Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Given the rapid rise of Greta Van Fleet, from crazy fast club sell outs to closing slots at festivals, it was only a matter of time until the modern day rock and roll revivalists bounced up to the arena level.

The state-of-the-art Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee was one such stop on the “Starcatcher” World Tour, where for a whopping two-and-a-half-hours, singer/guitarist/bassist brothers Joshua, Jake and Sam Kiszka, alongside drummer Daniel Wagner, electrified fans who filled up the entire ground floor and lower level on an otherwise typical Tuesday.

Though Greta Van Fleet’s heavy guitars, bluesy rumblings and progressive edge would presumably draw a bunch of head banging guys, screaming girls waving signs and waiting for kisses seemed to make up a significant portion of the Milwaukee crowd, who were just as keen to soak up retro-leaning sounds inspired by Led Zeppelin, Rush, Aerosmith, Queen and The Doors.

For that alone, the foursome certainly stands out from the popular pack and is one of the few acts kids and their parents can possibly agree on, though no matter anyone’s age, opening cuts “The Falling Sky,” “The Indigo Streak” and “Caravel” were ecstatically received.

The trippy, psychedelic-leaning tracks “Heat Above,” “Highway Tune” and “Runaway Blues” could’ve easily come straight out of the 1970s, and despite being accented by synchronized explosions and special effects utilizing today’s technology, each would’ve still worked in the rawest possible setting.

A remake of The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody” went even further back as it introduced an acoustic segment on the b-stage, which co-starred the originals “Waited All Your Life” and “Black Smoke Rising,” while demonstrating an unexpectedly understated but welcome shift in dynamic. 


“Fate Of The Fateful” was greeted with Greta Van Fleet’s otherwise blustery delivery, plus Sam’s helium-high range and Jake’s technical pyrotechnics kept rising throughout the solo-stacked jams “Sacred The Thread” and “The Archer.”

Sam and Daniel also applied their rhythmic rumble to George Gershwin’s jazzy standard “Rhapsody In Blue” before everyone blasted out “Light My Love,” as many in the general admission pit waved pride flags in support of the front man recently coming out, followed by the ever so appropriate “Farewell For Now” as the firecracker of a finale.

For additional information on Greta Van Fleet, visit GretaVanFleet.com.

For a list of upcoming Live Nation concerts, visit LiveNation.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Fiserv Forum include Future and Metro Boomin (Aug. 2); Barry Manilow (Aug. 3); Peso Pluma (Aug. 6); Blink-182 (Aug. 7); Childish Gambino (Aug. 14); Heart (Aug. 15); Fuerza Regida (Aug. 16); Don Omar (Aug. 30); Grupo Frontera (Sept. 8); For King + Country (Sept. 20); Godsmack (Sept. 27); $uicideboy$ (Oct. 9); Pink (Oct. 23); Justin Timberlake (Oct. 28); Little Big Town and Sugarland (Nov. 8) and The Black Keys (Nov. 9). For additional details, visit FiservForum.com.

Related Articles

“Strange Horizons” sell out on Northerly Island cements Greta Van Fleet as rock & roll saviors Trans-Siberian Orchestra and “The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve” encore electrifies Fiserv Forum Rock revivalists Greta Van Fleet exceed the buzz of being the hottest ticket in town Imagine Dragons: “Mercury” World Tour at Fiserv Forum TobyMac’s funk, pop and positivity “Hits Deep” on Fiserv Forum, plus Corey Asbury, Mac Powell, more Bon Jovi: “2022” Tour at Fiserv Forum Greta Van Fleet: “Anthem Of The Peaceful Army” Tour at Aragon Ballroom Shinedown: “Attention Attention” World Tour at Fiserv Forum