If you take a look at the current Billboard singles charts, you might get the impression that rock music is out of style. Dance-oriented pop, hip-hop and R&B may dominate mainstream charts, radio airplay and streaming services, but rock music is still thriving if you know where to find it. One of the biggest music success stories of the last few years is Michigan hard rock band Greta Van Fleet, which broke out with single “Highway Tune” in 2017 and has since racked up a string of rock-radio hits, including “When the Curtain Falls” and “Black Smoke Rising.”
At a time when even supposed rock bands rely heavily on synthesizers and prefabricated beats, GVF is unabashedly old school in its dedication to guitar, bass and drums, with a sound that recalls bands like Led Zeppelin and The Who. Singer Josh Kiszka is often compared to Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant thanks to his piercing wail, and the effect is that GVF sounds nothing like current pop music, even while winning Grammys, making TV appearances and topping various charts. If rock is dead, then the members of GVF are doing everything they can to bring it back to life.
Hard Rock Hotel, 8 p.m. Sept. 27, starting at $39.50 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
