pre-show lineup. 5/5
This tour was different from the jump; previously for Dreams in Gold everyone had been camping and the start of the line was getting earlier and earlier. By the end of DIG, people were camping up to 3 (or 4) nights before the show. For Starcatcher World Tour, the pit is much smaller and the arenas weren’t releasing wristband information for anyone planning to line-up early. Our group kept an eye on what others were doing (and reporting) and fortunately people didn’t start lining up until the morning of for 10am wristbands. We arrived sometime between 7:15am and 7:30am and obtained numbers 60-62. Ball Arena staff was really great and making sure that their wristbands matched the number of our’s and everyone that lined up were patient and kind (unlike some of the crowds for DIG).
crowd. 3.5/5
I’ve definitely been in better; most everyone was kind until it came to throwing out the usual items (roses, tambourine, scarves, etc.) and then people quickly became entitled and bratty, making rude comments about the people around them and acting as if not receiving one of those items ruined their evening. The passing out of the roses has been going on for so long I would hate to see it go, but I’m starting to wonder if throwing things out needs to stop based on how the crowd reacts. We were also asked to rearrange so that someone behind us could see (better); they were kind about it and I explained that if we did, my short(est) friend wouldn’t be able to see, so we would not be rearranging. My friends were under the impression they were not happy with this answer although I didn’t get that take, to me they seemed to understand. Just a general note; if you have a pit/general admission ticket, try to position yourself so you can see through the people in front of you. Don’t expect the people in front of you to move around to accommodate the people in the back.
set list. 5/5
Set List from Setlist.fm
Almost ALL of Starcatcher and one of my person favorites, “Lover, Leaver, Taker, Believer”
venue. 3.5/5
An arena is an arena; I love that the shows are set up in a way where the band can now engage with people in the back but I just in general don’t love arena shows.
band’s energy. 5/5
Amazing as always.
full recap.
Another week, another Greta Van Fleet show. Upon announcing Starcatcher World Tour, I found myself checking dates and assuming I’d want to go to all the shows where it seemed feasible. Unfortunately, (pit) tickets felt impossible to come by. I couldn’t even get a pit ticket to Denver and felt really defeated. I did manage to get pit tickets to Las Vegas, ultimately selling them due to unexpected life changes.
Eventually I was able to score a decently priced resale pit ticket and was attending with two of my Greta friends. I’m going to be honest, seeing the band just a couple of miles from my apartment was a new feeling as I’ve traveled to places I’ve never been during Dreams in Gold. We were able to come back to my place where I worked the full day (after a full night’s rest) and
The opener for this show switched after the tour announcement; initially Kaleo was supposed to open but after having to pull out, Teddy Swims ended up taking their place. This tour immediately felt different when there was only one opener—the whole night felt like it was happening so fast.
Greta dropped a new curtain to advertise their most recent album, “Starcatcher,” and the nervousness flooded in. I was about to see them perform songs they’ve only performed a few times prior (and songs I was still trying to learn the words to since the full album dropped only ten days before this night).
Josh’s speech was replaced by an orchestra version of the songs off of the new album and the butterflies began. The curtain drop and the band opened with their latest single, “The Falling Sky.”
New to this tour: catwalks, B stage, outfits (and multiple outfit changes from Josh), platform behind the drum kit, and absolutely no throwing items on stage.
Old traditions they’ve continued: fire/pyrotechnics, rose handout, tambourine (accompanied by a tambourine toss), scarves (also thrown out), and of course, drum and guitar solos.
The set list was completely fresh from Dreams in Gold with only two songs from “The Battle at Garden’s Gate” and two other older songs. No more “Highway Tune” or “Safari Song” which was played at every Greta Van Fleet concert I had been to previously.
We had to turn around in order to watch Jake and Josh perform the beginning of “Meeting the Master” at the end of the catwalks and the B stage, where they performed “Waited All of Your Life” and “Black Smoke Rising.” I truly appreciate the band trying to get close to everyone, making everyone in an arena believe they have the best seat in the house. No more racing for barricade or lining up days in advance, Starcatcher World Tour feels best to catch in the back of the pit or even in the seats to truly appreciate the entire performance.
In sum: the show was fresh, new, and surprising after what felt like the tour that would never end (DIG). While I’ve chosen not to follow the band around this tour, I will be catching them again (in a surprising location) before the end of the year.
Listen to Greta Van Fleet’s new album, “Starcatcher,” below. Also catch Starcatcher World Tour happening in both the North America and Europe.
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