Greta Van Fleet kills it at Merriweather Post Pavilion on May 19, 2019. (Photo by Chester Simpson)

A friend’s college-aged son, Patch, asked me a year ago if I had heard of this new band, Greta Van Fleet?

No, I hadn’t, and who where they? He pulled up their video on his phone and showed me. I proceeded to watch in amazement as these young kids performed their music. I was equally as amazed when I saw them headline the DC101 Kerfuffle at Merriweather Post Pavilion recently.

When I watched that video, I was intrigued and interested ’cause they sort of reminded me of a young Led Zeppelin, which was my favorite band in high school and still is an all-time favorite. Since, I photographed Led Zeppelin’s last show in Oakland, California, in July 24, 1977, I was interested in seeing and photographing Greta Van Fleet.

Greta Van Fleet is made up of the Kiszka brothers from Frankenmuth, Michigan. Twins Jake and Josh with their younger brother Sam — and their friend drummer Danny Wagner — started Greta Van Fleet in 2012. The name came from an 88-year old retired office manager and drummer from their hometown in Michigan, whose name was Gretna Van Fleet.

The band released their debut album Anthem of the Peaceful Army in 2018.

Stream Anthem of the Peaceful Army by Greta Van Fleet on Spotify:

I arrived to photograph the performance of Greta Van Fleet as they headlined the DC 101 Kerfuffle concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion on Sunday, May 19, 2019 along with The Revivalists and Young The Giant.

You can tell Greta Van Fleet is a family that works together, plays together, and communicates on stage their excitement and the joy of their music, while having fun at it. These are kids having a blast amazed at their following and the crowd they have attract… mostly pretty young ladies.

These kids whose ages are 19 to 22 years old, are proving to be competent young musicians who will grow and change as they get older. The band crisscrossed the stage, totally aware of where each brothers presence, prancing with a joyful happiness as they sang and leaped about the stage. What an experience to see young artist making their way into the music world — one sold-out concert after another, with smiles left on our faces and hopes to never burn out their light from within.

Thanks, Patch, for turning me on to their music!

Here’s their setlist:

Highway Tune
Safari Song
(Danny’s Drum Solo)
Black Smoke Rising
Flower Power
(followed by “Watch Me” Outro)
Black Flag Exposition
Watching Over
When the Curtain Falls

Encore:
Lover, Leaver (Taker, Believer)
(with “Brave New World” interlude)

Here are some pictures of Greta Van Fleet, The Revivalists, and Young the Giant performing at the DC101 Kerfuffle on May 19, 2019. All photos copyright and courtesy of Chester Simpson.