Towards the end of November, after the release of their first album From the Fires, I became completely obsessed with a band called Greta Van Fleet. You may have heard of them, BUT I JUST NEED TO SHARE MY LOVE WITH THOSE WHO HAVEN’T.
Greta Van Fleet is a group of four, extremely good looking 18-21-year-old guys, three of which are brothers. They are from a small town in Michigan called Frankenmuth, which strangely I have been to. My Uncle Hans from Germany flew to America and made us go to a German sister city celebration, which was a drag but whatever.
So let’s just get this out of the way: Lead singer Josh Kiska sounds freakishly similar to Robert Plant, especially in the opening wail of “Highway Tune”. Even though they share a similar sound, I get heated when people (*cough* *cough* my brother) just peg GVF as a Led Zeppelin knockoff. They have released eight incredibly original songs that have become an extreme success in the short time since the release of the album. You may already know “Highway Tune” from an appearance on the TV show "Shameless".
Asking me to pick my favorite Greta Van Fleet song is like asking a mother to choose her favorite child. But if I was forced to choose, they would be Black Smoke Rising, Edge of Darkness, A Change Is Gonna Come, and Flower Power. I went downstairs and learned Black Smoke Rising on the guitar approximately two seconds after hearing it for the first time. I also bought tickets for Hangout Music Fest where GVF will be performing. Don’t be surprised if my next article is titled “How Greta Van Fleet Caused Me To Have A Stroke In The Middle Of Their Set”.
When I play these songs in my car, I end up going like 90 mph because it makes me so amped. This is the first album I’ve heard in a very long time that has just been good, quality rock n’ roll. From the Fires in its entirety makes me feel like I don’t have to go back to the 60’s to hear this kind of music. And even though I have had the record playing nonstop for the past two months, I am still not sick of it. I am beyond eager to see what’s ahead for Greta Van Fleet, and hope you enjoy this group as much as I do.
https://open.spotify.com/user/g7jhwspkssrmxxcgcat9gq956/playlist/4jaRXPGgf65gJuWs91nmjg
https://youtu.be/aJg4OJxp-co
