Launched in 2018 following the hiatus of their previous band, R5, siblings Ross and Rocky Lynch launched their new creative project, The Driver Era. This new chapter would soon gain national attention as a fresh view of the ever-changing indie music scene. Experimental and alt-rock driven, The Driver Era's evolving discography combines everything we enjoy in music today.
Consisting of members Ross, Rocky, & Riker Lynch, Dave Briggs, Ellington Ratliff, and Garrison Jones, the group has spent the last 5+ years spanning the nation in back-to-back tours, other live appearances, and multiple album releases.
Hailing from Barranquilla, Colombia, artist Valé brought an infectious energy and edge to her set this year. I had the absolute pleasure of seeing her during her previous leg of her tour in 2024 and was beyond elated to hear she would be back on this run.
Something about her confidence translates perfectly, not only through her music but also through her dance. Valé brings a vibrant performance, teeming with crowd interaction, strong rhythm, and unmistakable talent.
Carrying an impressive 40k monthly Spotify listeners, she surely is a force to be reckoned with. With those numbers only climbing in recent months, it surely is only the start of an incredible and influential career for Valé. One thing's for certain: she will always be welcome back to North Carolina.
Valé by @ashleyymck
There will never be a dull moment at a (The) Driver Era show. They're wild, magnetic, and raw, all at the same time. Each show is filled with Ross dancing his heart away and truly feeling the music he creates, Rocky upholding his incredible production value, and Riker showing his incredible skills as a musician and dancer, I must say.
Seeing as this is my third show (and tour) that I have had the pleasure to consume, I still never know what to expect. Each show is predictable in some aspects but still feels truly authentic in its own way.
Their music truly is made to be performed. The energy drawing from the crowd and radiating from the stage is almost otherworldly. A single bass line can send everyone reeling, and the boys feed off of that energy to carry these performances into something you can't help yearning for.
Raleigh was a show in itself, something you truly had to bear witness to to describe. Red Hat is one of my favorite local venues; although I am partial to amphitheaters in themselves, the location is next level. A combination of your favorite groovy tunes, a gorgeous sunset, and the beaming city lights somehow breathes a whole different air into any performance. Intimate, yet wide-spanning, Red Hat fosters a mix between nature and inherent talent, something you can't help but enjoy.
The Obsession Tour has brought a whole new light to what we once knew as The Driver Era. Something about the new releases, and even the unreleased (one of my favorite songs of the night), is shifting them into an even more electric, soulful, and emotionally driven light. It's so hard to describe, but they continue to shift into their own genre and space. Constantly evolving and breaking limits before they are even in place.
Production value is 100% one of the most important aspects of a live performance, and they hit the mark on every single point, especially on this tour. Lighting that is absolutely incredible, especially from a photography standpoint, and a set design that gives view to everything the show has to offer. Not to mention the first song, which includes a kabuki drop, which is always my personal favorite way to kick off any show.
Regardless of your depth in the fandom, seeing this band live is a lifetime must. Whether it's a one-off show or following them on their next tour, it will surely bring nights of endless "obsession" over the viral sensation that is The Driver Era.
The Driver Era by @ashleyymck
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