The summer before that January, I had gotten into classic rock encompassingly, starting with The Rolling Stones in July, then The Beach Boys in August, Jimi Hendrix in September, The Doors in October, and so forth in the remaining months of 2018. I didn't know that anyone still made that style of rock, nor would I have thought they'd be my age. I found Greta Van Fleet in January 2019, and for me, having grown up on a diet of Disney rock, early 00’s rock, boybands, and pop punk, they were unlike anything new that I’ve ever heard before.
![greta van fleet vinyl greta van fleet vinyl](https://www.mrvinyl.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Greta-Van-Fleet-From-The-Fires-CD-555x555.jpg)
In sum, the Kiszka brothers grew up well-read and high in musical knowledge, which they’ve passed to their friend Danny, and have used both to create the music that they make, which is seen on The Battle at Garden's Gate stronger than in previous releases. The Kiszka brothers weren’t ever ones to keep up with the popular youth culture of the time they were growing up in, but rather preferred to immerse themselves in the music and books loved & created by young and wise people of the past.
![greta van fleet vinyl greta van fleet vinyl](https://www.fye.com/dw/image/v2/BBNF_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-fye-master/default/dw0ede1ef5/fye/000/000000/fye.000000602508183768_0.jpg)
The books, largely philosophy such as the works of Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, and more, authors that were advanced for young children, but the brothers read them anyway. They grew up in a home filled with music and books, not unordinary on the surface, but when you dig deeper and find out that the music was vinyl records (as the band themselves have put it, a “vinyl playground”) ranging across decades, from Jimi Hendrix, to Bob Dylan, to The Beatles, and to more legendary classic rock and folk artists, it starts to get interesting. What makes this band so captivating to me is the brothers’ background. Josh and Jake Kiszka make up the rest of the band, twin brothers, age 24, soon to be 25, with Josh on vocals and Jake on guitar. So is Danny Wagner, their friend - best friend to Sam - on drums. Sam Kiszka, on bass & keys, is just 22 years old. The band is a foursome - three brothers and their friend. Greta Van Fleet aren’t unfamiliar to the music industry, as this is their sophomore record, but they’re still a young band, if only in age.