The Michigan band’s May homecoming and first headlining show at Van Andel Arena brought the heat and ranked as one of the year’s top Local Spins stories. Revisit the concert in words, photos and set list.
Firing Up the Stage and the Crowd: Greta Van Fleet at Van Andel Arena. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Our year-end countdown of Local Spins’ top music stories of 2024 continues today with No. 11: A look back at May’s homecoming concert for Greta Van Fleet at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena. Scroll down for photos and a set list.
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Just a two-hour drive from the rock band’s hometown of Frankenmuth, Greta Van Fleet unleashed a full set of new and classic hits for rabid fans on May 19 in the band’s first-ever headlining show at Van Andel Arena.
However, before the Kiszka brothers and Danny Wagner took the stage in Grand Rapids, Mirador readied the crowd with a hint of what was to come: The newly formed collective led by Greta Van Feet guitarist Jake Kiszka and Ida Mae’s Chris Turpin started off the night with an alternative indie set.
Geese – the Brooklyn-based post-punk indie-rock band consisting of Cameron Winter, Foster Hudson, Gus Green, Max Bassin and Dominic DiGesu — came next to further build anticipation for the home-state headliners, followed by the raising of a large black curtain emblazoned with the “Starcatcher” tour logo in front of the stage.
Adoring Fans: There were plentiful on Sunday. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Suddenly, intense music began playing, the curtain fell and the four-piece Michigan band was pm stage greeting the sold-out Van Andel crowd.
“Clothing is optional,” vocalist Josh Kiszka proclaimed. “It’s good to be home.”
Launching the evening with “The Falling Sky” from their latest release, band members delivered tracks spanning Greta Van Fleet’s catalog with plenty of fiery pyro to enhance the spectacle. The band got the crowd riled up with fan favorites from “From the Fires,” “Anthem Of The Peaceful Army,” “The Battle at Garden’s Gate” and, of course, “Starcatcher.”
“I’ve been in love with the band forever and I go to every show that I can,” fan Erin MacArthur said of the internationally acclaimed group that spans hard rock and progressive rock. “The shows are similar a lot of the time and this one is amazing.”
(Some devoted fans even camped out for two nights ahead of Sunday’s show in hopes of snagging general admission seats at the front of the stage.)
Appropriately, the band — which cut its teeth several years ago by opening for touring acts at The Intersection in Grand Rapids before winning a Grammy Award, exploding to international stardom and selling out arenas — closed out the night for its loving home-state fans with “Farewell for Now” from their latest album.
Jake Kiszka made it clear the ardor expressed was mutual: “We love you, Michigan,” he declared.
PHOTO GALLERY: Greta Van Fleet, Geese, Mirador at Van Andel Arena
Photos by Anthony Norkus
SET LIST: Greta Van Fleet at Van Andel Arena
Setlist.fm
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