Greta Van Fleet kicked off their Strange Horizons Tour to two sold out audiences - their first public shows in over a year - last week in Franklin, Tennessee. Long-time fans were chomping at the bit to get back into the GVF live grind, and many newer fans, like myself, were experiencing this band’s live magic for the very first time. I was lucky enough to attend both shows from the pit, and what follows is both a review and an account of my experiences of nights one and two of Strange Horizons!
I’ll be honest, I went into this experience just a little bit biased – I love GVF, and I knew I was going to enjoy these shows. That said, after watching several live videos in the weeks before the shows to get hyped up and reading so many fan accounts of show experiences in years past, I had pretty high expectations too. The short and sweet of it all? Greta Van Fleet met and surpassed every single expectation I had for these shows.
The venue they chose was absolutely beautiful. You could tell the band had a hand in choosing where they were playing. FirstBank Amphitheater is nestled into Graystone Quarry in the Thompson’s Station township just outside of Franklin, Tennessee, and it is unlike any venue I’ve ever seen before. I was in the pit for both shows and I found myself continuously looking around and behind me at the natural rock walls surrounding the bowl and the view above those walls as the sun set. The natural beauty of it all made it the perfect environment to take in the spectacle that was Strange Horizons.
The band also had a hand in choosing their opening acts, and man, did they make some fantastic choices. I made a point to listen to both of these artists well ahead of the show so I’d be fully prepared to take in their live sets, and I was not disappointed. Cedric Burnside took the stage first and blessed the audience with some of the richest and smoothest blues I’ve ever heard in my life. Vocally, he was spot-on; his live vocals were virtually indistinguishable from his studio work. The man has an incredible voice. His guitar playing was also something to behold, and when he would solo the audience would cheer him on and hype him up. It was so cool being able to see his reaction to that – you could tell he was having fun. Shovels & Rope, a folk rock duo from South Carolina, followed him, and within seconds they had the crowd on their feet. They too delivered absolutely incredible vocals and their harmony blend was perfect. I’ve never seen a duo more equipped to make music together than these two. They debuted a couple of new songs that were very well-received, and rightfully so. Shovels & Rope are two of the best songwriters I’ve ever had the privilege to see live, and their set was intoxicating.
What amazed me most about both openers was how they did so much with so little. Cedric Burnside performed with nothing more than his voice, his guitar, and a drummer. Shovels & Rope performed with nothing more than their voices, a guitar, and a drum set-keyboard combo that was played with only two hands and a foot. I couldn’t believe the sounds they were all able to produce; I didn’t find that anything was missing, despite neither opener using a bass of any kind. Their sets sounded rich and full, and they kept the audience enthralled and on their feet. They were very well-received, and for good reason; Cedric Burnside and Shovels & Rope are two of the most talented artists out there right now and I’m so glad GVF turned me on to them.
Watching the stage be set up for Greta Van Fleet’s set was something to behold. Their set was hidden behind a black curtain during Burnside’s and Shovels & Ropes’ sets and was finally revealed just as it was starting to get dark outside. You wouldn’t believe the roars the crowd let out as the crew pulled that curtain down, and for good reason. The entire set was marble white, very reminiscent of the “Heat Above” music video, with some fascinating standing light structures, and the Battle at Garden’s Gate logo front and center on Danny Wagner’s drum kit. It was a GVF fan’s dream, and since night one was the very first time anyone had ever laid eyes on this set, it was extra special. It was fascinating watching the crew pick up the gray carpets the opening acts played on to reveal the marble white floor below, especially when they began to Swiffer the stage (likely to ensure that Josh and Sam Kiszka, who perform barefoot, don’t step on anything and hurt themselves!). This was something I’d never seen happening before during a set change, and I was enthralled.
The vibe before the show even began was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. For the first time, I truly felt like I was at home. I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears when the people around me were also jamming out to the pre-show playlist, featuring bands like The Beatles, the Plastic Ono Band, and Jethro Tull – bands I had only ever listened to alone. Suddenly I was surrounded by people who shared my taste in music and my passion for rock ‘n’ roll. At that point I was certain, both nights, that these would be some of the greatest shows of my life.
One of my favorite moments at a show is when the lights go out right before the artist takes the stage. There was something about these shows that made that moment hit a little bit harder for me than it had in years past. I suspect this is likely due in part to the fact that this is something I haven’t really experienced in over a year and a half thanks to the pandemic, but there’s also just something in the air at a Greta Van Fleet show, something that amps up the energy and emotions in the room. When those lights went out, my heart jumped into my throat and I could hardly stand still.
Greta Van Fleet love a touch of the dramatic, but it’s always so tastefully done, and that’s how I would describe their show intro. Opening first in complete darkness with the sound of Josh Kiszka’s isolated vocals from “Caravel” delivering the line that inspired the tour’s name (“crash against wave upon wave, to strange horizons”), images of the band previously unseen by fans began to flash across the screen as samples from voicemails collected from fans on the topics of peace, love, and unity (GVF’s mantra) were heard. Following the last spoken line of the intro, the intro to “Heat Above” began to build, and like a clap of thunder, the drums kicked in and the audience erupted as singer Josh Kiszka ran out to join the rest of the band onstage. GVF started off so strong, and that strength would last all the way to the very last note.
You could see the happiness in their faces as they took the stage, especially with guitarist Jake Kiszka as he waved to the crowd. Their energy was contagious; they were just as happy to be back on stage as everyone watching was happy to be back in the crowd. People around me were screaming, laughing, singing, dancing, jumping – after all this time without live music and without GVF shows, suddenly here we were. I think I was in shock. This band that had helped me through some of my most difficult days (and there were plenty of these throughout the pandemic) playing the song that started it all for me was a bit overwhelming, though I couldn’t have asked for a better opening song. I sang along, I laughed, and I cried. It was a magical moment, to say the least.
Greta Van Fleet delivered a studio quality performance without it seeming staged or robotic. They’re just that good. I couldn’t help but be impressed at how high energy each member of the band remained throughout the show, particularly singer Josh Kiszka with his constant running and bouncing around the stage, never seeming to fall short of breath, and guitarist Jake Kiszka with his own brand of back-breaking acrobatics.
I believe the reason Greta Van Fleet is so good live is because they’re truly passionate about what they’re doing. You can see it in Josh when he closes his eyes and pours his soul into the most incredible vocal line you’ve ever heard. You can see it in Jake when he takes center stage and gets lost in a solo. You can see it in Sammy’s famous bass faces and the focus he has at his keyboards when he’s playing with his hands and feet at the same time. You can see it in Danny’s face when he walks out onto the stage and is met with rabid applause and when he takes his turn soloing. They don’t just walk out on stage and half-ass it. They care so deeply about the music they create and they have just as much fun on stage as fans have in the crowd, and it shows. Their passion for what they’re doing makes the show that much more fun. The crowd absolutely fed off of that energy, and it was remarkable to me the control Josh had over the crowd as a result. When he asks a question, you answer. When he wails, you wail. When he throws his hands up, you throw your hands up. It’s almost instinctual. I didn’t have to think about it, I just followed his lead.
Having released their latest record, The Battle at Garden’s Gate, this past April, they made an excellent effort to ensure that their set was an even blend of their older stuff and their newest. Obviously we all wished we could hear them play every single song in their discography, but it’s just not feasible. Something I especially loved was how they don’t necessarily focus all their time on the hits. Sure, they kind of have to play “Highway Tune,” and they played their fair share of radio singles, but they also weren’t afraid to leave some singles out (e.g., “You’re The One”) in favor of some deeper cuts (e.g., “Watching Over”). It wasn’t about churning out song after song just to get them played; most songs played had an extended jam attached to them, and each captivated the crowd in their own way. “Age of Man” had everyone drowning in emotion, whereas “When The Curtain Falls” had everyone jumping and scream-singing as loud as they could. “The Weight of Dreams” had everyone getting lost in Jake’s mind-blowing solos, whereas “Light My Love” had everyone falling in love – I heard that a couple got engaged during this one on night one (congrats to you!).
You can tell how much care went into every little piece of this tour. The opening acts were hand-picked by the band; they chose artists that they genuinely enjoy listening to that they also believe their fans will enjoy. The set was held back and turned into a big reveal, something the band had to know the fans would love. The venue was chosen because they knew their fans share their love of nature. Josh ran out into the pit and handed out white roses (I got one!) because he knows that doing so absolutely makes the night of anyone who receives one. Certain songs were played because the fans love them (though there were some they didn’t play that I certainly wouldn’t have been mad to hear!). When it comes down to it, GVF cares deeply about their fans and wants them to have the best time imaginable at their shows, and that concept absolutely came through during Strange Horizons.
Though most diehard Greta Van Fleet fans likely wouldn’t cite “Highway Tune” as their all-time favorite (it seems that we prefer the deeper cuts!), the energy created in the room when the band launched into that one was insane. Despite his particular but light-hearted aversion to the track, Josh had a lot of fun with it, and you could tell that he enjoyed performing it. He had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand with this one, being met with cacophonous cheers as the song paused and he shouted “you want it?” He controlled the room, and he knew it, but he wasn’t cocky about it. He just seemed happy to be loved, and it was a delight being able to see his face as the crowd riled him up.
What I discovered about Greta Van Fleet shows that make them so different from anything else I’ve ever seen is the comradery amongst their fans. Never have I ever attended a show and actually talked to and befriended everyone standing around me. Fans who know will tell you: if you go to a show alone, you’ll have made so many friends by the end of the night. And it’s true! For Greta Van Fleet fans, seeing them live is about far more than just the show. It’s about finally meeting the friends you’ve made online from all over the world, it’s about meeting new friends at the various fan meetups planned by both fans and the band themselves, it’s about family. That’s what the Peaceful Army is – one big GVF family.
I met people from everywhere. I spent my second night in the pit with fellow solo concert goers from Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, and who knows where else. I met people at fan meet-ups from Indiana, Ohio, New York, Mississippi – I’d be willing to bet a solid 25 of the 50 states were represented at these shows! I saw that someone in the parking lot next to me had a parking tag from the university I graduated from earlier this year in Arkansas. Oh, and most importantly, I spent night one in the pit with fellow Banded contributors Baylee Avery from Texas and Kiki Gilligan from Massachusetts. These were more than just shows to us. They were the most beautiful family reunions you’ll ever attend, ones where it’s okay to get swept up in emotion, ones where it’s okay to feel every ounce of music from your feet to the top of your head, ones where it’s okay to freak out a little, and ones where it’s okay to be your true authentic self, even if it’s just for one night.
The best way I can describe it is “cosmic.” I felt like I was taken to outer space, got to see this world in a whole new way, and then taken back down to the surface. I feel recharged and renewed, I feel confident, I feel lucky, but most of all, I feel happy and oh so grateful to have been able to be a part of it. These two nights of the Strange Horizons Tour were ones I won’t soon forget, and the high I felt will be one that I’m forever chasing. I truly couldn’t have asked for a better first live GVF experience. Every mile driven, every minute spent waiting on aching feet, it was worth every bit of it. I will forever be “choosing the road” for this band, and I really think you should too.
I think the best thing I can leave you with is a quote from Josh Kiszka that made its way into both shows, something that I expect future audiences will hear again, and something that has stuck with me in a profound way:
“Live your legend through the intelligence of love. And fuck fear.
”
I think that should be the mantra for Strange Horizons, don’t you?