Rock and roll took center stage Thursday night as Greta Van Fleet became the first non-country artist to headline FirstBank Amphitheater.
The new Franklin, TN venue officially opened its gates Tuesday with a country jamboree celebration. However, entrance to that venue was by invitation only, so Thursday’s show marked FirstBank Amphitheater’s first-ever ticketed performance. Franklin’s newest addition features one gorgeous place to catch a show. The outdoor concert venue is a former quarry-turned amphitheater and makes for a great environment.
Cedric Burnside led the night with a blues-style performance as the crowd trickled into FirstBank Amphitheater. As beautiful as the new venue is, traffic has been an issue as it has taken patrons nearly an hour to drive the 5-mile stretch in the vicinity of the theater. Those who made it on time were able to see a quick but engaging performance from Burnside. The 42-year-old Memphis native helped rev up the early evening crowd by showcasing his guitar skills and smoky and gravelly voice.
The southern charm didn’t stop there, as South Carolina-duo Shovels & Rope brought their Americana rock sound to the stage. The self-described “mom and dad who are making rock and roll” performed an eight-song set. The majority of their 45-minute performance featured Michael Trent on guitar and vocals, while Cary Ann Hearst handled drum and vocals. However, the couple did switch things up midway through the set.
The highlight of their set was an acoustic rendition of “By Blood” as the duo shared a microphone. While Trent held his own during the vocals, Hearst’s powerful voice, combined with her southern twang, took over the song which gained quite the applause from the Franklin audience.
The spirit of the 70s was alive and well even before Greta Van Fleet even stepped foot on stage. While Led Zeppelin undoubtedly influenced the headliners, that 70s mindset of peace, love, and understanding made its way into a video that ran before the band performed. Had that introduction taken place in the heart of industrialized downtown Nashville, it wouldn’t have worked as well. However, the outdoor, middle of nowhere setting that FirstBank Amphitheater provided worked for Greta Van Fleet.The show felt like a celebration as the rockers opened their Strange Horizons Tour. Greta Van Fleet’s stage set up featured all-white décor, from the drapes to the flooring, which was wiped and mopped by the group’s crew before the set.
Midway through the band’s guitar and jam-heavy set, lead singer Josh Kiszka acknowledged the history that the group made Thursday. “You know, I guess technically, we are christening this stage and this venue in some way another,” lead singer Josh Kiszka said. “We got here this morning, and it sounded absolutely beautiful. I can tell you now though, that it sounds almost 1,000 percent more beautiful with you in it.”
While Josh’s vocal ability has drawn comparisons to Zeppelin’s lead singer Robert Plant, it wasn’t the Greta Van Fleet singer who stole the show. Instead, the instrumentals packed a powerful punch for the band, namely Jake Kiszka on guitar. Following “Weight of Dreams,” Jake and drummer Daniel Wagner broke off into an elongated performance. It wasn’t overbearing, and it wasn’t too much, as fans were engaged in the pair taking over.
After an 11-song main set, the band closed out the night with a three-song encore, which featured fan favorites. The band led the return to the stage with “Age of Man,” followed by their first-ever song “Highway Tune.” Closing out the night was the live debut of “My Way, Soon,” which felt like a storybook ending.
The Strange Horizons Tour continues later this month, with the remaining dates listed here.GRETA VAN FLEET
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