MY DATE WITH GRETA VAN FLEET 💥🎸SHADES OF LED ZEPPELIN! 💖 #4M #WW #RockChickBliss🤘

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Once again, we were giving the finger to that whole ‘ageing’ thing and headed down the highway (93 km = 53 mi) for another rock concert, this time in celebration of our 51st wedding anniversary. Can you believe it?!

MY DATE WITH GRETA VAN FLEET 💥🎸SHADES OF LED ZEPPELIN! 💖 #4M #WW #RockChickBliss🤘 #dogladysden #RockTilYouDrop Share on X ►

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 AT OLG STAGE, NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO


Greta Van Fleet? Who’s she?”🤔 That’s a common response when I mention this band. Not a ‘she’, but a group of four ‘hes’ – three brothers, plus a friend.

These young men, all in their 20s, are bringing back the good old days of classic hard rock. Not only that, but their style is reminiscent of Led Zeppelin’s! So much so that Robert Plant (Led Zep frontman) said this:

Apart from Led Zeppelin, the band has also cited Rush, Aerosmith, Queen, The Doors and Jimi Hendrix as influences, among others.

IT WAS A MAGICAL NIGHT!

[Captions visible on hover. Click on images to view original size.]

History and Music of Greta Van Fleet:
(TL;DR)

(Internet slang, warning you this is a long post. 😆 It stands for “Too Long? Don’t Read.” But, I hope you do, anyway!)

For those who prefer complete playlists, here’s a summary of all the videos shown below:

The band was formed in Frankenmuth, Michigan, in 2012, while the members were still in high school. It consists of the Kiszka brothers: twins Josh (vocals) and Jake (guitar), Sam (bass guitar, keyboards), and Danny Wagner (drums).

They were signed to Lava Records in March 2017, and a month later, released their debut studio EP, Black Smoke Rising, consisting of four songs, including their first single, “Highway Tune“. It topped the Billboard U.S. Mainstream Rock and Active Rock charts in September 2017 for four weeks in a row.

The second EP, From the Fires, contained the four songs from Black Smoke Rising, plus four new songs. It came out in November 2017, alongside another single, “Safari Song“. From the Fires went on to win the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.

GVF’s initial full-length studio album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army, was issued in Oct. 2018, and topped the Billboard Rock Albums chart within a week!

The album’s first single, “When the Curtain Falls“, was released ahead of it in July and became the band’s third number-one hit on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

A second single, “You’re The One‘” came out three days before the album. It reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in March 2019.

Single number three, “Lover, Leaver“, topped out at number three:

Anthem Of The Peaceful Army received mixed reviews, ranging from “one of the most exciting records released by a new band in recent years” (Classic Rock Magazine) to “half-baked boomer fetishism” (Pitchfork Webazine).

Despite that, it was the top selling album in its debut week in the US, selling 87,000 copies!

The Battle At Garden’s Gate is GVF’s second studio album, released in April, 2021. It was described as more dark, cinematic, and complicated than their prior album. According to the band, seeing instances of poverty and famine while touring inspired its more dire sound. Five singles were issued as follows:

My Way Soon, October 2020, Peak position #1
Age of Machine, December 2020, Peak position #9
Heat Above, February 2021, Peak position #3
Broken Bells, March 2021, Peak position #15
Built By Nations, April 2021, Peak position #6

Reviews for The Battle At Garden’s Gate were also mixed. Rolling Stone Magazine called it a “Cathedral of Neo-Zeppelin overkill”, while Rock & Blues Muse Webazine said “it’s a wonderful, all-encompassing record that documents the Grammy-winning band’s extensive evolution.” 

The album debuted at number 7 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the Top Hard Rock Albums / Top Rock Albums charts with first week sales of 43,000.

GVF’s third and latest album, Starcatcher, came out last year in July (2023). During an interview in 2022, bassist Sam Kiszka stated the album would revert to a more raw sound, conceptually almost to their garage band days. Four singles were released prior to the album:

Meeting The Master, April 2023, Peak position #4
Sacred The Thread, May 2023, Peak position #20
Farewell For Now, June 9, 2023, Peak position #19
The Falling Sky, June 27, 2023, Peak position #9 (#1 in Italy)

For a change, this album’s reviews were fairly positive! Rock ‘N’ Load Webazine exclaimed Starcatcher is one hell of an album, from one hell of a band!”. Even those curmudgeons at Rolling Stone Magazine were complimentary: “…the record doesn’t let it up in its quest to scale the Mount Everest peaks of classic rock, often pretty impressively.”

Starcatcher kicked off at number 8 on the US Billboard 200, selling 46,000 units in its first week.

Bonus Track – The Archer, From Starcatcher:

Joining the #4M #MusicMonday gang,
and Sandee at Comedy Plus for Wordless Wednesday.

Do you enjoy going to concerts?
Which ones have you been to recently?

Rock On!

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58 thoughts on “MY DATE WITH GRETA VAN FLEET 💥🎸SHADES OF LED ZEPPELIN! 💖 #4M #WW #RockChickBliss🤘

  1. What a fabulous way to celebrate your 51st anniversary, Debbie! I enjoyed the videos and Greta Van Fleet is amazing! Rock on!

  2. What a fantastic way to celebrate your wedding anniversary!
    Congrats on 51 years!
    The energy you described at the concert sounds electrifying—nothing like live music to make you feel alive and young at heart!

    Happy Friday, Debbie!

  3. I have never heard of them before but listened to The Archer because the photo reminded me of Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody, then listened to The Falling Sky. Great video for that one! I will be listening to the rest later. I ma a new convert!! Congrats on your anniversary.

  4. Greta Van Fleet are a band I’d love to see as well some day. They entered my radar screen about six years ago, or so.

    I had to chuckle when I read about driving 53 miles for a concert. I’ve been to Atlantic City (70 miles) and Philadelphia (64 miles) multiple times. For Neil Young (solo) I even went to Boston in 2018 to catch him for the first time during a short summer tour he did that year.

    Full disclosure: I’m a complete music nut! 🙂

    I’m also a native German. Dein Blog sieht cool aus, und ich freue mich bereits darauf hier weiter zu stoebern! 🙂

    1. Always a pleasure to have a fellow ‘music nut’ come for a visit, and a German one, at that. 🙂 Willkommen, Christian! 🥂

      You discovered Greta Van Fleet before I did. They put on a dazzling show and I’m sure you’d enjoy it. 💥

      Yes, driving 53 miles is no big deal. We once spent four hours on the road in a major blizzard, going to an Eric Burdon concert. The venue is 105 miles away and normally, the trip would take less than two hours, but the ordeal was worth it! 😀 Neil Young is definitely worth a trip to Boston! 🙂 We saw him with Crazy Horse in Toronto (only 24 miles) in 2010.

      Danke für das Kompliment! Ich werde dein Blog auch besuchen. Tschüß!

  5. Hi Debbie – GVF is homegrown talent from here in Frankenmuth, Michigan, home of the year-round Christmas store and famous fried chicken dinners. When they first debuted, everyone in Michigan was abuzz about how much they sounded like LZ and I did see that Robert Plant interview a while back where he laughs about them and rolls his eyes over their claim that they channel Aerosmith, not LZ. But that lead singer does have a good set of pipes and can rival Robert Plant as he even concedes. I don’t hear about them much here anymore – they are probably playing in larger venues now. Happy 51st anniversary to you kids – a perfect place to celebrate by taking in a concert in Niagara Falls. I cannot remember the last concert I went to – probably Neil Diamond when he played at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit in the late 80s. Friends and I used to have Summer series tickets at Pine Knob in the mid-70s and saw the same groups in an open-air concert venue every year which was great. In 1976 I saw Chicago and the Beach Boys there and a week or so later, a friend and I went to Toronto and stayed with my grandmother for a week and we saw both bands at the Exhibition.

    1. Hi Linda! 🙂 Yes, I’m familiar with Frankenmuth and have been twice in summer and once in winter, but not for the chicken dinners or the Christmas store (although, that is pretty incredible!). We just think it’s a charming town of German heritage and a lovely place to chill out. Photos here: https://thedogladysden.com/december-in-frankenmuth/

      Greta Van Fleet started out with a bang, didn’t they? Yes, they’re playing large arenas now and have moved to Nashville. They get a lot of flack for sounding so much like Led Zep, but I love that! And I was happy to see Robert Plant was cool with it too. 🙂

      Thanks for the good wishes. We can’t believe how fast the years have flown by! Neil Diamond would have been great to see, but I missed my chance. Chicago and The Beach Boys too. They still have free concerts at the Exhibition. We’ve seen Foghat, Steppenwolf and Burton Cummings (with Randy Bachman) there.

      1. Chicago and The Beach Boys always put on a great show, with people standing and singing from the lawn seats (where we were) every time. I regret I never saw The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and Linda Ronstadt back in the day. I wondered what happened to Greta Van Fleet and I should have Googled to find out since they were local talent. A fellow blogger and her husband are big LZ fans and she mentioned them in a post once, so I sent them a few GVF YouTube videos … they could not believe the similarity. At least Robert Plant was flattered, as he should be. 🙂 I will look at your link now.

  6. Thanks to your post I now know the most about Greta Van Fleet that I’ve ever known. I’m happy you had such a good time at the concert and once again, I wish you and your beloved a Happy Anniversary!

    Love,
    Janie

    1. Probably more than you wanted to know, Janie! 😜 When I’m excited about something, I get carried away. 😆 Thank you for the good wishes! 💖

  7. Greta Van Fleet! I’ve wondered what happened to them. Highway Tune was all over the Sirius XM channel my husband likes and then – nothing! He is a big Led Zep fan. I played him a selection of the songs you posted and that they have the seal of approval (so to speak) from Robert Plant. Glad you enjoyed the concert. Alana ramblinwitham

    1. ‘Safari Song’ didn’t make into the Sirius XM rotation? That was almost as big a hit as ‘Highway Tune’. The local rock station I listen to plays them regularly. Not so much the newer stuff, though. Hope your husband enjoyed the playlist! I’m just thrilled that young people are keeping classic rock alive. A lot of stuff you hear these days is crap. 😆

    1. Yes, concert prices are ridiculous now and we have to choose carefully. Nickelback was the most expensive one this year, but that was a music bucket-list cross-off, so we went for it. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by, Lee!

  8. Thanks for the photos and a bit about the band. I “discovered” them through a grand-niece (nieces, nephews, and their progency have always been a “gateway drug” to my spending more money on music!).

    1. You’re welcome, Becky! 🙂 I’m amazed that these young guys are so into classic rock. Hoping it’s a trend to bring back ‘real’ music with substance. Most of the stuff I hear these days is pretty banal.

  9. I’m glad to hear basic rock and roll that is new but classic. I’m sick of the American Idol sound along with Beyonce, Ariana etc… they do sound like Led Zeppelin

    1. I’m glad you enjoyed the stylings of Greta Van Fleet, Birgit! 🙂 We still watch American Idol, but are always disappointed when the few rock musicians get eliminated early on. 😜 Oh yuck! I’m with on Ariana, Beyoncé et al.

  10. What a fun thing to do to celebrate your anniversary. You rock and you’re as young as you feel. We both feel young.

    Have a fabulous day and week, Debbie. Hugs. ♥

    1. Yes, we usually have a concert lined up to celebrate our anniversary. 🙂 They are my ‘Fountain of Youth’. Indeed, think young, feel young, is the best way to go! Thanks for coming by, Sandee.

  11. I loved what I’ve heard of this band you’ve presented so far. Very interesting to read about them, and wonderful you got to go to their concert. I listened to a couple of the songs, and am very impressed with their talent. I do like this kind of music. I’ve saved this so I can listen to more later.
    Wishing you both a very Happy Anniversary! Ours will be # 56 this December! 🙂

    1. They’re pretty amazing for their age, aren’t they? And few young people are into classic rock these days. I’m glad you enjoyed the post! I had a hunch we have a few things in common. 😀 Thanks for the good anniversary wishes. Wow! You’ve been married even longer than we have! Congrats in advance! 🥂

      1. Thanks! I’ll be looking forward to more of your posts! 🙂 I’m listening to some of these songs again they are so good.

        1. P. S. I just turned on the radio a little bit ago and Highway Tune was playing, and I knew immediately who it was! First time I’d heard it on the radio. 🙂

          1. I’m obsessed with this band now! 😆 The local station I listen to plays their first two songs a lot, but I haven’t heard the others yet.

  12. You’ve shared music by this band before, haven’t you? I recognize the name. It was nice to sample several of their songs this morning. I think my favorite is “Broken Bells”. I like the gentleness of the songs flow. These boys are undeniably talented and I love it when a young people carry forth classic rock for a new generation. Thanks for joining the party and have a boogietastic week, Debbie!

    1. Oopsy, I forgot to pass words of congratulations for 51 years of marriage! Awesome job!! May you two share many more!! xo

    2. Hi Cathy! I don’t remember sharing anything about Greta Van Fleet before this, but you know, the old brain forgets things. 😉 ‘Broken Bells’ is one of my favourites too. I’m impressed by these young guys and their dedication to the classic rock we grew up with! Thanks for co-hosting the 4M party. 🎶🎶

  13. Just like many people, the first time I heard GVF I thought it was an unknown Zeppelin song! I really haven’t followed them since then so it was great to see all these videos and read your post.
    In the late 60s/early 70s we would go to concerts as often as we could; now we attend our grandkids school band concerts! 😂 It was a fabulous time back then and our list of concerts is impressive … from the Beatles to Black Sabbath and a ton more in between! 🤘🏼

    1. I first heard ‘Highway Tune’ on the radio a few years ago and was intrigued by the name and the fact they sounded so much like Led Zep. It didn’t go beyond that until the next hit, ‘Safari Song’ came along. I did a little research and found out how young they were, which really piqued my interest! That, and the fact they’re from Frankenmuth, a charming little town we’ve visited several times.

      You were at a Beatles concert?! Wow! I’m SO jealous! 😀 Black Sabbath concerts were among the most fun for me. Ozzy was a master at pumping up the crowd. We’ve actually been to more shows in the last 30 years than when we were younger – too many other things going on back then. Now, they’re my ‘Fountain of Youth’. I’d love to compare lists sometime, but yours is surely more impressive. I mean, THE BEATLES!! 🤩

  14. Hi Debbie congratulations on your great musical taste and on your Wedding Anniversary! We got Married in 1971 and have similar taste in music though I do like most genres too. I shall be looking up Greta Van Fleet!
    Rock On!

    1. Thank you, Willow! 🙂 Glad to know we have so much in common. 🤘🏻 I also like other genres of music, but it’s the rock that keeps me young at heart! 😉

  15. Hi Debbie – congratulations on your 51st together … and excellent you had such a memorable trip … I’d never heard of the band … but then I’m not a keen rocker – always interested to learn more … so I’m pleased you both had such a fun time – I think dropping the ‘N’ was sensible … cheers Hilary

    1. Thank you, Hilary! 🙂 Yes, this type of music is my favourite, but of course, we all have our preferences. I appreciate your good wishes. 🌹

  16. Very comprehensive post of this band with good videos. They are really talented young guys who have devoted to this they do. Great post Debbie! Have a good new week and enjoy! Congratulations!

    1. Thank you, Jean! 🙂 I love them, but a lot of critics have their noses in the air, criticizing their obvious affinity for specific groups like Led Zeppelin.

    1. I always have a great time at concerts, Thomas. They are my ‘Fountain of Youth’. 😀 This band has been around for some years now, but unless you’re a fan of rock music, it’s unlikely you would know them. Thanks for coming by! I will try to catch up with you, soon.

      1. I have to admit I don’t follow the rock music scene very well and I have not been to many concerts but I do have my favorites. Visiting rock concerts often sound like a lot of fun.