Starcatcher and Single Malt
Greta Van Fleet's "Starcatcher" and Stranahan's American Single Malt
RRWS Episode 3 | Originally published August 18, 2023
When Greta Van Fleet first appeared on the scene six or seven years ago, they were kind of divisive. Some rock fans proclaimed they were awesome because they sound like Led Zeppelin. Others said they sucked because they were ripping off Led Zeppelin. Either way, the comparison to Led Zeppelin was pretty much always there.
I was in the latter category when they first showed up. I was skeptical. Their first singles, "Highway Tune" and "Safari Song," while very well produced and catchy, didn't really do anything to change my mind. They were Led Zeppelin songs, basically.
But as more music came out from the band, I started to realize there was more to them than just a Led Zeppelin knockoff. Sure, they still sounded like Zeppelin in a lot of ways, and they still do on a surface level. But if you dig deeper, you hear a lot more. And as the band grew and matured, their albums started getting better and more complex.
The album that changed my mind
2021's "The Battle at Garden's Gate" has those Zeppelin moments, but it also has a lot of other moments that I find truly magical. "My Way, Soon" from that album was my moment of revelation with Greta Van Fleet. It's an epic song that sure has a little Robert Plant in it, but it's also got some Joe Cocker notes. It's epic. It's exciting. It's 1970s, but it feels fresh. It's inspirational. It's the kind of music I like to listen to, frankly.
Then there's "The Weight of Dreams," a 1970s album-rock closer that has some notes of Uriah Heep and Nazareth. Maybe a little Jethro Tull in there. It closes with an epic "Free Bird"-style rock and roll outro to end the song and the album. You might even call it a "Stairway to Heaven"-style outro if you're still hung up on the Zeppelin comparison. Either way, pretty cool. I love "The Battle at Garden's Gate." It's the album, and the songs on it, that really made me a Greta Van Fleet fan.
On imitation
Sometimes artists come out that are truly original. You might put the Velvet Underground or David Bowie or Frank Zappa or Brian Eno into those categories. But even those artists drew inspiration from those who came before them. They just filtered it through their own creativity and point of view a lot more than others.
Let's look at Led Zeppelin then, the band that Greta gets accused of ripping off. The mighty Zeppelin has inspired more rock bands than perhaps any other musical artist, save for maybe the Beatles. I love them and I revere them, but it's well documented that they ripped off all kinds of musicians in some very blatant ways, covering the songs of 20th century blues artists and folk singers without crediting them properly, or at all, or at least until much later when they were made to. There's also the case of "Stairway to Heaven," which was accused of being plagiarized from the song "Taurus" by the band Spirit. Led Zeppelin won that copyright dispute, but the similarities between the songs are certainly there. I'm not interested in re-litigating it. It's been covered widely.
All I want to say about that is: who cares if a talented group of young men from Michigan in the late 2010s and early 2020s sound a little bit like Led Zeppelin? I'd go so far as to say that Greta Van Fleet has taken inspiration from Led Zeppelin in a far less egregious way than Zeppelin drew inspiration from their predecessors.
The human mind recognizes patterns and familiarity. That's why most pop songs right now sound alike, and when some song comes out that doesn't fit that mold, it really stands out. But that likeness is familiar. It tastes good, for lack of a better term. It goes down easy. People like it, and that's why it gets done.
Greta Van Fleet is not that. They're more substantial. They've got interesting, well-crafted songs that draw upon inspiration from Led Zeppelin, of course, but also from other classic rock and roll acts, from jazz, from blues. If you listen to their music with a critical ear, in the same way you might taste a nice whiskey, you'll hear a great deal more than just a Led Zeppelin knockoff. These guys can write music. They can play. They can perform. They can sing. They know how to tell great stories and paint vivid imagery through the music they make. And that's what we want, isn't it?
Starcatcher
I was excited to bring all of that to the 2023 release "Starcatcher," and that's really what I got. By and large, I don't love the album as much as "The Battle at Garden's Gate," but it's a good, solid record. Greta Van Fleet has delivered another really strong album full of bluesy, hook-laden rock and roll songs that are fun, engaging, and endlessly listenable. There's nothing quite so epic as what you find on "The Battle at Garden's Gate," but it's still a good, fun listen.
The Zeppelin notes are there, of course. They're always going to be with Josh Kiszka's vocal. But diving deeper, you get more than that. I think you start to get the makings of what the Greta Van Fleet sound actually is.
Since we are a whiskey show that talks about rock and roll (or a rock and roll show that talks about whiskey, however you want to look at it), you might compare their music to how a master distiller might take all of the familiar elements that go into their distillery's whiskey, that taste, the nose, everything that they built their brand around, and try different variations. Adding their whiskey to barrels with different levels of char. Trying different filtration techniques, or finishing them in other casks: sherry casks, port casks, beer casks. They might even change up the mashbill just a little bit. The core of what makes that whiskey brand distinct still remains. And I think that's what we're seeing with "Starcatcher."
It's an evolution of what has come before. Not the most exciting one. I still think their third album, "The Battle at Garden's Gate," is the one for me. But it's a good album that has a distinct flavor profile, for lack of a better term, that Greta has really become known for. Maybe it's been aged a little longer, finished in a slightly different way to use the whiskey metaphors, but all of those elements that make Greta Van Fleet Greta Van Fleet exist in this record.
The pairing: Stranahan's American Single Malt Whiskey
As a reference and pairing for today's record, I'm thinking about the category known as American Single Malt Whiskey. Specifically, I'm considering Stranahan's American Single Malt Whiskey from Denver, Colorado. But if you happen to have a good local distillery that produces a single malt, feel free to substitute that one.
While its heart is reminiscent of Scotch, an American single malt is undeniably American. I don't mean that in a patriotic sense. I mean that in a traditional whiskey-making sense. For the most part, it resembles more of what American distilleries do than their counterparts overseas.
With Stranahan's, the Colorado Rocky Mountain spring water and the distinct climate of Denver infuse the whiskey with unique flavors that differentiate it from its Scottish counterparts. Beyond the Scotch influence, there are hints of bourbon character in Stranahan's owing to the use of new #3 char oak barrels, which impart the rich caramel and vanilla notes you'd get in a bourbon. The flavors create a profile that's both recognizable and novel. Its mashbill, which includes barley and other grains also found in bourbons in small percentages, connects it to American whiskey traditions.
The connection
For Greta Van Fleet, though their inspiration might be global rock legends like Led Zeppelin and others, their musical nuances, production styles, and lyrical themes often reflect contemporary sensibilities. While rock is their dominant genre, their songs are peppered with elements of jazz, blues, folk, and even a dash of soul at times. This genre blending creates a vibrant soundscape that's both homage and something new. Their music engages listeners, giving them a fresh take while bringing them back to the golden era of rock and roll.
The band's riffs, the vocal techniques of singer Josh Kiszka, and the songwriting connect their music to rock and roll's storied past. While comparisons to Led Zeppelin are frequent, you can't deny the band's distinct voice. They're not just emulating, they're creating, ensuring they're recognized for their own contributions to rock. That's so much like an American single malt like Stranahan's. Even with all its nods to tradition, the whiskey stands as a unique expression. It's a celebration of the age-old craft of whiskey making coupled with the distinct local flavor and influence of Colorado, in this case. The result is something that tastes new and exciting but feels old and familiar.
The recommendation
I should note that I have no association with Greta Van Fleet or with Stranahan's. I just talk about the stuff I like here. So get yourself a bottle of Stranahan's American Single Malt Whiskey. Or if you've got a local favorite, have a pour of that instead. American single malt whiskeys are a vibrant, fairly new category that are really catching on at local craft distilleries around the country. Find one and enjoy it while you listen to "Starcatcher" by Greta Van Fleet.
A couple of changes
Starting with this episode, I've decided I'm not going to give albums a shelf rating anymore, because what does it mean, really? What do you care? I only intend to talk about stuff I like here. So if I'm talking about it, you can safely assume I like it. I'm not reviewing whiskey. I'm not reviewing records. Just talking about stuff I enjoy. Everybody's tastes are different. Have a listen, have a pour of whatever whiskey we're talking about, and tell me what you think. Maybe you don't like it. Let me know.
My favorite tracks from the record are the opener "Fate of the Faithful," the ethereal-at-times but heavy rocking tune "The Archer" about two-thirds of the way through, and the inspired closer "Farewell for Now."
So I'll say farewell for now to you, and we'll see you next time on The Rock and Roll Whiskey Show.
note: This image shows a single barrel pick of Stranahan’s single malt. It’s all I had.
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