The crowd buzzed with anticipation as students waited for their — for many — childhood crush to take the stage. Student Programming Board’s Wake the Giant was set to begin with The Driver Era, the duo of brothers Ross and Rocky Lynch, ready to take the stage. What were we all expecting? An unforgettable, high energy performance. And what did we get? Exactly that.
Sunday, April 26, The Driver Era took over M&T Bank Arena, delivering the kind of show fans had been counting down to all week. After a pre-show hype-up set by Zeddy Will, the final minutes ticked down towards 9 p.m., with students anxiously awaiting for the lights to drop.
But the anticipation started long before showtime.
Lines wrapped around the arena, with some arriving as early as 11 a.m., and doors opening at 7 p.m., all for a chance to get as close to the stage as possible. Because, really, who wouldn’t want that front-row view of Ross Lynch?
“I am very excited to be here, very excited, we have a pretty good spot in line. We got here at like 4:15 p.m. maybe and the line is definitely growing,” first-year biomedical science major Caitlin Diaz said.
And while the crowd skewed heavily female, the draw went beyond just seeing a heartthrob. There was something deeper driving most of the crowd. For many, Ross isn’t just an artist. He’s a memory, a childhood staple. A name tied to Disney Channel marathons and early teen obsessions that clearly never fully faded.
“I came to Wake the Giant because Ross Lynch was one of my childhood celebrity crushes. I don’t know much about his music this year, but because of who he is and who he was in my childhood, I decided to come,” junior occupational therapy major Isabelle Blend said.
I mean yeah, we’re all pretty much in the same boat.
Best known for his roles in “Teen Beach Movie” and “Austin & Ally,” Ross was the original pull for most people. Even now for people years later, that connection has never really disappeared, it’s evolved into something more nostalgic.
“I’m just like a little girl living her childhood dreams,” first-year health science major Abigail Castro said.
And that feeling set up the tone for many students’ nights.
“I feel like I’ve grown up with him. He was so young on [Disney Channel] and I was like a baby, and now that I’m in college and he’s so much older, it does feel like I’ve grown up with him,” first-year physical therapy major Theresa Semaria said.
Still, not everyone came for nostalgia. Some in the crowd were longtime fans of The Driver Era, excited to see the duo take the stage, and some not for the first time.
“I grew up listening to R5 which was their band before with their family,” first-year health science studies major Emily Tornberg said. “I saw them twice and this is my third time seeing them in concert.”
Others did their homework leading up to the show.
“Since they were announced, all we’ve been doing is listening to them. Like they’ve been our top artist on Spotify for the past week,” first-year film major Kira Debello said.
By 7 p.m., tickets were checked and doors were opened, allowing students to finally make their way into the arena, excitement in the air. SPB handed out free merch and glow sticks to the first wave of attendees. The floor filled, seats were taken and the energy from inside the arena shifted from anticipation to full on expectation.
For some, it was their first time this close to a stage.
“I am so excited — I don’t think I’ve ever been this close to a stage for a concert ever,” first-year health science studies major Emma Zavory said.
And while some came for the music, others had additional expectations. The overall consensus was clear: people were hoping Ross Lynch’s shirt would come off.
“If his shirt came off I’d be really excited. I’m just anticipating a great show and him being super sexy,” junior media studies Isabella Salpietro said.
The priorities in the room were clear — this wasn’t just about his music. Fair.
The lights dropped and fans anticipated their entrance.
A roar swept through the arena as The Driver Era finally took the stage, immediately launching into their opening song and sending the crowd into chaos.
From the first moments, the connection between the band and the audience was clear. Ross appeared on stage in a red shirt layered under a black zip-up, glasses on and jeans, casually stepping into the spotlight as screams echoed throughout the arena, many fans still holding out hope those top layers wouldn’t last long.
The set moved quickly, through high energy tracks like “You Keep Me Up At Night,” “Same Old Story” and “Don’t Walk Away.” Between songs, the band shared light banter, creating a more personal feel to the night.
Rocky brought an easy, slightly awkward humor that made the performance feel less distant and more like the crowd was in on the moment with them.
By the middle of the set, the energy was built further, highlighting outside songs like “Say My Name” and “I Got A Feeling.”
The duo shared playful moments with each other, often playing their electric guitar side by side with a clear sibling connection that came through in a way that moved and played off each other on stage. Their backing band also deserves major credit for keeping the energy consistently high and perfectly supporting their performance and sound.
The set continued with songs like “Heaven Angel,” “When You Need A Man” and “Natural.”
One of the band’s most anticipated songs, “Malibu” easily got the crowd going. The energy peaked as the band leaned into the song’s familiarity, with fans fully singing along. “Afterglow” and “Rumors” were some more crowd favorites that got people going.
But nothing beat when Ross Lynch pulled out “On My Own” from “Teen Beach Movie.” The arena erupted. For many, it was the crossover they had been waiting for, the perfect blend of past and present.
And while the night included everything from high energy performance to more stripped back vocals, the crowd’s focus never really shifted. Whether it was nostalgia, curiosity or pure excitement, the audience stayed locked from start to finish.
And while we never got the full shirt off, the sleeve roll up was a nice enough tease.
The band closed out the night with their hit song “A Kiss” while wearing SPB cowboy hats, a truly perfect way to round out the night.
For students, the verdict was clear.
“10/10 show, I could really feel it deep in my soul. Through my heart, that bass was bumping, the vibes were up, we were having a great night,” first-year diagnostic medical sonography major Alyssa Conaty said.
And for those there for the nostalgic factor, the night absolutely delivered.
“As someone who grew up watching ‘Teen Beach Movie,’ watching Ross Lynch sing ‘On My Own’ was life-changing. Life-changing. Highlight of my life,” first-year occupational therapy major Lily O’Connell said.
For those who came in less familiar with The Driver Era, it’s safe to say many are leaving as fans now.
“I’ve already started adding more of his songs to my summer playlist and the songs were just even better live,” first-year history major Jordan Fulton said. “This was such a good way to spend one of the last weekends at school.”
And what makes Wake the Giant so special is exactly that — giving students access to once-in-a-lifetime experiences on campus.
“This was different because we were able to get up close and really see Ross Lynch where as other converts we wouldn’t have gottewn to get that close,” first-year criminal justice and psychology major Megan Mast said.
As the arena lights came on and students made their way out, the energy from the night lingered.
There was a noticeable mixture of energy, excitement, disbelief and maybe a few who were disappointed with the lack of abs shown. But whether students came for nostalgia, the music, or something a little bit more specific, Wake the Giant delivered a night that somehow met all of those expectations at once.
I think it was clear from many that this was definitely one of the best nights of their semester and a great way to round out the school year.
