There is no better way to end a great year in music then being a part of one of two incredible nights in Philadelphia with what many call one of rocks true sensations known as Greta Van Fleet. Hard to believe just five years ago they started to make our musical senses overload by blending a sound that has taken this band onto new heights.
With just one debut record, Anthem Of The Peaceful Army under their belts, Greta Van Fleet has become a household name paving a limelight throughout YouTube and the rock radio charts earning chart busters and climbing in the top ten for weeks at a time.
So you think to yourself “this band is quickly becoming extremely popular, and you have to catch them as sometimes they don’t come around as often as you would want so at any given opportunity much like this you make a point to catch them before they move into arena rock band territory”.
I can’t remember the last time a band of this magnitude sold out consecutive nights in one “market” other than say Phish or Dave Matthews, obviously those bands been around the block and then some but for the likes of Greta to have a line (queue) going from the door of the Metropolitan Opera House, down the block across the street and back round the block again, you would have to see it to believe it!
Whilst you hear how great they are live from other fans standing outside in the freezing cold, you think for a moment and take a minute to pinch yourself to be one of the many lucky fans holding a ticket to witness greatness prevail on stage.
Greta’s music already impressed me greatly on just hearing a hand full of songs and reading a few reviews about their stage presence and rock star charm and charisma so I had to see them for myself how great they are live.
The minute the lights went down after sitting through a decent opening act, it was time for a quick set change and then the Grand entrance of Greta Van Fleet to take center stage.
From the minute they opened the set with When The Curtain Falls I was hooked and had to watch the entire show from start to finish without even looking at my phone!
The fan to band connection Greta has is cemented rock solid and you can feel that with the energy throughout the room within the first twenty minutes of the show. They even managed to include a John Denver cover The Music Is You in their set.
For a huge fan of rock bands in general I have seen many shows but this was perhaps the best show I have seen from a great band not just starting out but taking concert venues by storm and climbing up rock radio charts with a silver bullet.
The energy that these four individuals have as musicians blended so well together live it was an incredible evening of a show that made history not just with me but with everyone else packed inside The Met. They finished their night with an encore of Watch Me by British singer songwriter Labi Siffre and the fabulous crowd pleaser Safari Song.
This was one of the greatest events closing out a year for shows in my backyard, and for others this was the best show of the decade, the sound amazing, a light show fantastic but the band in itself nothing short of spectacular overall.
Live Review & Photography by Steve Trager at The Met, Philadelphia for Greta Van Fleet on 30th December 2019
