Portugal. The Man – Live & Outside

Portugal. The Man headlined Pet Aid, a free show celebrating local bands for the love of pets, in the beautiful Sellwood Waterfront Park in Portland on Sunday, July 14th.  After months of touring, they played the free concert, surprising fans with an intimate show and gathering before their sold out one on Thursday at the Crystal Ballroom.

It’s nice having them back.  Their set far exceeded expectations for a little outdoor neighborhood concert.  The songs from their new album, Evil Friends (QRO review), were met with exuberance – cheering and singing along.

Yet the band takes on a whole new life live!  They get all funky and more soulful, beckoning hip shaking, clapping, and all out abandonment with classic rock guitar riffs to die for.  There’s enough variation to satisfy the synth-pop lover, the classic rock lover, and the jam band lover alike.  Hard hitting kicks and deep base rhythms vibrate as the synth hums, and then it all releases into a frenzy before pulling itself back together into the dark embrace of “Purple Yellow Red and Blue”.

“I just want to live in ecstasy…” 

Zack Carothers and Kane Ritchotte joined fans afterward for pictures as the sun began to set on the park.  Everyone left happy.  Almost all sang along – it was hard not to.  All their songs have a catchy hook, and their four-part harmonies give everyone a comfortable place to join in with them.

Over a thousand people will pack into the Crystal Ballroom to see them on Thursday with their light show grander and fancy speakers, but those of us who were lucky enough to make it to this small show left buzzing and humming and soaking in the sun, aware that we had just witnessed something very special and rare.