Portugal. The Man
Tight guitar riffs, electrifying vocals, and magnetic band chemistry filled Terminal 5 at Portugal. The Man’s second night in New York City on December 3rd.
The night began when the Seattle band, La Luz, stepped on stage. The band consists of Shana Cleavland (lead vocals and guitar), Marian Li Pino (drums), Maryam Gudus (keyboardist), and Lena Simon (bass guitar). La Luz brought a melodic surf-rock vibe to Terminal 5, with songs “California Finally” and “Cicada” hypnotizing the crowd. With deep blue lights and flashing strobe lights, La Luz was a beautiful start to the exhilarating night ahead.
Portugal. The Man began in Wasilla, Alaska around 2001, and now consists of John Gourley (lead vocals and guitar), Zoe Manville (lead vocals and percussion), Kane Ritchotte (drums), Liv Slingerland (guitar), Dani Bell (bass and vocals), Ryan Wiggins (trumpet), Nick Reinhart (guitar), David Marion (vocals), Coco Noelle (backing vocals), and Bonnie McIntosh (keyboard).
The band took their fans on a journey through their discography. They began their set by playing 9/10 songs in order from their recent 10th studio album, SHISH, produced through their own label, KNIK. Songs such as “Pittman” and “SHISH” had fans headbanging, clapping, and jumping, creating an energy that never died. Marion, on vocals, had an infectious liveliness as he ran across the stage, hyped up the band members, and connected the fans to the music.
Lead vocalist and founder, Gourley, took the time to express his gratitude to the fans for bringing the 9th song from the recent album, “Tanana,” to number one on the Adult Alternative Airplay Chart before the band transitioned into the second half of the set, which included a mix of their old songs from the previous albums.
Fans screamed in excitement as the intro to “Modern Jesus,” a song from their 7th studio album, Evil Friends, began. As fans shouted the lyrics with their hands in the air, the LED screen backdrop displayed a red-and-blue background with obscured figurines, creating a unique atmosphere that let fans feel the music deeply.
The crowd grew hotter and sweatier as the hit song “Feel It Still” had them dancing and grooving to the addictive rhythm. Smiles never left the crowd's faces throughout the entire set, and to close the set, Portugal. The Man played the 10th song from their album SHISH, leaving the crowd with the same high energy they started with.
Portugal. The Man didn’t just deliver a jam-packed, high-energy show; they also made time to advocate for local crew and workers and gave the stage to PTM (Pass The Mic), an organization they created that advocates for human rights with an emphasis on Indigenous Peoples, before their set began. PTM focuses on giving everyone a voice and building a community within live music.
The Denali tour is placing Portugal. The Man back on the map, and this show brought the perfect blend of their old and new sound, appealing to all fans. The band’s strong advocacy with Pass The Mic and independent music production is bringing a refreshing feel to the music industry, and it is exciting to watch it grow. The Denali tour is coming to an end soon, with only five shows left, and it is undoubtedly a must-see.
Photos and Review by Alyssa Bole
