"They sound like a Led Zeppelin knock off."
"There are just a wannabe Queen."
These are a few of the phrases commonly quoted by the most pretentious rock enthusiasts when bands like The Struts and Greta Van Fleet are brought into the conversation.
These two bands in particular are on my radar and I am delving deeper into why I believe they are the saving graces for rock and roll in the modern age.
Let's be honest with ourselves - Led Zeppelin and Queen will never be able to revive themselves and become the rockstars that they once were. They are legendary and untouchable but their highest achievements are in the past. That's where The Struts and Greta Van Fleet come into play. Both of these bands are young, vivacious, and ready to take the world by storm. They are paving the way to make rock music available to the masses by rebranding their influences with a contemporary flare.
This isn't to say that there aren't successful rock bands killing the game right now (I see you, Foo Fighters, BMTH, Disturbed, Shinedown, Muse, ADTR, Ghost, Halestorm, etc etc etc)...but this is different. What sets GVF and The Struts apart is that they have the power to make rock n roll a cultural phenomenon again because they have the full package and they are marketable. They are building a new wave for classic rock.
Millennials may not have the patience or motivation to dig into their parent's CD collection to find the classics anymore. Meanwhile, these new bands are winning Grammys (congratulations to Greta Van Fleet) and playing the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (pat on the back to The Struts) and making rock n roll mainstream again for the first time in years. I believe they have enough commercial appeal to smash down the barrier between hardcore metalheads and pop radio listeners.
Now it's time to debunk the common misconception: they are rip offs. They are not copying their elder influences, they are paying homage to them in a respectful manner. Both bands openly acknowledge their resemblance to historic bands and tastefully draw inspiration from them while maintaining their own identities too.
The most powerful characteristic of these bands is that they are bringing back the mystique and glamour that was once associated with the rockstar. They have the fashion sense, stage presence, and confidence that the most fascinating enigmas of the rock n roll genre possessed. It's more than just the music, it's the prestige that they carry themselves with. There is a lack of showmanship in the genre and they are filling the void with their effortless, yet bold demeanor.
We need a new generation of bands to carry the torch so rock music can flourish for many years to come. These two bands are poised, hungry, and equipped to make the transition into the mainstream world and achieve the same success as their world renowned role models.
Real fans of rock music should be thrilled and proud to see a new era rising to ensure that the genre continues thriving. Rock isn't dead but it is up to us to support the bands that are keeping it alive.
What other bands do YOU think are going to impact rock music for the next generation of listeners? Chime in and tweet me: twitter.com/torikravitz
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