For those who don’t know, The Lonely Ones were previously Bobaflex. We sat down to discuss why the band changed, their music, being back on the road as a “new band, their latest single “The Way Out”, and….. a stolen couch. Be sure to be one the lookout for their new music, more dates being announced and stream their latest single all platforms now.
The Duality of Harry Styles' 'As It Was'
If we’re being transparent, I should’ve written this piece a month ago. When it comes to one of your favorite artists, you want it to be perfect, but perfect is unattainable and then the piece never happens. Besides, what more could I say that Rob Sheffield hasn’t already written? BUT, Harry’s House releases THIS FRIDAY and if I’ve learned anything from ‘As It Was’, it’s ok to be a little vulnerable.
At first listen, I was unsure of what to think. Typically, I don’t allow myself to fall into fandom theories and what they think the next era will bring. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a little caught up in the theory that Harry’s third album would be his rock era (think more ‘Kiwi’ and ‘Medicine’). Once the 80’s synth pop sound kicked in, it threw me for a loop. I felt like the synth was a little too overbearing but as I kept the song circling on repeat, it reeled me in. I wanted to get up and dance. It made me smile but it also made me reminisce on how things really weren’t the same as it was.
‘As It Was’ is an upbeat make-ya-wanna-dance track yet the lyrics feel personal, vulnerable, and a little bit somber. However making something sad sound so happy isn’t new for Harry. Queue ‘Treat People With Kindness’ - “And if our friends all pass away..”
Dancing past the catchy melody, we’re greeted by personal conflict. “Answer the phone, Harry you’re no good alone…” Harry shares an inner dialogue and it feels like he’s opened up a door to give us a peek into his life. It helps you remember that he’s just a person that sometimes talks to himself too.
Not only is the song reflective for Harry, it is for the listener. I couldn’t help but think about how much has changed for me and for, well, all of us since Fine Line was released. And that’s ok. The intertwining of a joyous instrumental with vulnerable lyricism is the perfect example of this thing called life. It ebs and it flows. We can still dance around in our kitchen even if we’ve gone through some shit.
Tying it all together, Harry’s vocal tone in ‘As It Was’ feels more genuine to the sound we hear live. It’s comforting, a little bit deeper, and somehow it makes you feel right at home. After spending more time with the song and watching his Coachella performances, it truly seems like Harry also feels at home. He’s truly come into his own, letting his passion and joy overflow on and off the stage. It’s contagious. A song I first questioned has now become a constant in my life. It’s in heavy rotation in my car, on my phone, my playlists, and even my Tik Toks and Reels.
‘As It Was’ may not be what I expected but at it’s core, it’s genuine. And that’s all I can ask for from any artist.
Catch Harry on tour and sign up for his verified fan registration HERE.
Walk On Mars Will Not Be Ignored
Anthem of the unheard. A cry out for justice. A ballad of the ignored. Walk on Mars will not be silenced with their new single “Hear Us Now” and trust me, we are listening loud and clear.
The production of the piece is stellar. The track starts off with a funky little intro only to be interrupted unapologetically by a power hungry guitar solo. When you think the guitar is all up in your face, powerhouse vocalist Mary Jo steps in. Littered in haunted harmonies, an ominous voice over is heard solidifying the message the metal ballad aims to spread. With dueling guitars in one ear and forceful drums in the other, Walk on Mars has essentially created the soundtrack for an action movie near you.
This song is like walking in slow motion as a building explodes behind you— it’s that badass.
The Boston based band is made up of Berkeley students Mary Jo (vocals), Emmy Barone (guitar), Kyle Reinhardt (guitar), and Rafael Waters (drums). In all seriousness, I would keep an eye on this up and coming act because they’re definitely going somewhere.
What are you still doing here? Go hear THEM now!
They’re also going on tour this summer so support your local venues and this crazy talented band here:
INTERVIEW: Magnolia Bayou At Mockingbird Theater
Welcome to a special pre-show interview with Mississippi’s Magnolia Bayou. Catching them on day 2 of their quick tour run with The Lonely Ones, the boys in Bayou and I, discussed their blues roots, bands history, their latest single “Train Don’t Stop”, their love for Alice In Chains and more. Be sure to watch for more dates to pop up soon and stream their latest single now below.
REVIEW: Ranae Releases New Album, Nemophilist
Starting my music journalism career in 2022 has been a blessing, especially when I discover new artists such as Ranae. Coming out with their second album Nemophilist, Ranae is incomparable with their songwriting and beautiful melodies.
Nemophilist is a unique and complex folk rock album. Listening to this album connected me with earth and the powers of mother nature. Songs like “The Raven” and “Mother” mention themes of the power of nature and woman and how they are connected.
My favorite song “Nemophilist” represents this album not only with it being the title track but also with its message of the struggles of what humanity is currently going through. Being human is hard, there is judgement and hate everywhere We are divided through war, global warming, and politics. But through the ugliness, nature and love is what makes life worth living. The lyric “The earth is just the earth” reminds us that we are just humans living on this beautiful rock, so just live your best life.
The beauty of “Nemophilist” is that it’s message can be interpreted in many different ways. This album makes me want to throw my phone away and live off the grid. It is perfect for a Spring morning or a rainy Spring evening. It’s a breakup album but a happy album at the same time.
Ranea is a storyteller and unique artist. If you’d like to give Nemophilist and more of Ranea’s music a listen, check them out is on Spotify, Youtube, itunes, and Apple music.
FOLLOW RANAE
INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE | APPLE MUSIC
REVIEW: One In The Chamber's Reload EP
OITC ( One In The Chamber ) are Toronto, Canada’s best kept rock-n-roll secret and they are coming out swinging in 2022 with their new EP Reload.
The EP kicks off with their high octane banger “Blow” which was released as a single back in 2020. Even with 2 years passing, it is still a catchy head banging, riff-filled song that will be stuck in your head for the day.
“Babydoll” is a brand new track for them and starts off with a Pop Evil style riff that carries it’s weight throughout the song. I can’t help but agree with its chorus “babydoll, you need some rock-n-roll.”
For their third track, “Crooked Girl” swings in with a bluesy tempo that has you finding your grove, it slows down the pace, but shows the strength in their lyric writing.
To pick up the temp from “Crooked Girl”, “Oysters & Champagne” comes in with a head nodding riff and a gritty vocals. If another music if video is planned to be released, “Oysters & Champagne” should definitely be that banger for it.
Wrapping up this five song EP with their number one streaming song right now their Spotify, “To The Gallows”. For this song, they bring it down to almost a somber ballot, with appropriate guitar shreds, deep commanding vocals, and pounding drums.
The Canadian bad boys have finally returned, and dropping a fresh new EP, Reload , for your playlist rotation.
INTERVIEW: Space Vacation Release White Hot Reflection
Space Vacation’s White Hot Reflection is an old school metal hot success. With the teaser release of their single “Reign In Hell”, the tone was set for an homage to the rock legends we loved over 30 years ago.
Songs such as “ Playing With Fire” and “Being Evil” remind me of a time when guitar shreds laid on every song, and catchy chorus stayed lingering in my ears well after it was over.
Space Vacation are keeping the metal gods alive and well while still creating their own blaze of glory.
SPACE VACATION RELEASES WHITE HOT REFLECTION
“ San Francisco-founded NOWTHM band Space Vacation is releasing their long-awaited 5th studio album, White Hot Reflection, on April 29,2022. The robust double album is the apex of what the band endured over the past 2.5 years. Comprised of bassist Kai Sun, drummer Eli Lucas, guitarist Kiyoshi Morgan, and lead vocalist and guitarist Scott Shapiro, Space Vacation is heavy metal for fans of heavy metal. “White Hot Reflection” includes 12 new fiery tracks, which Scott Shapiro dubs “the band’s strongest work to date. Apparently we thrive in the shittiest conditions in over a hundred years.” The album is produced by Zack Ohren and will be available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube.
Space Vacation is a heavy metal band that has been at the forefront of the NWOTHM movement since 2007. They take inspiration from Motorhead, Van Halen, Queen, AC/DC, and Guns N Roses, with touches of hard rock, speed metal, and melodic sensibilities. The members of Space Vacation always play with white guitars and bases on stage while wearing white boots as an homage to Lemmy.”
INTERVIEW: Dying Wish at The Glass House
Following their debut album release “Fragments Of A Bitter Memory” in 2021, Dying Wish are hitting the road for 2 months with back to back tours. I was able to catch up on their California date supporting Code Orange at The Glass House in Pomona, CA. We talked about their music videos, the writing process for the album, band history, is rock dead, and so much more in this fun pre-show interview.
Stream their debut album out now on all platforms.
ANUBIS Release Eternal Youth, Eternal Night EP
Emergent Los Angeles metal band, ANUBIS are carving their own path by organically blending power and thrash metal together. Founded in 2018, the band is comprised of bassist and vocalist Devin Reiche, guitarists Justin Escamilla and Eleazar Llerenas, and drummer Zed Amarin. The hybrid metal band is releasing their latest furious EP Eternal Youth, Eternal Night on April 15th. The EP is mixed and mastered by Alex Crescioni at Stygian Sound, who says of the EP, “Eternal Youth, Eternal Night is a major step up in performance, songwriting, melodies, and technicalities from the previous masterpiece Hurricane Of Hate. From intricately esoteric & tasteful drumming, elaborate bass tapping, combative guitar riffage, soaring leads, and a wide range of vocal octaves, Anubis has done it yet again with a melodic power-metal triumph of a release.”
The EP features 3 new unrestrained and dominating songs from the depths of power and thrash metal: “I, Anachronism” written by Eleazar Llerenas and Devin Reiche; “Symbiotic Serenity,” by Justin Escamilla and Devin Reiche; and “Eternal Youth, Eternal Night,” by Devin Reiche and Dagan VanDemark.
Devin Reiche crowns this EP as “a straight-up love letter to all things metal. It’s the most extensive, eclectic, and forward-thinking material to date. Now that each of us are involved in the writing process, the sky is the limit for what we’re capable of.” Guitarist Justin Escamilla agrees, saying that “Eternal Youth, Eternal Night is the current lineup’s first step into the light showcasing each member’s unique style and voice.” This unapologetic uniqueness adds to the visceral reaction listeners can expect when they hear the dynamic vocals and assailing chords of each new song.
ANUBIS takes their musicianship seriously. Both guitarists are classically trained, Reiche was the original bassist for international thrash band Hatchet, and Amarin is a spokesman for Axis Percussion. They credit artists from across the metal spectrum as influences in their music: Blind Guardian, Helloween, Testament, Metallica, and Dead Kennedys to name a few. This melting pot of metal sounds sets them apart and garners excitement from fans and audiences. ANUBIS is making waves as the new band to watch in the LA metal scene.
INTERVIEW: Santa Cruz at Whisky A Go-Go
After almost 3 years, Archie Cruz is back with his band, Santa Cruz, taking the stage at the legendary Whisky A Go-Go to show the world rock-n-roll hasn’t gone anywhere.
During our interview backstage at the Whisky, plenty of beers and laughs were had, and a great discussion on his musical career, current band members, guitar talk, new music releasing this year and more.
For their first show back in 3 years, Santa Cruz showed the world and fans on sunset strip that they are here to preach the good faith of rock-n-roll and that it is far from dead. Dueling guitar shreds from Archie and his second mate Jerry Jade brought flash backs of the 80’s legends who once shared that very stage. Keeping the art of bass alive, Tommy Bradley who is a guitar shredder as well, showed his flawless transition into other side, and lastly on drums, Randy McDemian, summoned his inner Tommy Lee and gave fans a thunderous performance.
With Archie Cruz’s new lineup for Santa Cruz, a much needed revival of larger than life rock-n-roll, filled that empty hole in your music heart that you didn’t even know was there.
The boys are back.
INTERVIEW: Tyler Kern of Take The Name
Frontman Tyler Kern of Take The Name and I were finally able to sit down after both our schedules aligned. We had a blast talking about their latest single “ Save Myself”, their style in the pop punk/emo genre, the history of the band, if Machine Gun Kelly is the flag bearer of pop punk, and so much more.
Be sure to checkout their latest single “Save Myself” out now on all streaming platforms (watch below) and pre-save their future release “Low” coming out on April 29th.
INTERVIEW: Stands on Sapphires
Stands On Sapphires are a symphonic rock band coming out of British Colombia. I had the amazing pleasure to chat with them about their independence as a band, producing their own music, no having a drummer, their history and breakdown their latest fan voted music video “ Storm Brewing”
Celebrating Five Years Of Greta Van Fleet
From "Highway Tune" to The Battle At Garden's Gate, Greta Van Fleet has provided an ethereal rock n roll journey.
The Beginning
The journey for Greta Van Fleet began in 2012 in Frankenmuth, Michigan, but they've been in the spotlight since their break-out debut single "Highway Tune'' which celebrated its five year anniversary on March 31st. A demo of "Highway Tune" was featured on HBO's 'Shameless' in January 2017, gaining the band exposure for the first time ever. After its initial single release on March 31, 2017, Loudwire exclusively debuted the music video which features the band as a garage-band aesthetic and introduces the world to lead vocalist Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka, bassist and keyboardist Sam Kiszka and drummer Danny Wagner. The band's first ever EP, Black Smoke Rising, was digitally released April 21 and physically released August 7 via Republic Records and featured album artwork Josh created. The four-track EP featured their first number one "Highway Tune", "Flower Power," "Safari Song," and the title track. In October, "Safari Song" was released as a single and reached number two on the rock charts.
From The Fires
On November 10, the band's double-sided EP featured additional four brand new tracks as well as the previous EP's songs. The brand new EP featured "Edge Of Darkness," Talk On The Street," and two covers - Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," and Fairport Convention's "Meet On The Ledge." From The Fires reached number 36 on US Billboard 200, number four on Billboard's US Top Rock Albums, and number one on Billboard's US Top Hard Rock albums. From The Fires title and album artwork was inspired by the band's childhood camping trips. Josh states, "Our extended families and friends spent part of every summer at a place called Yankee Springs. We were out in the middle of the woods and every night we'd sit around the campfire, play music and tell stories. And that's what inspired the title and artwork." As of August 2019, From The Fires sold 500,000 copies in the US, becoming certified gold. Although From The Fires gained the band a tremendous amount of success, it was only the beginning…
Greta Van Fleet was on their way to their top due to From The Fires outstanding success and stars such as Elton John were noticing there was a rock revival happening. The band was contacted personally by Elton when he invited them to his Aids Foundation Oscar Party, where the two artists collaborated onstage for Elton’s “Saturday’s Alright For Fighting” and GVF’s “You’re The One.” The event gained the band more success and respect with a nod from Sir Elton John.
Anthem Of The Peaceful Army
“When The Curtain Falls” began the next era for Greta Van Fleet, being released as a single on July 17, 2018. Peaking at number nine on Billboard’s US Hot Rock + Alternative Songs, and reaching number one on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Charts, the track became an instant fan-favorite, as it was performed prior to its release. The single was also featured in video games such as NHL ‘19 and MLB The Show ‘19. The band performed the track on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon who praised them and noted they received a standing ovation. The vertical music video features the band plugging into rocks in the desert of California, with Jake physically plugging his guitar into a rock. Presenting themselves with hippie vibes as day turns into night with a purple night sky aesthetic, the bridge is enough to take you into transcendental escapism.
Following the release of “When The Curtain Falls,” was the announcement of Greta Van Fleet’s debut album, “Anthem Of The Peaceful Army” on September 6, 2018. Along with the announcement came highly-anticipated fan favorite “Watching Over,” which was performed live for years. Following the single release came another round of singles including “Lover, Leaver”, “Anthem” and their fourth number one-hit “You’re The One.” “You’re The One” is the earliest track on ATOPA, written in 2013 “inspired by 1960s folk music taking inspirations from Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez.”, Jake states on the song. The song is essentially a fan-favorite ballad and was performed during the band’s appearance on Saturday Night Live, along with “Black Smoke Rising.” On October 18, GVF released a promotional track for the album “Age Of Man,” but with a twist - you could only listen to it if you were in a park. If you traveled to a park, you were presented with a link in order to listen to the song. The band wanted you to be in nature as you embraced the track. On October 19, 2018 Anthem Of The Peaceful Army was yours to hold forever as it sold 87,000 copies in its debut week and reached number one on Billboard’s Top US Rock Albums.
2019 was the year Greta Van Fleet headlined world tours, played festivals overseas and even headlined their own arena tour. Everyone wanted a piece and glimpse of their magic as they expressed their love for fans on their March Of The Peaceful Army Tour. Throwing white roses to the crowd at the beginning of every show, performing covers of classic songs such as The Troggs’ “Wild Thing” and Cream’s “White Room” amongst others, GVF had the world in their hands and held fans close at life before the pandemic had ended so perfectly.
A New Era
Although the band was quiet for most of 2020, October held a new era for the band as they released their fifth number one hit, “My Way, Soon.” Preparing fans by sending out previously taken performance photos with numbers and parts of letters on the back, the band anxiously awaited their new era. “My Way, Soon” graced fans with a GVF comeback of choosing the road, living your life and taking risks. The song was much needed and reminisced on touring life as well as performing for fans around the world. The visual for the single featured clips from the band’s collection of footage filmed on super 8 in which they edited and created themselves.
“Age Of Machine” dropped in December along with the announcement of GVF’s sophomore album, The Battle At Garden’s Gate. The announcement also featured a mysterious and breathtaking music video for the new single that captured the essence of society manipulation and wanting to break free. Greta Van Fleet is known to be silent during the winter months, but in February 2021, “Heat Above” was released and would change the GVF world forever. What was once a tune performed countless times in their salad days instantly became the band’s fifth #1 hit. On April 16, Greta Van Fleet introduced their cinematic world of The Battle At Garden’s Gate highlighting key tracks “Broken Bells,” “Light My Love,” “The Barbarians” and “The Weight Of Dreams.” The album debuted at number 7 on the US Billboard 200 and hit number 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums. Selling double of what was expected, the band was once again humbled by their fan’s exceptional amount of gratitude.
Strange Horizons
While everyone was still reveling in all the glory of TBAGG, Greta Van Fleet announced they were performing their first shows since the pandemic in select cities. Not only were these special shows in select cities, they also raised the stakes by brewing their own beer. In each city, a local brewery collaborated with the band to grasp the taste of IPA with specially designed beer cans as collectibles to hold forever. Selling out each individual show in Nashville, Bridgeport, Chicago and Los Angeles, it was like nothing you’d ever seen before in your life. It was as if the band was reintroducing themselves and rebirthing. Fans who have been reveling in concerts for five decades stating that was the greatest concert they’d been to, friends reuniting and meeting for the first time, the peaceful army gravitating towards the band to welcome them home.
There’s nothing like being at a Greta Van Fleet show in general, but there’s something even more special to welcome them back to where they belong for their very first show back. Having the pleasure of seeing the band at their return show since the pandemic and first show of Dreams In Gold, was an absolute honor. The energy levels are higher than expected and everyone feels infatuated with what they put so much love and effort into. Greta Van Fleet has created an entire universe filled with peace, love, acceptance and more. Although times are tough, concerts have been postponed, plans have changed, we will overcome.
“The only fun that must be had is too much. People need people. Enjoy all of it. Always. And remember that all you have is special.” - Josh Kiszka
Greta Van Fleet Deliver Cathartic, Cinematic Hometown Show on Their Dreams in Gold Tour
Greta Van Fleet have kicked off their 2022 Dreams in Gold tour with 3 stops in their home state of Michigan to hordes of enthusiastic fans traveling in from all over the country. With their intended five-show run cut short due to illness, it’s safe to say that their hometown show in Saginaw was their most electrifying of the three, but remember, it’s Greta Van Fleet we’re talking about – even if they played the whole show sitting down, it would still be one of the best shows you’ve ever seen.
Having seen them live in Grand Rapids the night before, there was something in the air in Saginaw that made this hometown show different. GVF were on fire in a way I hadn’t yet seen before, fueled by the hometown hero energy that filled the Dow Event Center and the thousands of screaming fans that couldn’t get enough of what they were seeing.
There was a confidence to all four rockers that was unlike any other, and that confidence was well-deserved. The last time the band played this venue in Saginaw, they were opening for the legendary Bob Seger and his Silver Bullet Band. It was quite the full circle moment, and the band acknowledged as much on stage. Despite not being from Michigan myself, I couldn’t help but beam with pride at how far they’ve come since then. They played their hearts out, interacting with each other and with fans with smiling faces for the duration of their two-hour set. It was one of the best shows I have ever seen.
Of course, one of the most important things about a Greta Van Fleet live show is getting there early to see the opening acts that the band hand selects. An immediate fan favorite from the start of the tour was The Velveteers, and rightfully so. They managed to give the room a full and cohesive rock show in their 6-song set, leaving everything they had on that stage. In true GVF-fan fashion, it became clear that many of us had listened to their stuff ahead of the tour. I noticed people all around the venue singing along to Charmer and the Snake. I’d hazard a guess that many would say the highlight of their set is the moment where Baby, the band’s always well-dressed drummer, drops down right in front of the pit and places a drum in a fan’s hands, beating away while the pit screams. They were loud, they captivated the crowd, they were rock ‘n’ roll.
Rival Sons also didn’t disappoint. Having been around a few years longer than GVF, it was such fun to see this already-established band being introduced to a new audience. I’ve heard many people talking about how much they ended up liking these guys. The power of Jay Buchanan’s live vocals cannot be disputed, and the band demonstrated a cohesiveness you might only expect from a band who’d been together for several decades. They know what they’re doing, and they do it well. What was especially fun about their set in Saginaw was that with just a few songs left in their set, the lights went out. Being the professionals they are, they kept going, and GVF fans in the first several rows of the pit pulled out their phones and lit the rest of the set. It’s a surreal kind of moment, watching musicians and music fans come together to make the most out of a wild situation. You could tell Rival Sons appreciated the love, and the fans appreciated the rock.
Greta Van Fleet are nothing if not cinematic, and their tour intro was truly straight out of a movie. It doesn’t begin when the lights drop; no, just as with the Strange Horizons tour, the room is first flooded with a Jethro Tull tune, Reasons for Waiting. Fans who were around during the last tour know exactly what that song precedes, and you can feel the energy in the room shift when that tune begins as a result. People grow less focused on their phones or their friends and shift their attention to the big black curtain still hiding the stage from view. The song ends, and energy is high. At this point, everyone knows that the show they’ve waited months for is about to begin. Low instrumental music slowly begins to swell, and when it reaches its peak, the lights cut out and the arena erupts with screams. All focus goes to that big black curtain, Josh Kiszka’s wail from The Weight of Dreams fills the air, a gorgeous instrumental begins, and Josh’s speaking voice floods the arena.
All across the world we travel wayward for in search of things to hold.
I’ve asked in moments filled with doubt, and this is what I’m told:
That living is in itself a constant celebration of love
And where there is love, we will live on,
And where there is not love, we must provide it.
Peace is not for purchase, it’s a state of being.
Exercise the responsibility of freedom.
We are prisoners of freedom.
Age doesn’t change the person within. It is the person within that changes with age.
Death should not be a way of life, it is only part of it.
Letting go is the only thing we will never understand.
The only fun that must be had is too much.
People need people.
Enjoy all of it, always, and remember that all you have is special.
Love doesn’t leave when we fade away.
All across the world we travel wayward for in search of things to hold.
And in the end we will spend
The weight of dreams in gold.
With every word the moment starts to feel more real and the energy only grows higher. As he delivers the tour tagline, the band behind the curtain starts the opening song, and anxiety and excitement build. The beat kicks in, and the curtain is dropped in an explosive moment of screams and ecstasy. There they are, the band people traveled all across the country for, the band people set up camp outside all day for. It is the moment that people will go home and tell all their friends about.
Well, that’s how it’s supposed to go. Fans who attended the Saginaw show got something a bit different, but still every bit as exciting. Everything went off without a hitch; Josh’s voice filled the arena, energy was high, everything was exactly how it was intended, until the intro audio suddenly cut out. I’ve never heard such a collective exclamation from a crowd until that night. I don’t think there was a soul in the room who didn’t react. But Greta Van Fleet being Greta Van Fleet didn’t miss a beat, starting up Heat Above anyway, with Josh addressing us live from behind the curtain.
“I love a good intro, but sometimes we’re edging too much. We gotta get this damn curtain down and do the thing, man!”
Turning a misfire into a cool story to tell your friends who weren’t at the show is something Greta Van Fleet excel at, and by the end of the night, missing that show intro was almost completely forgotten.
No band has ever had the emotional impact on me that Greta Van Fleet has had, and I’ve never been so affected by a live show as I was on this chilly Michigan night. The show in Saginaw was my fifth Greta Van Fleet show and by far the most cathartic. It was a beautiful night of tears and screams and release. What I’ll never get over is Josh standing on that stage talking about release, as though he knew just how impactful this night was for me. Clearly I wasn’t alone in my need for the cathartic release this show provided.
I found myself connecting with songs in ways I hadn’t previously, and I found myself in tears more often than I usually do at GVF shows. They have a way of breaking down those walls and situating themselves comfortably in the hearts of their audience, and their live show is where this is felt especially. A GVF live show for a GVF superfan is like finally coming home after one of the hardest weeks of your life. There’s a relief and release to the experience of their music washing over you that few other bands could even hope to recreate.
Their Saginaw setlist was identical to their second night in LA on last year’s Strange Horizons tour, which was especially a treat for those of us in the crowd who didn’t find ourselves in LA but did find ourselves endlessly envious of the show they received. The highlight for my friend group? Lover, Leaver, Taker, Believer, in its nearly 30-minute glory, and all the fun intertwined throughout. In fact, there exists a very unfortunate video in which you can hear my full-throttle screams when they launched into their That’s All Right cover smack dab in the middle of the magic.
Greta Van Fleet balance their setlists perfectly, switching them up show-by-show to ensure that every city gets a different show (those of us who travel to multiple shows on a single tour appreciate that too!), and creating the ideal blend of both their older and newer catalogue, with all of their full-length releases represented. There’s good reason for them to make sure everything is represented fairly: fans know the words to every single song, and in almost every video you’ll find from Saginaw you can hear the roar of the crowd singing every note almost as loud as Josh.
Dreams in Gold feels like Strange Horizons’ older brother. The stage setup is similar, but bigger. Thus far, the setlists appear to match those from the four Strange Horizons cities. It’s evident that Dreams in Gold is a continuation and not an abandonment. It’s bigger, it’s more dramatic, it’s somehow even more energetic, there’s fire – it’s a production, but it doesn’t take away from the music. Their music is cinematic, and it’s meant to be listened to loud. The production they have created honors and showcases that in a beautiful, hypnotic way. Despite having been several rows back in the pit, I wasn’t distracted by the people around me. I was borderline physically incapable of looking away from that stage. They had control over every pair of eyes in that room in a way that only they could. It was like we were in another world.
If I’m being honest, what was most special about this show, above all else, was how all of my friends and I walked away feeling fulfilled and renewed. I journeyed up to Michigan to meet up with my friends from the Midwest, the South, and New England who all found ourselves in the same group chat last summer. It was the first time we were all six meeting as a cohesive group in person, and it was GVF who brought us together in the first place. We found ourselves split off as the show began, some of us in the back of the pit and others together closer to the middle of the pit, but somehow it still felt like we all spent the night side by side. There wasn’t a single one of us who walked away from that show feeling sad; we were all on the same high. So much laughter and love was shared in the Dow Event Center lobby, and it’s something I’ll never forget.
There’s still so much more Dreams in Gold to come. Due to illness postponing the remainder of the spring shows, Dreams in Gold will continue starting in May in South America, with a plethora of European and US dates taking place in the summer and fall. If you’ve ever given an ounce of thought to seeing these guys live, let this be the push you need to finally buy the tickets. Take it from me, I’m five shows deep, and I’m not stopping any time soon.
“All across the world we travel wayward for in search of things to hold, and in the end, we will spend the weight of dreams in gold.” Though we didn’t get to hear this line in its entirety, it still takes me right back to the pit floor, moments before that curtain dropped, and it gives me chills.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The BANDED team wishes Jake and the rest of the GVF crew a healthy, safe, and quick recovery! We’re look forward to your valiant return to the stage!
INTERVIEW: Sin Quirin of SIGLOS (Formerly of Ministry)
Legendary guitarist Sin Quirin, who has had two grammy nominations and a 15 year career with Ministry, has formed a new project called SIGLOS and have just released their debut single POR LOS SIGLOS
I sat down via Zoom with this iconic shredder to talk about his new musical career, what it means to him, the current status of the music industry and more.
Checkout their debut single POR LOS SIGLOS now!