Greta Van Fleet rocked the Bowery Ballroom in NYC this past Wednesday (5/27). The room was filled with love, light, and power as the band took the stage. Josh Kiszka walked out, roses in hand, ready to share this experience with a passionate fan base. After more than a year-long hiatus and not playing live since September 2024, the crowd was certainly eager and excited for this show. Compared to their performance at Madison Square Garden, this 600-capacity room led to a much more intimate experience. The band also carried through on their old school vibe by only charging $20 per ticket and requiring an in-person visit to the box office the day before the show to ensure the tickets went to fans.
As they opened the set with ‘Highway Tune,’ their debut single that launched them to stardom, the crowd was vivacious and detonated, singing along to the whole song so loudly that they almost out-sang Josh himself. Vibrant riffs and robust grooves filled the room as they went through their set. The band took the approach of going through their catalog in chronological order. They continued by playing their hits ‘Safari Song,’ ‘When The Curtain Falls’ (my personal fav from them), ‘Heat Above,’ and ending the set with two new songs. One being their new single ‘Play Your Games,’ which is out today (5/29). These new songs held true to their signature sound with an ultra-feel-good vibe. The band’s musicianship and talent are self-evident. Josh showed off his powerhouse vocal style, Jake Kiszka shredded through cutting riffs and solos, Sam Kiszka handled the low end with groovy bass lines and hopped on a Hammond B-3 organ when needed, and Danny Wagner held strong, steady grooves throughout the show. Being a musician myself, it’s always enjoyable seeing real people playing real instruments.
Greta took the stage in style wearing all black, clean and eloquent silhouettes with sparkling sequins that matched the nighttime NYC skyline. The fans came out serving looks as well. The classic 70’s rock style and aesthetic were certainly prominent, with many people flaunting bell-bottoms, florals, flowing blouses, and sequins, of course. Others showed their support and fandom by rocking GVF band tees. The demographic of the crowd was super mixed as well. It’s always cool to see how powerful music is and how it can bring so many people from all different walks of life together. No one can deny the effect music has on us.
My only critique from the night, and it’s not about the show itself, but about something I saw when looking out into the crowd. Along with the sea of people, I saw a sea of cellphones. Some were videoing the entire set while others were checking notifications. Now I don’t want to be hypocritical because I have certainly taken videos of shows and understand wanting to document the highlights of the night, but it’s always important to live in the moment and be present with what you are currently experiencing.
After the final song, the audience was still engaged and infatuated with the band. Each member took a minute to come up front and greet their fans, showing their appreciation for the crowd. Josh grabbed his final bunch of roses, hopped on someone’s shoulders, and went through the audience, handing them out to eager fans who didn’t want the show to end. This was an extremely successful show and left the audience excited to see how this new era for Greta Van Fleet will unfold.
