After the release of its somewhat controversial album, “Woodstock,” major-label indie rock group Portugal. The Man is embarking on a world tour that will be stopping by Columbia, Maryland this Friday, Sept. 21. The group will play at Merriweather Post Pavilion, a popular outdoor amphitheater.
Portugal. The Man consists of lead singer John Gourley and his bandmates Zoe Manson, Kyle O’Quin, Zack Carothers, Jason Sechrist and Eric Howk. The group originally hails from Wasilla, Alaska, where Gourley and Carothers began making music together in 2001. They’re now based out of Portland, Oregon. The band soared to fame after their March 2017 release of the global hit “Feel it Still,” which was a multi-chart topper that earned a Grammy and an iHeartRadio Music Award.
During a visit home to Alaska, the group told Billboard, Gourley’s father showed the group an old ticket stub from Woodstock, which he attended in 1969. The stub served as a reminder to the band of the placement and influence of music in moments of historical unrest, inspiring them to make an album that spoke to the social and political climate in America today. With a renewed sense of focus, the group started fresh, almost completely scrapping an album that they had been working on for three years.
However, after the release of “Woodstock,” some critics found their attempt at topicality to be futile. Although the album employs much of what the band calls its“hyperkinetic, sometimes frantic tapestry of sounds from neo-psych to glam and indie,” Portugal. The Man has received criticism for commercializing their sound and delivering underwhelming socio-political statements. Before the album dropped, the band prepared by releasing ironic shirts which say “I liked Portugal. The Man Before They Sold Out.”
Despite this, Portugal. The Man does have a loyal fan following, many of whom believe the group appeals to people of all ages because of their music style that combines uptempo beats, old and new school fusion and an accessible strain of pop. They are known to have trippy, colorful and energetic live shows. It will be interesting to see how and if the band’s heightened “pop” sound will impact their live performances.
The band admittedly prefers performing live, so fans can expect the band to be engaging. In a recent interview with Live Nation, Carothers and Howk revealed that “we never practice. But when we do, we overthink it. Practice does not make perfect when it comes to our band. You really have to do it live.”
“Woodstock” is available on iTunes and Spotify, and can also be streamed via YouTube. The doors of Merriweather Post Pavilion will open at 6 p.m. and the opening act, indie-pop group Lucius, is set to take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase here.
