Gallery, ReviewDitch This MagazineSeptember 15, 2019gallery, live, melbourne, Gallery, review, forum melbourne, Greta Van Fleet, Golf Alpha Bravo

Great Van Fleet + Golf Alpha Bravo @ Forum Melbourne 04-09-19

Gallery, ReviewDitch This MagazineSeptember 15, 2019gallery, live, melbourne, Gallery, review, forum melbourne, Greta Van Fleet, Golf Alpha Bravo

words & photos: Daniel Hanssen @danthegigman

Review

*“..their ten song set was full of guitar solos, heavenly vocal holds and exceptional lyricism.”*

The modern rockers took to the stage in emphatic style, dressed to impress at the Forum Melbourne, making up for the long wait many of their fans had to suffer to to a reschedule. Of course, all would have been forgiven last week as Greta Van Fleet put on a memorable show, with all the over the top lighting and costumes one expects of a powerhouse band.

Greta Van Fleet brought along Golf Alpha Bravo the growing project of musician Gab Winterfield. Expectedly, the threesome held their own on the forum grand stage, working their way through an unfortunately short set. While the tracks were relatively unknown, the projects first release “Unwind” struck the crowd well, seemingly gathering a warm reception. They didn’t necessarily pump the room up, but the soul/blues vibes that shifted through the room certainly set the right tone leading into the powerhouse crew of Greta Van Fleet, who thrive on the work of the early blues, rock ‘n’ roll sound

Greta Van Fleet funnelled the rock majesty of the mid-seventies and eighties, bringing back fond memories for many members of the crowd. With feathered hair and jackets covered in spikes, the band put on an hour and a half set to be remembered, making up for lost time since having to reschedule the show.

Whilst their set was a treatment of nostalgia, an example of what made that early rock era so powerful, their set was only short, leaving much to be imagined for their next tour down under. Yet, their ten song set was full of guitar solos, heavenly vocal holds and exceptional lyricism. The foursome arrived on the stage to “Cold Wind”, before rolling into a small introduction, then “Safari Song”. Following this was Greta Van Fleet’s closing track off of their From The Fires album, “Black Smoke Rising”. This number received heavy attention from the bustling crowd, as the fans pushed to the front in droves to get a look in at lead singer Josh Kiszka.

Josh Kiszha’s energy as a lead was electric and his ecstatic and bubbly on-stage persona, only added to the showmanship of the group. Sadly the crew only played their well known numbers, as much of their 2018 album Anthem Of The Peaceful Army” was left off the ten track list.

“When The Curtain Falls” led into the closer, Greta Van Fleet’s popular “Highway Tune”, while it was an expected choice for the band to close on, it didn’t take away any of the sheen as the guitar solos and high strung vocals reverberated a final time through the Forum band hall.