GRETA VAN FLEET - BOSTON, MA 9.15.2023

Photos and Words By Maria A. Mata

It was a rock and roll celebration at the TD Garden, as Greta Van Fleet brought the Starcatcher World Tour to Boston. There was a special type of energy in the room, as the thousands of fans packed the iconic downtown arena wearing their most rocking outfits.  The young audience was excited to see the beloved band in such a large setting, on their biggest production to date. 

With a curtain drop, the foursome stood backlit on stage, taking in the roars and screams from the audience. An orchestra had been playing symphonic versions of their songs shortly before, creating a truly ethereal atmosphere. Kicking off with “The Falling Sky” and “The Indigo Streak”, off their latest album Starcatcher, the band went into an epic performance of “Love, Leaver (Taker, Believer)”, with lead singer Josh Kiszka leaving the stage. Greta Van Fleet’s evolution is clear, as they display their musical and performing skills; two catwalks on the sides allowed Jake and Sam Kiszka to come out and do their solos and riffs closer to the rowdy crowd. 

The pyro started early on in the set, with imposing flames constantly emerging from behind Daniel Wagner’s drums. There was a deeply loving energy emanating from the crowd, which fanned the literal and figurative flame coming from the stage; fans exchanged flowers and sunglasses with the band, and several pride flags could be seen all over.  Right after “Highway Tune”, the band would get even closer to their fans by moving to a secondary stage in the back of the arena, for a stripped down acoustic set. The band then returned to the main setup, for what would be a string of face melting solos that carried us onto the last segment of the show. “Light My Love” and “Farewell for Now” brought the evening to a close, on an unforgettable night for Greta Van Fleet’s lovers. It is also a testament to the power of rock and roll, as the torch is safely in the hands of a new generation of fans, with young bands returning to arenas. Rock is most certainly not dead.