L-R: Sam Kiszka, Josh Kiszka, Danny Wagner, Jake Kiszka
*Every Tuesday and Thursday from now until Louder Than Life gets here we will be releasing an article about a band playing the festival to get you familiar with them.*
Today’s artist is Greta Van Fleet.
Greta Van Fleet – which took its name from one of the close-knit community’s town elders – is a hard rocking quartet whose creative ambitions and achievements reach far beyond the ages of the four band members, not all of them old enough to have voted in last November’s election. The band includes brothers Josh (vocals), Jake (guitar) and Sam Kiszka (bass, keyboards) and best friend drummer Danny Wagner – are dedicated to bringing real rock’n’roll back to the mainstream. The band delivers high-energy, sweaty, sexy rock’n’roll loaded with attitude and bravado that exemplifies each band member’s killer musical chops and Josh’s simply jaw-dropping voice. Greta Van Fleet bring back a throwback kind of sound that most old school metal heads thought was gone forever. Not only are they bringing it back in general but they are bringing this retro sound to the stage at Louder Than Life. Their four-song debut EP Black Smoke Rising was released on April 21, the group deftly straddles the line between timeless and future, sounding at once like many things you’ve heard before and also something you’ve never heard before. Some have even referred to the band as America’s next greatest rock band. The band doesn’t have an intense history or discography to tell you about as of right now. Greta Van Fleet is currently making their own history and you can be a part of the crowd when they take the stage in Louisville, Kentucky at Louder Than Life.
Though the three brothers grew up in the same household they have varying influences, including pop, blues, grunge, metal and more. “When we were not even born yet my father played us blues music and R&B, soul music – all the good stuff,” says Sam. Dad Kiszka was a musician himself, playing guitar and harmonica. “Our parents had a lot of vinyl laying around,” recalls Josh, so we grew up listening to that and really liked playing with the vinyl albums – putting them on the turntable and speeding them up and slowing them down. But, yeah, I really liked the blues and the soul and the funk – Wilson Pickett is the big one, and Joe Cocker, those kinds of things.” The good news is there’s more where these four songs came from. The group has been in the studio for about two years now, with nearly 20 tracks down and more coming every day. “We’ve been writing since Josh and I were 16 and Sam and Danny were 13,” Jake says. “We have so many songs we’re working on it’s ridiculous. We’re just trying to develop and get better. That’s very important to us.” So is playing live, where Greta Van Fleet has been slaying audiences with an electrifying show that sounds more like a band that’s been around for decades rather than just a few years. The group can’t wait to take it around the country, and around the world in support of the EP, showing off the big sound this band from a little town can make whenever it hits the stage.
Greta Van Fleet is erupting with their debut single “Highway Tune” currently #7 at Active and Mainstream Rock radio, a companion video that has sailed past 850,000 YouTube views, and already a number of sold-out shows on the August/September headline run to its credit. Louder Than Life gives you the opportunity to see one of rock n roll’s best up and coming bands. Their headlining shows are selling out and Loudmouths get a chance to see them share the stage with Ozzy, Rob Zombie and various other legendary acts. A new band such as Greta Van Fleet is much deserving of your time, and trust me you don’t want to miss their set.
You can see Greta Van Fleet’s full touring schedule below.
August
15 The Basement, Columbus, OH* SOLD OUT
16 Madison Live, Covington, KY (Cincinnati)* SOLD OUT
18 Grog Shop, Cleveland, OH*
19 Chameleon Club, Lancaster, PA
21 Great Scott, Allston, MA (Boston)*
24 Mercury Lounge, New York, NY* SOLD OUT
25 Chandler Lobby & Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre, PA*
26 DC9, Washington, D.C.* SOLD OUT
28 Pour House Music Hall, Raleigh, NC*
29 Visulite Theatre, Charlotte, NC*
30 EARL, Atlanta, GA* SOLD OUT
31 Capone’s, Johnson City, TN*
September
2 Ballpark Village, St. Louis, MO (supporting The Struts)
3 High Watt, Nashville, TN* SOLD OUT
14 The Stache, Grand Rapids, MI* SOLD OUT
15 The Rave, Milwaukee, WI*
16 Canterbury Park, Shakopee, MN**
29 WRIF Riff Fest, Detroit, MI**
30 WJJO – Sonic Boom Festival, Janesville, WI**
October
1 Louder Than Life, Louisville, KY**
3 Ottobar, Baltimore, MD*
5 Funhouse at Mr. Smalls, Pittsburgh, PA*
6 Main Street Armory, Rochester, NY (supporting Halestorm)
7 Rock Allegiance, Camden, NJ**
10 O’Connors Irish Pub, Clarksville, TN*
11 SideTracks Music Hall, Huntsville, AL*
12 One Eyed Jacks, New Orleans, LA*
14 Houston Open Air, Houston, TX**
17 The Rock, Tucson, AZ*
19 The Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA*
21 Aftershock Festival, Sacramento, CA**
23 Star Theatre, Portland, OR*
24 Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA*
* headline date
** festival
You can purchase tickets to Louder Than Life here. You can also enter the contest on our Facebook that is currently giving away a ticket, and we will also have one more giveaway prior to the festival. Find those giveaways here.
