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The Driver Era in San Diego: The Obsession Tour
On a warm mid-July evening with the glowing scoreboard of Petco Park as a backdrop, Gallagher Square buzzed with energy as fans gathered for penultimate stop of The Driver Era’s Obsession Tour. Setting the tone was Valé, the thrilling opener handpicked by the band.
Valé Brings the Latin Flair
Before The Driver Era took the stage, the evening began with a powerhouse performance from Valé, a rising artist with a growing online following and a knack for blending vulnerability with stadium-ready hooks. Backed by a tight live band donned in Colombia national team jerseys, Valé commanded the stage with natural charisma and confidence beyond her years. Her set mixed danceable synth beats with emotionally honest lyrics, creating a dynamic push-pull that resonated immediately with the crowd. Songs like “fit mama” and new single “light speed” showcased her knack for writing earworms with bite, while slower moments gave her vocals room to stretch and soar. Between songs, she connected with the audience effortlessly—grinning, bantering, and flaunting a custom fan reading “¡qué calor!”. Though the sun was still up during her set, Vale brought a kind of headliner energy that made it easy to imagine her leading her own tour in the near future. Her presence was fresh and electric — equal parts polished pop star and honest storyteller.
The Driver Era Takes the Wheel
Brothers Ross and Rocky Lynch emerged from the TV-influenced rock outfit R5 before rebranding in 2018 as The Driver Era. This shift marked a bold evolution: away from squeaky-clean pop-rock and into an artfully rough-edged alt-pop/rock sound. Over the past seven years, they’ve refined a style that emphasizes mood, groove, and emotional honesty.
The show opened with theatrical flair: a massive white kabuki curtain concealed the entire stage, backlit to show only the band’s silhouettes as they launched into “Touch.” The effect was dreamlike and cinematic, with the crowd cheering every movement. When the curtain dropped after the final beat, the audience erupted as the band was revealed in full—marking a dramatic and unforgettable start.
From there, the momentum kept rolling. “You Keep Me Up at Night” amped up the energy, followed by “Better” and “The Weekend,” which carried the band’s signature blend of laid-back confidence and tightly crafted hooks. As the sun set, “Same Old Story” and “Don’t Walk Away” gave the night a more reflective tone before a mashup of “Low,” “Say My Name,” and “Nobody Knows” transformed the crowd into one massive chorus. “Everybody’s Lover,” “Nothing Left to Lose,” and “Natural” sustained the momentum. Ross Lynch’s impromptu performance of Teen Beach Movie 2’s track “On My Own” held fans in a kind of suspended awe. A shirtless Ross donned a bright pink cowboy hat in what has become a staple moment of the tour as the main set wrapped up.
After a brief break, the band reappeared for an encore decked out in custom Padres jerseys, earning thunderous applause from the hometown crowd. The encore kicked off with “Rumors,” slid into “Get Off My Phone,” and closed with the high-octane, fan-favorite “A Kiss.” In a moment that sent the crowd into a frenzy, Ross stripped off his jersey and tossed it aside, shirtless and grinning as the front row roared their approval. It was a perfect blend of theatricality, charm, and confidence—the kind of moment The Driver Era has become known for.
From Vale’s effervescent opening to The Driver Era’s rich blend of pop energy and alt-rock purity, this San Diego show proved they’ve firmly stepped into their own. Gallagher Square may be a public lawn, but this night felt carved out in sharp contrast—intimate in emotion, massive in impact.
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