Greta Van Fleet @ o2 Academy, 14 November, 2018
It was clear from the second you entered the O2 Academy in Birmingham last night for the local date of Greta Van Fleet’s world tour in support of their debut album ‘Anthem of The Peaceful Army’ that it was a sell out show. And as those who regularly frequent the main room of Birmingham’s blue tinged venue will know, this didn’t make for the most comfortable of shows.
However, despite not being able to see much for the entirety of the show, apart from lead vocalist Josh Kiszka. In terms of how the band sounded it’s no wonder they’re reaching such levels of popularity worldwide.
Taking the stage to rapturous and excited applause, the band opened with new track ‘The Cold Wind’ before treating the sold-out crowd to ‘Highway Tune’ and ‘Edge of Darkness’ from their ‘From the Fires’ EP. Some would argue that Greta Van Fleet’s success has been overnight, however this isn’t the bands first trip to these shores with the group previously playing the O2 Institute 2 earlier in the year. And from listening to conversations within the crowd before the band took to the stage, this isn’t the first time for many that they have seen the band all over the world.
Of course, sonically there are comparisons to Led Zeppelin, however the band’s purpose is surely not to imitate, but to educate younger generations on eras of music that they may not be aware of. However, if an imitation is done this well, I don’t think it matters anyway.
You can’t help but feel that Greta Van Fleet are in fact the band that fans have been crying out for for years, to fill those headline slots at festivals such as Download and represent the new breed to a wider audience.
As the set ebbed and flowed it was clear that fans were perhaps not as familiar with tracks from the debut album as the band’s earlier EP’s, however a sense of respect and amazement keeps the crowd’s attention focused on the stage rather than into conversations about work and girlfriends.
And it’s the wealth of adoring fans that prove the most enduring factor of the evening, as when the band return to the stage for an encore of ‘Black Smoke Rising’ and ‘Safari Song’ there were people clearly loosing their mind to the talent and ability presented on stage in front of them.
Josh Kiszka perhaps didn’t showcase himself as the most brash or confident frontman, however it was his terrific vocal ability that really made the band a leap above the rest, with a clearly talented and enthusiastic band to match.
And with that the band were gone, and their return to our shores and in which capacity remains to be seen. However, I’m almost certain that it won’t take long until they shake the doubters from their tails.
Reviewer: Dan Earl
Photographer: Adriana Vasile