Greta Van Fleet Get Homecoming Show

Standing to the side of the stage, waiting to shoot the first three songs, the music started. Not the hard rock that is normally associated with Greta Van Fleet, but an orchestral piece accompanied by a light show playfully dancing off of the large curtain that covered the stage. The music and lights continued to build until in a grand crescendo, the curtain dropped. Standing on a riser behind the drum kit were four silhouettes waving to the crowd. Josh Kiszka, the group’s lead singer greeted the fans before the band launched into “The Falling Sky” from their fourth album, Starcatcher.

This was a homecoming show, of sorts, for the band. Originally from Frankenmuth, Michigan, this was the band’s only stop in their home state on this current tour. The Michigan crowd turned out to welcome the band home as they packed the Van Andel Arena for one of their last dates before beginning the European leg of their tour.

After wrapping up a hard rocking version of “The Falling Sky,” (complete with fireworks and pyrotechnics), the band launched into “The Indigo Streak” (also off their newest album), and then “Caravel.” The band really helped drive the energy during the early part of the show, using catwalks at the side of the stage to get closer to fans in the bowl seats. After a few more songs, the band launched into an extended version of their breakout song, “Highway Tune.” During an instrumental section, Josh (who was already glammed out in a rhinestone suit) reached into the pit and donned a feather boa and Elton John-esque sequined glasses. They immediately launched into an instrumental heavy song called, “Runaway Blues.” At the conclusion of this song, the Kiszka brothers (Josh, Jake, and Sam) left the stage leaving only the band’s drummer Daniel Wagner. Wagner then launched into an absolute showcase of his drumming skills, playing a solo that was easily over 5 minutes long.

One of the highlights of the early set came after their performance of “Heat Above.” Josh walked up to the front of the stage and addressed the crowd. He notified the crowd that if they sneaked in “one of those little bottles of alcohol,” now would be the time to take them. He then proceeded to pull a shot from the pit and down it in front of the cheering crowd.

After Wagner finished the extended drum solo, he got up from the drum set and posed on the riser before the lights went out. To the surprise of the audience, a new set of lights popped on from the back of the arena. There, on a smaller stage were Josh and Sam (the band’s bassist and keyboard player). Josh explained that this is one of his favorite parts of the set because he can be closer to the fans in different parts of the crowd. The brothers launched into a stripped down cover of “Unchained Melody” featuring only vocals and piano. After the duo finished the song, they were joined by Jake and Daniel for a mini-acoustic set that saw them perform “Waited All Your Life,” and “Black Smoke Rising.”

Once the acoustic set was finished, Josh was escorted back to the main stage on the shoulders of a security guard, handing out flowers to the crowd along the way. The other band members also traveled along the floor section of the arena, greeting fans as they made their way back to the stage.

The band then launched into a trio of songs from Starcatcher that brought the show to the end of the main set. The encore began with a cover of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” performed on piano and drums. The full band took the stage for two more songs, including “Light My Love,” and the aptly titled, “Farewell for Now.”

As I took in this juggernaut of a set, I couldn’t help but notice how loud the crowd was throughout the entire show. For years, people have been saying that rock-and-roll is dead. While it may not be as prominent these days, shows like this prove that rock is anything but dead. I was fortunate enough to have time to take in the crowd from the floor right before the show began. The community that I saw was unlike anything I’ve seen at a rock show in a long time. Fans were doing the wave in the lower bowl, attendees were dressed in costumes, waving signs, and having a great time. These are the kinds of shows that help you remember why live music is one of the best experiences you can have.

Greta Van Fleet is currently in Europe, but you will have the opportunity to catch the band on a short run of U.S. dates in August before the band heads to Asia. You can find the band’s music on all streaming platforms, and you can learn more about the band at gretavanfleet.com and on social media @gretavanfleet.