Greta Van Fleet a Michigan foursome, broke onto the rock scene last summer with their debut four-track EP Black Smoke Rising and have continued to rise ever since. The band’s first single “Highway Tune” is a huge online success story having achieved over 12 million views on YouTube. Barely into their 20’s (two are not even 20) this young “retro” group have been selling out venues all over the US this spring. The band consists of three brothers, Josh Kiska (vocals), Jacob Kiska (guitar), Sam Kiska (bass) and childhood friend Danny Wagner (drums)
Their set started with the aforementioned “Highway Tune,” getting the already hyped crowd ready for some “modern nostalgia.” The next track was “Edge of Darkness,” the highlight was when lead guitarist Jake Kiszka did some solos and some behind the head shredding. DNM had attended GVF show last year at Rock Allegiance 2017 and found the members to be pretty stationary while performing. It seems like they have gained so much stage presence in the last 7 months that they were almost a different band.
About halfway through their set, Sam Kiska got behind the keyboard for a mellower moment with the song “You’re the One” then they went right into an energetic cover of Howling Wolf’s “Evil.”
GVF ended the night with an encore of their hits “Black Smoke Rising” and “Safari Song” invoking a huge sing a long from the Philly crowd. The band is show they are getting more and more comfortable in what they have become, which is one of the most exciting new bands to come around in a long time.
Setlist
- Highway Tune
- Edge of Darkness
- When the Cold Wind Blows
- Talk on the Street
- Flower Power
- You’re the One
- Evil
(Howlin’ Wolf cover) - Mountain of the Sun
- Watching Over
- Lover Leaver Taker Believer
(With “Rollin and Tumblin” and… more ) - Encore:
Black Smoke Rising - Safari Song
2018 Tour Dates:
05/18 – Columbus, OH @ Rock on the Range Music Festival
05/20 – Gulf Shores, AL @ Hangout Music Festival
05/22 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
05/23 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
05/25 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
06/01-03 – Mendig, DE @ Rock am Ring Festival
06/01-03 – Nuremberg, DE @ Rock im Park Festival
06/18 – Paris, FR @ Download Festival Paris
Greta Van Fleet
