Your New Obsession: The Huge Success of The Driver Era’s Opening Night
The brothers Ross and Rocky Lynch kicked off their Obsession Tour last Friday on March 7th at the Fort Lauderdale War Memorial Auditorium, where they gathered both longtime and new fans to the scene. They will be touring all over America, performing more than fifty shows in the span of five months. The two brothers formed the band back in 2018, leaving behind their previous band, R5. Their debut single was “Preacher Man.” Since then, they have done six tours, including the current Obsession Tour.
Before doors, the line was extending all the way to the parking lot. Thousands of people, dressed and ready, were standing patiently waiting for the 7:00pm doors to open. Some had bedazzled pink cowboy hats, some had feather boas, a ton had signs, and everyone was ready for the funky indie-pop beats that The Driver Era promised to bring to Fort Lauderdale.
The entire event was organized and punctual, with doors opening at 7pm sharp and the opener, Thomas Day, kicking things off with relatable and upbeat style music. Day’s demonstrated impressive stamina, hopping around the stage with ease and never once stopping to catch his breath. Concertgoers praised his music as familiar and catchy, with many cheering as he sang to them. Halfway through his set, Day transitioned to a more ballad-style performance, sitting down at his keyboard and pouring his heart into soulful love songs. The crowd responded by raising their phone lights, bathing the room in a warm, twinkling glow. A fan favorite was one of his closing songs, “We Don’t Sleep,” which had a handful of the crowd dancing and singing along.
After a brief intermission to set the stage, a large white fabric fell from the ceiling, covering the stage. We saw the same type of entrance from the Wallows, who played last month at the same venue.
As the lights dimmed, the opening notes of "Touch" reverberated through the venue, with the bass amplified to pulsating levels and the sound distorted to perfection, creating an electrifying atmosphere. Suddenly, the silhouettes of Ross and Rocky emerged, projected onto the white fabric backdrop, their shadowy figures looming large. The crowd erupted into a frenzy of screams and cheers. Hidden from view, Ross and Rocky performed most of "Touch" from behind the curtain as a captivating light show danced across the stage. As the song came to a close, the curtain fell away, and the duo seamlessly transitioned into the upbeat of "You Keep Me Up at Night."
Throughout the show, a cleverly designed set featuring various props, graphics, and displays complemented the music while also facilitating smooth transitions between songs. A standout element was Ross's use of a telephone and streetlight as a narrative device, often "answering" a ringing phone to introduce the next song. This was exemplified in the transition from the unreleased "The Weekend" to "Same Old Story," where the stage went dark, the phone rang, and the new song began before Ross could even pick up, creating a seamless and engaging flow.
A camera was also used to display live footage of the audience, which was shown on the screen behind them. When this screen wasn’t displaying live footage, it showcased vibrant graphics, including song lyrics and dynamic visuals that perfectly complemented the performance. My personal favorite use of the live footage cam was during the finale song, “A Kiss,” where a kiss cam was displayed on the screen behind them, sweeping through the crowd and encouraging couples to show off their love.
The night ended on a good note, with everyone happy they came, and with both the long time fans and the newcomers leaving with the same satisfaction.
