A Hot Summer Night with The Driver Era

It was hot in Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater, but not just because of the sweltering temperature outside. The Driver Era opened by Valé electrified and excited the crowd and had everyone sweating from screaming, singing, and dancing. Hailing from Barranquilla, Colombia, Valé brought incredible vibrance to her opening set with her fun crowdwork, dazzling stage presence, and high-energy songs such as “fit mami” and “lightspeed”. The tension through the crowd was palpable as we waited for The Driver Era, composed of brothers Ross and Rocky Lynch, to take the stage. After their first song “Touch”, which was performed with the duo silhouetted behind a huge kabuki curtain, the crowd erupted in screams when the two brothers were revealed. 

This band is so entertaining to see live because of lead singer Ross’s energy and insane stage presence, the musical talent of Rocky on guitar showcased by a live looping guitar sequence, and the ability of both of them to sound incredible together simultaneously singing and playing together in the steamy Nashville summer heat. Among some of the highlights of the night were “Natural” (which caused the audience to practically combust in excitement), covers of “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child and “I Gotta Feeling” by Black Eyed Peas, their acoustic rendition of “Afterglow” with the crowd’s voices reverberating off the walls with every lyric, and the insane mounting energy from the entire band alongside awesome visuals for “I’d Rather Die” into “Don’t Take The Night”. With an encore trifecta of “Rumors”, “Get Off My Phone”, and “A Kiss”, The Driver Era nailed it when it came to delivering heat to Nashville, Tennessee.

- Lillie Hollabaugh

Photos Courtesy of Lillie Hollabaugh (For Bell Music Magazine)