The Driver Era Brings the Heat to The Met

Article & Photos by Rebecca McDevitt Let’s be real: if your voice wasn’t gone and your shirt wasn’t damp, you didn’t do The Driver Era right.

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Opening the night was VALÉ, a Spanish singer-songwriter whose charisma instantly grabbed the crowd. Her cultural flair added richness to her set, weaving bilingual lyrics and rhythms into a sound that felt both global and deeply personal. Her stage presence? Unmatched. She knew exactly how to work the room, turning The Met into a full-on dance party before the main event even began. Philly was moving, and VALÉ made sure of it.

Full VALÉ Gallery Here

Then came that moment. The lights dimmed. Shadows flickered behind a massive curtain. You could feel the bass from “Touch” pulsing through the floorboards. Just like that, the crowd knew it was time. Deafening screams erupted as silhouettes of Ross and Rocky Lynch teased the audience. Then BOOM, curtain drop. Ross stood center stage, hat tipped, bathed in dramatic light like a living poster. It was pure theater, pure Driver Era.

From there, it was a fever dream of funk, sweat, and synth. “Better” had the crowd losing their minds, and “You Keep Me Up At Night” took that momentum and shot it through the roof. You could feel the band feeding off the energy, letting the night unfold with a loose, unpredictable rhythm only they could pull off.

When “Natural” hit, well… let’s just say the buttoned shirt didn’t stand a chance. Ross, charismatic as ever, bared his chest, and the screams genuinely drowned out the band. Not an exaggeration. Philly hasn’t been that loud since the Eagles won the Super Bowl.

But The Driver Era knows how to ride the wave. Later in the set, they pulled things back with an acoustic version of “Afterglow” that felt like stepping into a dream. It was soft, intimate, and stunning proving that behind the glam and groove, there’s some real songwriting magic happening.

Closing with fan-favorite “A Kiss,” the band left nothing on the stage. It was dizzying. Euphoric. A little sweaty. And entirely unforgettable.

The Driver Era’s blend of 80s-inspired disco-pop, rock riffs, and undeniable sex appeal makes them one of the most electric live acts out right now. Ross might get the screams, but Rocky? He's the secret weapon. The vibe was real. The crowd was crying, dancing, singing every lyric. The Driver Era is continuously proving that this band is more than a vibe. They’re a movement.

Full The Driver Era Gallery Here

If this is The Driver Era, we’re driving straight into the next show.