Portugal. The Man
- HOMETOWN:
- Wasilla, Alaska
- MYSPACE:
- myspace.com/portugaltheman
What is it about Portugal The Man that makes them stand out, that separates them from every other rock band? Is it due to an unconventional upbringing in the magical and menacing tundra of the Land of the Northern Lights? Maybe it has something to do with their visceral live shows, their effortless ability to create concert experiences that differ wildly from night to night. Or perhaps it’s due to the bond they actively forge with their ever-growing fan base evidenced by their showing up to in-store signings, radio stations or interviews with personalized paintings for their supporters. In other words, Portugal The Man isn’t a band, it’s a movement—and a force this strong could only be born out of a place as icy and isolated as Wasila, Alaska. While those of us who grew up in the Continental United States were raised on Saturday Morning Cartoons and sugary cereal, PTM front man John Gourley’s upbringing was unorthodox. He spent a good deal of his youth exploring nature in one of the few virtually untouched territories left in the world. “Alaska is the prettiest place I’ve ever been,” explains Gourley, whose striking enigmatic vision makes its mark on all of the Portugal The Man’s CD packaging, merch designs, videos, photos and posters. “I think that environment has had a huge impact on our music.” Although Alaska is a decidedly conservative state, Gourley grew up as the child of two hippie parents, also one of the few husband-and-wife teams who ran the Iditarod, Alaska’s annual dogsled race. John and his family lived in a remote cabin that needed a generator to provide electricity and had no phone. Thankfully, the generator provided enough juice to power the family’s record player, and instead of getting caught up in mainstream hip-hop which permeated his hometown, he was raised on his parents’ very limited record collection, poring over albums by the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Zombies, and Motown artists at a young age and being encouraged to explore his own inner creativity, which eventually lead to his joining Anatomy Of The Ghost with bassist Zach Carothers in 2002. When that band broke up in 2004, Portugal The Man rose out of the ashes.
UPCOMING EVENTS |
PAST EVENTS
subscribe to the feed
Portugal. The Man w/ Earl Greyhound and Wintersleep (outside)
Sat. 10/18 | 7:00PM @ Emo's (Downtown)
Click “I Like It!” to win free tickets!Sarah Palin isn't the only newsworthy export coming out of Wasilla, Alaska. Portugal. The Man have been making avant garde rock noise in …more»
RX Bandits w/ Portugal The Man, Facing New York (Outside)
Fri. 07/18 | 7:00PM @ Emo's (Downtown)
The RX Bandits have been performing their own unique brand of ska-punk since the mid-90s, and are frequently invited to entertain at big festivals like Bonnaroo and the Warped Tour. Portugal T…more»
Radar Recordings SXSW Finale Party
Sun. 03/16 | 1:00PM @ Red 7 (Downtown)
Russian Circles, Maps & Atlases, Lymbyc Systym, Gwnghis Tron, Caspian, This Will Destroy You, Circle Takes The Square, Constants, Coliseum, Junius, Portugal The Man, Tera Melos, Consider T…more»
"THE BIG ONE". Presented by Do512, GamePlan Marketing & Events, and Sweet Leaf Tea
Sat. 03/15 | 2:30PM @ \The Graveyard\"--Do512 Compound" (South of the river)
Sat March 15 2:30p-10p @ Do512 Compound (2208 S. Lamar, behind STRUT) RSVP to get on the guestlist now (PLEASE DO NOT RSVP to the email above! Look up and left to RSVP w/ your nam…more»
2632 People Like this Event. I Like It share
Man Man impressed my pants off.
Suburban Home Vinyl Collective Day Party
Fri. 03/14 | 12:00PM @ Headhunters (Downtown)
Jon Snodgrass, Two Cow Garage, Playing Favorites, Joey Cape, Teenage Bottlerocket, Scott Reynolds and the Steaming Beast,, Limbeck, Portugal The Man, Ghost Buffalo, Jr., Juggernaut, O Pioneers…more»
The Spits / Dan Sartain / Marked Men / The Night Marchers / Portugal The Man / The...
Thu. 03/13 | 8:00PM @ Emo's (Downtown)
PureVolume presents…
Thu. 03/13 | 8:00PM @ PureVolume Ranch (Downtown)
Breathe Carolina (3am), Portugal the Man (2am), The Photo Atlas (1am), Band Marino (midnight), DJ Lounge (8pm-midnight) at the PureVolume Ranch (2nd St. next to the convention center, RSVP her…more»
PureVolume presents…
Thu. 03/13 | 8:00PM @ PureVolume Ranch (Downtown)
Breathe Carolina (3am), Portugal the Man (2am), The Photo Atlas (1am), Band Marino (midnight), DJ Lounge (8pm-midnight) at the PureVolume Ranch (2nd St. next to the convention center, RSVP her…more»
Sixth Street Showdown with White Denim, Portugal. The Man, Von Bondies and More!
Tue. 03/11 | 5:00PM @ Emo's (Downtown)
Portugal the Man--with Rocky Votolato and The Great Depression
Sat. 10/20 | 9:00PM @ Stubb's Bar-B-Q (Downtown)
Click "I Like it!" to win free tickets on the Do512 Guestlist!Portugal the Man (10p), The Great Depression (11p), Rocky Votolato (12m) INDOOR SHOW DOORS @9PM TIX $10 ADV; $1…more»
20 People Like this Event. I Like It share
Rocky Votolato began his career in power-pop band Waxwing—an outfit that featured his sibling and current Blood Brothers member Cody—but these days he favors mostly quiet singer-songwriter fare built around his voice and acoustic guitar. Votolato’s latest, The Brag & Cuss, is a small departure from his critically acclaimed 2006 effort Makers, opting for full-on alt-country instrumentation rather than the previous work’s stripped-down starkness. It’s a good record, though generic in its weaker moments, with Votolato occasionally sounding like a lesser Ryan Adams. Hopefully Votolato will bring a bit more heart-on-his-sleeve passion to the stage. Opening: Portugal The Man, The Great Depression.
Portugal the Man/ PlayRadioPlay!/ The Photo Atlas/ Heist At Hand (in)
Wed. 08/01 | 7:00PM @ Emo's (Downtown)
Visit AustinSoundcheck.com to read our interview with John Gourley, lead singer of Portugal. The Man