Cover photo by Maclay Heriot
For over twenty years, Portugal. The Man has established their place in the experimental rock genre, creating music that blends the minds of its band members to create an ever-evolving sound. From their start in Alaska to their recent show in Los Angeles, Portugal. The Man serves as a testament to the power of creative authenticity and collaboration.
The band is characterized by their use of new arrangements and instruments in their music, a level of intense experimentation that means Portugal. The Man’s sound is constantly exploring new areas. That, paired with the frequent shifting of band members, makes for a discography that reflects the evolution of experimental rock through the band lineup of any given year.
Portugal. The Man’s origins can be traced back to Wasilla, Alaska, where lead singer John Gourley and bassist Zach Carothers first began making music together. The band was officially formed in summer of 2004, when its original five members moved to Portland, Oregon to begin recording their music. That fall, Portugal. The Man went on their first US tour, and later released their debut album in January 2006. A strikingly large number of band members have left the group, with new members joining periodically, in the twenty or so years since its inception (an interesting visual of the band’s membership timeline can be found here). Despite this turnover, the band has maintained their presence in the experimental rock space over the span of the multiple decades during which they’ve released music.
The release of Portugal. The Man’s Woodstock album in 2017 was a major turning point in the band’s global presence. Their Grammy-winning hit “Feel It Still” brought the band’s name to pop spaces and major radio stations, and reflected their emphasis on community and protest. I’m sure a large portion of the audience at The Wiltern first discovered Portugal. The Man through “Feel It Still,” but they’ve likely stayed for the sense of connection the band creates by discussing themes like advocacy and the search for a greater selfhood. What stands out most about Portugal. The Man is their ability to avoid over-calculated branding efforts and instead stay true to their creative chaos of experimentalism.
The Wiltern show marked the second night of the Denali Tour in Los Angeles, following a performance at The Troubadour. These two iconic venues were perfect backdrops for the band to take the stage, both possessing strong ties to the history of LA’s rock scene. The first eight songs performed were from Portugal. The Man’s latest record, SHISH. These songs included unconventional titles including “Knik,” “Mush,” and “Kokhanockers.” SHISH is characterized by earthy, instrumental-driven psychedelic sounds that create an energetic yet reflective space. The next thirteen songs in the setlist covered a range of the band’s albums, from 2008’s Censored Colors to 2017’s Woodstock. This period of the band’s performance allowed them to showcase the continuity in their sound in recent years while also taking a look into their work from over 15 years ago. The final three songs of the night were tracks off SHISH, beginning with “Created,” moving into “Tanana,” and closing with “Father Gun.” These three songs brought the setlist back to the group’s most recent work and blended together the group’s past with their present creative identity.
Portugal. The Man’s performance at The Wiltern ultimately underscored why the band has remained powerful in the experimental rock space for over two decades. As seen in their Wiltern set, the band has been able to reinvent themselves all while staying true to the fundamental rock sounds they established in their music early on. The psychedelic sounds of SHISH paired with their early Portland rock days brought into full view the group’s evolution and authentic exploration of new sounds that will continue to evolve Portugal. The Man’s voice in the decades to come.
