Words and Photos by Desirea Corbett
From Alaska to Brooklyn: Portugal. The Man take over Music Hall of Williamsburg
“We believe in community… My friend Kris Kristofferson always said it takes a village. And it’s something that I hope everybody takes with you as you travel around in your lives.” About 90 minutes into Portugal. The Man’s whopping two-hour set, John Gourley paused to address the crowd at the sold-out Music Hall of Williamsburg on Tuesday night. He went on to talk about the foundations he and the band have started — one based around Indigenous visibility and learning about the land you stand on. This feeling of community became an overarching theme throughout the evening.
Formed in Alaska in 2004 and now based in Portland, Oregon, Portugal. The Man is known for blending psychedelic rock, pop, and alternative. The band consists of founding member John Baldwin Gourley and Zoe Manville, joined by a group of touring musicians. The moment you walked into Music Hall of Williamsburg, you could feel that sense of community: a few booths were set up to raise awareness for local organizations. The crowd was tame but clearly excited, as this show was part of Portugal. The Man’s underplay series, The Lords of Portland Present Portugal. The Man — a run where they play rare catalog tracks, covers, extended jams, special guests, and offer limited merch.
The opening band, La Luz, brought the chillest vibes with their surf-rock sound, leaving the crowd mellow and ready. Before Portugal. The Man took the stage, a woman named Liz, from Artists Against Apartheid, spoke about their organization’s efforts toward the liberation of Palestine. She was met mostly with cheers, though a small group of hecklers in the back clearly disagreed.
When Portugal. The Man finally came out, the room was pitch-black and smoky as they began “Denali,” the first track off their new album Shish. The crowd erupted. The lights came up — though only slightly — as they played every song from the album in order, start to finish. The lighting for this “First Act” stayed moody and low, with the band mostly backlit in different colors for each track. It almost felt as if they wanted the focus less on themselves and more on the music and what it represented, giving the audience a chance to be sonically transported to Alaska and the Native villages that influenced Shish. For “Father Gun,” the album’s final track, they brought out special guest Hanni El Khatib, songwriter, producer, and co-owner of Innovative Leisure.
The Second Act showcased older songs from Portugal. The Man’s catalog and, somewhat surprisingly, excluded their Grammy-winning hit “Feel It Still.” But the tracks they did choose highlighted their incredible range — there truly was something for everyone. The biggest surprise came at the end of this act when they performed “Live in the Moment” and brought out the legendary Alfred (a.k.a. “Weird Al”) Yankovic to take the mic. The audience went absolutely bananas. If they were mellow before, they were now bouncing off the walls.
Portugal. The Man’s Third Act consisted of just one song: an extended cover of Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name.” Before starting, they invited filmmaker and comedian Jorma Taccone onstage — dressed as and impersonating Pee-wee Herman—to introduce the song. It was a hilariously nostalgic moment that perfectly set up one of the most epic covers I’ve ever witnessed. The stage filled with Portugal. The Man and all of their special guests. The lights went red and smoky, and a small mosh pit formed right in front of Yankovic. Everyone in the crowd was singing and screaming with reckless abandon. It was truly an incredible sendoff.
This show exceeded all expectations. The sheer volume of music spanning so many genres was impressive on its own. But Portugal. The Man also brought out special guests, touched on meaningful topics, and fostered a genuine sense of community. You could feel it bringing the audience together — new friendships forming on the floor — and we all left thinking not just about Portugal. The Man’s music, but about the bigger picture: this beautiful world we live in, and how to respect and honor it for the future.
Loudspeaker Collective 