Author & Photos: Gary W Miller
Inside the Setlist recently had the opportunity to head over to the Summer Stage located at the one and only Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ. Who was playing you ask? None other than the rockin' boys of Greta Van Fleet. Besides being a beautiful spring day, I had no idea what I was about to witness! The line was wrapped around the building with people waiting for hours for even a glimpse, before the doors even opened at 5:30pm. That's not even half of it, when the band came on to do their sound check, you would have thought that the "Pony" was giving something away for free! It was then, that I knew this assignment was gonna be a good one!!
After literally, serpentining my way to the photo area where I was much in need of catching my breath, I waited for the opening act to get this show started. Ida Mae was soon to take the stage and mesmerize the crowd. Admittedly so, I wasn't too familiar with this husband and wife duo from the UK, who specialize in the genre of "british blue eyed soul", but as I sat there snapping away some pics of the pair, I soon found my foot tapping and doing some research on my phone about this group. Their debut album Chasing Lights is due out on June 7, 2019 and after listening to them perform a few songs from it, This record is going to be a must have to any collection! The guitar playing of Chris Turpin and the harmonizing vocals of Stephanie Jean collide to bring you some extraordinary music! Check 'em out as you'll agree for sure!!
Next up, well, you know who! The boys of Greta Van Fleet! The now sold out crowd of almost 5000 people, were cheering "Greta, Greta, Greta!". So I thought I'd take the opportunity to stand up front and get the crowd even more pumped with a photo op, who doesn't love a photo op? It was then that I learned just what the talk was all about in reference to the "Fleet Army". I was amazed at all the different types of people in the crowd. I was stuck up front, with of course, the young beautiful women waiting to see these strapping 20 something year old guys take the stage, but when I stood on the step to take a crowd shot, that's when I noticed all the different age groups and it was then, I realized what the "army" was all about! It was, in my definition, music bringing people together to enjoy each other and to have a good time. Music knows no boundaries when it comes to age, race or nationality. It knows only one thing, the power to bring people together, and the boys of Greta Van Fleet, unbeknownst to them I'm sure when they started out in 2012, have a following or "army" thats truly amazing. I've seen this with such bands as the Grateful Dead and Lynyrd Skynyrd and I must admit, it was refreshing to see it amongst this crowd as well. Not to mention that we finally have a band that Rock-N-Rolls!!! Whew...about time!!
These guys took the stage with true professionalism and dominance. Josh came out with some flowers and started off the show by throwing them one by one into the crowd. Thank God for ear plugs because the "young beautiful women" I referenced earlier, well, lets just say I've never heard screams like that before! This band was off and running and they didn't slow down one bit. Playing songs from their setlist of ten tracks, ranging from their first album From the Fires and latest release Anthem of the Peaceful Army, they absolutely killed it! I thoroughly enjoyed this show and look forward to the next time I have the opportunity to snap some photos of GVF!
Head over to their website to get the latest tour dates and whatever you do, don't miss out by letting them pass through your town without seeing them! Trust me!!
Greta Van Fleet Setlist:
1. When the Curtain Falls
2. Black Smoke Rising
3. Highway Tune
4. Flower Power (followed by the "Watch Me" outro)
5. You're the One (preceded by the "The Music is You" intro)
6. Age of Man
7. Black Flag Exposition
8. Watching Over
9. Lover, Leaver (Taker, Believer)
Encore:
10. Safari Song
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