Greta Van Fleet / the Beaches @ Lucas Oil Live, Thackerville, OK

Words and photos by Scott Rowe

Okay, I have to preface this review with a couple of things that occurred during the set that will reflect in my opinion of the show overall. First off, I haven't been a big Greta Van Fleet fan but I have a lot of friends and family that said I just need to see them live and it will push me over the edge into fandom. So with the best intentions and an open mind, I purposely submitted for a media credential for their tour date at Lucas Oil Live at the Winstar Casino in Thackerville, OK. But what happened in the photo pit during the opening act and the headliner's set, left me with a sour taste in my mouth and spoiled my view of the show before I could sit back and take it all in. So, here we go.

During the opening act, the Beaches, one of of the video guys whose feed was being fed into the two screens at the venue, kept recklessly running into photographers in the first three songs. While you could argue that the photographers should haven't been in that space, there was nothing voiced to media or physically marked off inside the pit. What I noticed on three different occasions, the video guy was running back and forth frantically, without looking where he was going and with no regard of anybody else in the photo pit. He ran into two girls during the Beaches' set and once during Greta's set. The one in Greta's set really put me off, as he looked at the girl and told her "GET OUT OF HERE. GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE." I don't care if you're with the tour, you don't treat people like that. Having shot at a number of venues, I have never seen a videographer run around so needlessly and when he runs into someone, blame it on them. For context, the second video guy on the right was not running around and remained static on his side. Pretty standard. Do better.

So that was the first thing that left a bad taste in my mouth. The second came during my time in the photo pit during Greta's set. Prior to the band performing, there was a giant curtain placed in front of the stage, so the band's techs could prepare the band's instruments for the performance. While I was standing there, one of the security guys told us to stand back, as the curtain would leave the pit on the side the photographers had entered. Right before the curtain drop, a large, bald man ushered the photographers to the right of me further toward the space they had entered, and I assumed it was because he wanted them out of the way when the curtain dropped. For some reason, he did not approach me and I was left in the pit with security. Once the curtain dropped, I immediately moved toward center stage to capture the band, as I would with any show. Not more than 30 seconds of shooting, the bald security guy (tour security, I looked him up) shoved me back and got in my face, screaming that I was told not to shoot in the middle of the stage. I told him, "no one said anything to me" and he called me a liar and said that I was told with the other photographers not to shoot in the middle. He then told me I have one chance left before he kicks me out of the venue, and I said without hesitation "no problem, my bad." Do better. I have shot for years and I stay within the bounds of each show's photo policy, and if it wasn't explicitly told to me, how else would I have known?

As for the performances, I truly loved the Beaches' set. Effortless energy and charisma, they charmed those who got to the venue early and were treated to a nice set of songs. Even with a drummer in relief of their own, the show was a lot of fun, with a good bit of humor and banter. Without knowing much about them prior to this show, I'll be actively seeking them out for another dose, which will be at the Echo in September. For Greta, I honestly have to say that I was so put off by their video and security that I couldn't give them a fair shake and I stood there trying to understand what had happened in the pit. The band themselves don't deserve a negative review from me, because I saw four guys onstage who were performing more than a decent show, one with flair, flamboyance, and a bit of pyrotechnics. They sounded really good, they sounded like a band that takes pride in the fact they are known for their live shows and do a great job interacting with their audience, i.e. wearing different pairs of sunglasses from the crowd or sharing shots of Fireball. Audibly and visually, the show was great, but I wish that I wasn't so put off by some of their crew that I couldn't go 100% in and give a better review. I'd love to have another go and see what I think, but we'll see when the time comes.

Photos of the show are below:

The Beaches