Greta Van Fleet bassist Sam Kiszka revealed that the brothers’ father thought Jake Kiszka’s playing was ‘suffering’ when he got an electric guitar, so he took it away and made him switch to acoustic, which ended up making him a much better technical player.
“Jake started getting into heavier music and playing guitar like Jimi Hendrix,” Sam recalls in a new Isthmus interview. “Dad took away his electric guitar and thought his playing was suffering because he was using too much gain and overdriving the amp. So he had to switch back to acoustic until Dad deemed him a good enough player to get the electric back. That really put a lot of technicality into Jake’s playing. And that went a long way in putting us where we are right now. None of us really overdo anything.”
He later said, “There isn’t much of a spot for us to fit in, which gives us a huge advantage,” Sam says. “Plus, we’re brothers, and we’ve always operated in a way that allows us to make music with a certain honesty. I don’t think we have much of a choice; that’s what’s going to come out of us, no matter what. Following our hearts and loving what we do is a really important part of our success.”
The band’s record label, Lava/Republic, appears to be fine with that approach. Sam says Greta Van Fleet has been given “complete creative freedom,” adding that “we’re very thankful for that.”
Northern Express reports:
Frankenmuth, Michigan, band turned national rock act Greta Van Fleet has added a stack of shows to the fall leg of its March of the Peaceful Army tour through North America. Attendees can expect tunes from their debut full-length album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army, as well as several new tracks. Supporting the band on all dates will be garage-punkers Shannon and the Clams. Sadly, you can catch the show nearly everywhere … but Michigan: The band will hit Kansas City (Sept. 21), San Diego (Sept. 29), Sugar Land, Texas (Oct. 9), Nashville (Oct. 13), and Philly (Oct. 15) …
