The Driver Era sold out the Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse on Thursday, drawing in students and locals for a high-energy alternative rock and pop music performance.
As a part of Tulane University Campus Programming’s annual concert, students could get tickets for free using their Tulane ID number, and other attendees could buy tickets for $40.
The Los Angeles-based duo consists of Ross and Rocky Lynch, a rebrand of their former band R5, which was made up of Ross, Rocky, Riker and Rydel Lynch — four out of their five-sibling clan — and drummer Ellington Ratliff.
The Driver Era gained immediate popularity with their debut single, “Preacher Man,” in 2023. In addition to his music career, fans may know Ross as an actor in shows and films such as “Austin & Ally,” “Teen Beach Movie,” “My Friend Dahmer” and “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.”
The night opened with Tulane student DJ Tom Saul, recent winner of TUCP’s Battle of the DJs. He performed for around an hour and a half before the sibling duo took the stage to an excited crowd of students and locals.
The duo’s charisma was obvious immediately. Ross, in particular, had an exciting stage presence and was excellent at connecting with the audience. His mesmerizing dance skills — perhaps learned during his Disney Channel days — were the star of the show.
Their setlist was extremely well-curated. They seamlessly transitioned from more chill songs, such as “I’d Rather Die,” “Natural” and “Malibu,” to electrifying ones, such as “Nobody Knows,” “Preacher Man” and “Get Off My Phone.”
Fans may have been familiar with Ross’s musical talents, but as the show proved, Rocky is equally as talented as his teenage star brother. Together, The Driver Era truly became a musical powerhouse.
Ross made several Tulane and New Orleans-specific references during the show. As he spotted The Hullabaloo Cheer banner from across the stage in Devlin Fieldhouse, he made an attempt to sing it, which had the audience laughing. He also mentioned how their band’s bongosero would do well on Bourbon Street.
A highlight of the show was when they performed their hit song “Rumors.” It is such a danceable track that had everyone in the audience grooving and the room’s energy high.
The Driver Era finished off the show with their most popular song, “A Kiss,” which currently has over 70 million streams on Spotify. The audience definitely knew this tune the best, and it was the perfect way to end the party.
There was unfortunately no encore, much to the audience’s disappointment. At the beginning of the show, Ross mentioned he was feeling a bit under the weather, so perhaps that was why.
The Driver Era was an incredible pick for the annual spring concert: They came with zestful energy, enjoyable music and an invigorating stage presence.