A sizeable crowd was lined up outside Covington’s Madison Live!, some there more than 2 hours before the doors opened anxious to see the hot new band Greta Van Fleet.
Greta Van Fleet, a young quartet from Michigan, on their first ever headline tour and supporting their debut EP Black Smoke Rising are taking the rock world by storm. Their first single, “Highway Tune”, found itself in heavy rotation on radio stations across the country resulting in sold out dates and shows being moved to larger venues to accommodate demand.
A rousing ovation greets Greta Van Fleet to the tight Madsion Live! stage. Brothers Josh Kiszka on vocals, Sam Kiszka on bass and keyboards, Jake Kiszka on guitar along with Sanny Wagner on drums are all smiles on stage as they launch into opening song “Talk On The Streets”
Despite having only a four song EP under their belt, Greta Van Fleet has been making music together since 2012 , having an ample catalogue of material to draw from. “Edge of Darkness”, a moody and expressive song followed, while “When the Cold Wind Blows” showed an undeniable Led Zeppelin influence that was clearly felt all evening long.
There is a nostalgic feel to their music but with a distinctive modern edge. There is only one microphone on stage for a reason, Songs like “Flower Power” and “Watching Over” highlight lead singer Josh Kiszka’s incredible vocal range and skill, reminiscent of Robert Plant in his prime. When Greta Van Fleet launch into a cover of the bluesy Howlin Wolf tune, “Evil (is Goin On)”, they show a maturity and depth beyond their years.
Finishing off their main set on a definite high, Greta Van Fleet left the crowd, who during the course of their 14-song set periodically shouted out, “We love you!”, with their most familiar songs, “Highway Tune” followed by another favorite, “Safari Song”.
With the sold-out Madison Live! Crowd venue chanting “Greta! Greta! Greta!” the guys appear on stage, visibly humbled from the crowd reaction. After finding a microphone, Greta Van Fleet rolled into a three-song encore culminating with a fitting Elvis Presley cover of “That’s Alright, Mama” on what was the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death.
Great Van Fleet gave the audience what they came for, a fun evening of blues flavored rock and roll. It will be a treat to see what the future holds for Greta Van Fleet as they come into their own. There is no denying the electricity currently surrounding Greta Van Fleet, they have the potential to go the distance and become one of the greats.
Providing support for the night were Canadian rockers The Glorious Sons. This was not their first time touring the U.S., but they must have been gratified to perform for a full house in Covington. They came out with the statement that “We are The Glorious Sons and you will not forget us” and their entire set ensured that would be the case.
Brett Emmons is the ultimate front man, hair whipping in the air, moving in perpetual motion on stage and out in the audience, pulling his hair out of his face, reaching out to the audience. Their music is ultimate rock and roll with lyrics that tells a story with emotion. “Heavy”, a fan favorite, is an ear worm that sticks in your head for days. The Glorious Sons, whose next release, Young Beauties and Fools, is due in October is a band to watch.
