After releasing their highly anticipated record, Starcatcher last summer, Greta Van Fleet’s “Starcatcher” tour touched down at the Mohegan Sun Arena on August 2, 2024. The band announced a handful of dates in the U.S. with one of the final shows in North America taking place in Uncasville, Connecticut. The quartet of Jake Kiszka, Sam Kiszka, Josh Kiszka, and Danny Wagner showed the audience why rock and roll is still alive and well.
Before the arena’s doors opened, fans lined up early to be one of the first inside the general admission pit. Once the doors opened, the wave of fans spilled out onto the floor and quickly filled the arena. Some super fans of the band dressed up like it was the 1970’s, others brought signs for their favorite band member and others had signs telling the group how far they traveled or that it was their birthday. It’s always amazing to see the lengths that fans will go to see magnificent music. Before Greta Van Fleet conquered the Connecticut faithful, the all-female band, The Beaches greeted the Mohegan audience. This powerful foursome is a force to be reckoned with. From the moment the band plugged in and jumped into their first song, they joyfully deafened the audience. Their shorter set did everything that an opener should. It piqued the interest of the audience, left them engaged, and got fans to buy some of their merchandise after their set.
It was a shame to see them have to get off because the crowd enjoyed them so much. If you were on the concourse walking around, you might have thought one of the members of Greta Van Fleet was on stage. The audience cheered that loudly and showed that much respect for the opening act. Guitarists Mylie Miller and Leandra Earl flanked lead singer and bassist Jordan Miller. Like Greta Van Fleet, which features three brothers, The Beaches also features sisters in Jordan and Mylie.
The band’s energy was undeniable. The band ran from side to side, jumping, kicking, and goofing around with each other. The fans appreciated their amazing energy as with every move they made, they received a cheer from the crowd. Greta Van Fleet picked an amazing band to open for them. Don’t be surprised if you hear their names again, the sky is the limit for The Beaches.
The Beaches are:
Jordan Miller – Lead Singer/Bass
Mylie Miller – Guitars/Background Vocals
Leandra Earl – Guitars/Background Vocals
Eliza Enman-McDaniel – Drums/Background Vocals
Setlist:
1. What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Paranoid
2. Everything Is Boring
3. Cigarette
4. Fascination
5. Me & Me
6. Takes One To Know One
7. Kismet
8. Shower Beer
9. Edge of the Earth
10. Blame Brett
After a rather quick stage turnover, a curtain with the band’s logo was raised and the houselights were dimmed. Greta Van Fleet knows how to get the audience excited. The speakers blasted out dramatic orchestra music which felt more in line with The Lord of the Rings movies than a concert. But, within a few minutes, the curtain dropped and the four members were on a riser above the drums. The decibels of the screams inside the building can only be compared to Taylor Swift levels. The deafening screams of the audience set up the rest of the mood for the night. If you wanted to hear what the “Golden Age” of rock sounded like from the 70s, all you needed to do was close your eyes at this show and listen.
Songs that spanned the band’s four records were packed into the 14-song set. Unfortunately, no tunes were played from their 2018 album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army where their one single, “When the Curtain Falls” helped launch them into stardom. While the band was on stage, fans all over the area were on their feet.
To keep the show interesting, the band broke the show up into four sets. Three sets were electric and featured amazing songs like “The Falling Sky,” “Heat Above” and “Sacred The Thread.” But, by set three it was an acoustic set. The set featured Sam Kiszka behind the piano and Josh Kiszka and Wagner wielding guitars. The three bone-chilling songs set shivers up and down the spines of the crowd.
The set opened with a cover of “Unchained Melody” by Hy Zaret & Alex North which was made famous by Elvis Presley. It would be fantastic to see the band do a cover of this tune. Their look, vibe, and energy fit this ballad so well. Some of the older members of the audience were surprised they were playing this tune.
The band made sure the fans got their money’s worth. During “Highway Tune,” Josh Kiszka threw white roses to the audience. Fans were jumping over other concertgoers in attempts to go home with a once-in-a-lifetime souvenir from the band. One fan ended up throwing a shot of alcohol on stage which Josh Kiszka happily accepted and guzzeled down.
As the band quickly jumped off stage after the final song of their regular set, there was a questionable rumble from the audience. It was only questionable until people realized that fans were stomping their feet in unison to demand an encore. Fans were in a Greta Van Fleet frenzy and again, screamed at the top of their lungs as the band jumped into “Light My Love” off of 2021’s The Battle at Garden’s Gate.
The band gave 110% to the Mohegan Sun audience. They dazzled them with a spectacular light and pyrotechnics show. Musically, they could not get any better. After touring for the last year or so, they have become a well-oiled rock and roll machine. There’s no fear that rock and roll is going to die when great bands like Greta Van Fleet are helping carry the torch for the new wave of rock music.
Greta Van Fleet is:
Josh Kiszka – Lead Vocals
Jake Kiszka – Guitars
Sam Kiszka – Bass/Piano/Keyboards/Background Vocals
Danny Wagner – Drums/Backing Vocals/Mandolin
Setlist:
1. The Falling Sky
2. The Indigo Streak
3. Caravel
4. Meeting the Master
5. Heat Above
6. Highway Tune
7. Unchained Melody (Hy Zaret & Alex North cover)
8. Waited All Your Life
9. Black Smoke Rising
10. Fate of the Faithful
12. Sacred the Thread
13. The Archer
14. Light My Love
15. Farewell for Now
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My love for live music started with my first concert ever, Guns N’ Roses back in 2016. Since then, I’ve been able to capture photos of some amazing artists like Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Ace Frehley, and Post Malone. I am based in New York/New Jersey and go to school in Connecticut majoring in Journalism and I am always looking for the next concert to attend.
