A white curtain drapes from the ceiling to the floor of the stage at the beautiful Wiltern Theater with its historic Art Deco style architecture. THE DRIVER ERA takes the stage as the lights strobe left and right at different speeds, projecting a silhouette of each band member as they sing a brand new, unreleased song, “Touch”, for the first time.
A pop up show was announced by the band only ten days prior, surprising fans and packing a sold out room. THE DRIVER ERA fronted by the faces of brothers Ross Lynch (lead vocals and rhythm guitar) and Rocky Lynch (vocals and lead guitar) are no strangers to the spotlight as they were in a band together prior as R5, before transitioning to a more mature sound. Bringing on board prior R5 members, Riker Lynch (vocals and bass guitar) and Ellington Ratliff (percussions, keys and vocals).
As the curtain drops after the first song, the energy fly’s high as cyro and confetti blast into the crowd and Ross tells everyone to jump during “Preacher Man”.
“Let’s try something different”, a shirtless Ross says, as they slow down the night with a stripped version of “Heart of Mine”. An upright piano sits centre stage as the full band surrounds a condenser microphone to sing in unison.
Playing another unreleased song, “Over Again”, a heart wrenching song with a theme of realizing past mistakes with someone that was so good to you, “I didn’t cry that time. I cry every time. It got me at soundcheck but I pulled it together”, Riker shares, after the song ends just how much it holds a special place in his heart.
The fans know it’s not about if but when heartthrob Ross will pick up a cowboy hat from the crowd, put it on, slightly hiding his face and knowing his shirt will come off again. Ross knows exactly what makes the crowd go wild and isn’t afraid to feed into it.
Playing their hits like “Low”, “Heaven Angel” and “A Kiss” while treating Los Angeles to a few new unreleased songs like, “You Keep Me Up at Night”, “I’ll Be There”, and “Don’t Walk Away”, THE DRIVER ERA gives a little tease to the new album to come. Recapping the night on their official Instagram, “What a night. Album coming as soon as Rocky and I finish it.”
