In my seven years of covering music, I’ve seen many bands come and go. When I was introduced to R5 in 2013, I knew that there was something special about them. They would definitely be around for more than the typical “four years” that people give bands.
Siblings Ross, Rocky, Riker, and Rydel Lynch, along with longtime friend Ellington Ratliff are not your average twenty-somethings. Each member boasts an incredible resume; from singing and performing to dancing and acting, they can literally do it all.
Their work speaks for itself, too. After going ghost for almost two years to work on other projects (and music of course), the band released a brand-new EP called New Addictions and it’s literally my new addiction. The five-song extended play has the perfect blend of pop, rock, and R&B sounds, all while showcasing the band’s growth since their last release Sometime Last Night (2015). Ross, Rocky, Riker, Rydel, and Ellington took a greater writing and production role than ever before with New Addictions, and its probably the best music they have out so far. It’s fun, groovy, and bound to get you up and on your feet.
One of the main reasons why I enjoy R5 so much is because of their live shows. These guys (and gal) are seasoned performers, so they know how to work a crowd. Ross, Rocky, Riker, Rydel, and Ellington also put a twist onto their music when they perform it live, giving it more of a rock sound rather than a pop sound. To put it in one word, an R5 show is simply exhilarating.Â
On July 16th, I headed out to The Glass House in Pomona, CA to see the band on their New Addictions Tour. As I mentioned before, R5 is probably one of my favorite bands to see, so you can already imagine how stoked I was to watch their set and hear the new music live.
Before the show, I spoke with Ross and Rocky to chat about New Addictions and how the band has grown since their previous releases. The guys also shared that they do work on new music whenever they have a moment and can’t wait for everyone to hear the new material soon.
Watch the full interview below…Â
Giving the standing-room only venue a chill vibe with killer lighting, R5Â dazzled fans with a set list of hits, fan favorites, covers, and their newest gems.
Opening with their current single “If,” the band kicked up the energy to an even higher notch by rocking out to songs like “Easy Love,” “Trading Time,” “F.E.E.L.G.O.O.D.” and “Heart Made Up On You.” Things got really intense when they played the OG tracks, including “Cali Girls,” “(I Can’t) Forget About You,” and “I Want U Bad.” Everyone was singing along!
There was a sweet change of pace mid-set when the spotlight was turned to Ross for his version of “Repeating Days,” “Loud,” and a cover of John Mayer’s “Waiting On The World to Change.” It wasn’t quiet for long though, as the full band came back with New Beat Fund for a fiery performance of one of my personal favorites, “Red Velvet.” Just to reassure that everyone was enjoying themselves, Ross, Riker, Rocky, Rydel, and Ellington closed their set with “Did You Have Your Fun?” and BOY DID I HAVE FUN. I think everyone in the audience could agree with me on that, too.
The first leg of the New Addictions Tour may be over, but the band has said multiple times that more dates will be announced soon. When they are announced, I HIGHLY recommend you go out to one of their shows — you seriously won’t regret it!
Keep up with R5 by following them on Twitter and Instagram.
