won’t regret it. I even brought my boyfriend along, who didn’t know any of their music but ended up becoming a fan. So, make sure to grab your tickets! You can get them at https://www.thedriverera.com/tour
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