The Driver Era :: Vale
June 16, 2025
Ascend Amphitheater, Nashville TN
Gallery and Review by Grace Davis
On Juneβ―24,β―2025, The Driver Era lit up the Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville with a stunning performance as part of their ongoing Obsession Tour. Ross and Rocky Lynch, brothers who have evolved far beyond their Disney fame, have cultivated a fiercely loyal fan base that really showed up. Fans packed the amphitheater early with anticipation, many decked out in handmade merch, glitter, and signs with lyrics and personal messages. The band took the stage around 9:15 p.m., opening with a dramatic curtain drop during the opening notes of their song βTouch,β instantly setting the tone for a night that was as theatrical as it was musically tight. From the very first song, it was clear The Driver Era wasnβt just coasting on nostalgia. Their setlist was full of tracks showing that their skilled musicianship translated from record to live seamlessly. Ross Lynch took over most of the stage with confidence, switching effortlessly between playful antics and quieter moments of sincere connection. Rocky was the steady backbone on guitar and keys, holding down the arrangements with precision.
What stood out was how personal the show felt despite the size of the venue. The band created a space that felt communal and alive. Ross frequently interacted with fans by taking moments to respond to signs and shout out crowd members. They didnβt shy away from their past either. They even threw in a nod to their early career with a brief βTeen Beach Movieβ reference that sent long-time fans into a nostalgic spiral.
The amphitheater setup allowed fans further back to enjoy a more relaxed view with excellent sound and visuals, aided by moody lighting and stylized video projections that enhanced the showβs vibe without overpowering it. They had a very captivating visual that I had never seen before. Lead singer Ross would carry around a retro handheld camcorder that cast live footage onto the big screens from his POV, keeping the audience hooked.
By the time they closed with βA Kissβ, the amphitheater was a sea of movement with fans dancing, screaming, and holding each other. It was a true display of what makes The Driver Era so compelling in 2025βnot just their sound, but the community theyβve built. Their growth from Disney stars to risk-taking musicians has been steady and authentic. The Nashville show was a celebration of everything theyβve become and everything their fans have grown through with them.
VALΓ is a vibrant Colombian-born Latinβpop artist who brought an infectious energy to Nashville as the opening act for The Driver Eraβs Obsession Tour. She kicked off the night with dynamic bilingual tracks and highβenergy beats that had the crowd at the barricade immediately clapping, dancing, and shouting along. She kept up a steady pace with no slow moments as she moved across the stage with her four-piece band. She played her top tracks like βfit mamiβ and her newly released βvueltasβ. Her performance was as vivacious, leaving the crowd perfectly primed for the headliners.
