Because of the "Battle of the Band" themes there are few lines paying homage to older songs. Louis says about Ren "Don't look at her, she'll turn us to stone" which is a nod to the ELO song "Turn To Stone". The "Sacramento Girls" song is a nod to Y&T's "Summertime Girls". The techno band that Louis forms with Tawny & Tom is a nod to Devo.
At the kids concert toward the end, when Louis calls out for people to "Stay off the towers", this is a reference to the Woodstock concert. Last minute emcee Chip Monck told people to stay off the speaker towers during the rain storm so they wouldn't get hurt by lightning.
Among the people waiting in line to audition for Louis' band is Shia's real-life father Jeffrey LaBeouf.