The buzz is getting louder for R5


By John Benson

entertainment@vindy.com

In case you didn’t hear, the word on the streets is that rock music is dead.

Pop and hip-hop are ruling the charts with guitar-based music appearing to go the way of the buffalo.

One group who apparently didn’t get the memo is new act R5, a five-piece act featuring four siblings that wants to rock ’n’ roll all night and party every day.

At least that appears to be the band’s MO on its 2013 debut album, “Louder.”

“We wanted to put out a fun album,” said Rydel Lynch (keyboards/vocals) in press materials. “We wanted to make an upbeat and inspirational album you want to play 24/7.”

R5 will make its area debut tonight when it will play before a near-capacity audience at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown.

The band includes Lynch, as well as her brothers Riker (bass/vocals), Ross (lead vocals/guitar) and Rocky (guitar/vocals) along with best friend Ellington Ratliff (drums).

So far, the Colorado band’s singles have only gained notoriety on digital download charts, including the explosive “Forget About You” and hooky debut single “Pass Me By.”

Other “Louder” tracks of note include the arena-rocker “Ain’t No Way We’re Goin’ Home,” the pop based “I Want U Bad” and the party anthem “Love Me Like That.”

Invariably, R5 has attracted a Disney Radio crowd, which only a few years ago is exactly where the band members found themselves. Then the siblings started exploring their musical talents and, well, that’s when things started to take off.

“We were always meant to be on stage together,” Rocky said. “When we were really little, we’d put on shows in the basement. Our mom would get on the phone and invite all our relatives to come over. We charged family members a dollar to watch us.”

In 2007 the family moved to Los Angeles and started a slow road to legitimacy. The band signed a record deal with Hollywood Records; however, Riker and Ross each found success on television. Riker became Jeff, one of the members of the Warblers, the a cappella group featured in “Glee,” while Ross stars in his own series, “Austin & Ally,” now in its third season on the Disney Channel.

The latter led to Ross’ lead role in the 2013 Disney Channel original movie “Teen Beach Movie,” which yielded a No. 1 soundtrack album.

Now it appears things are happening for R5. The young band is hoping music fans just react to its music and come out for a night of fun.

“There are so many crazy things happening every day,” said Riker. “Not everybody had a nice upbringing like we did. But if someone is feeling down, and then they listen to our music and come to our shows, hopefully for that one night they can forget their problems and feel like nothing else matters.

“Let’s just enjoy one another and just have an awesome time together.”

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