Concert Review: Portugal. The Man
Coming off of a quick bat of illness, Portugal. The Man (PTM) made their great return to New Haven at College Street Music Hall on February 20th continuing their triumphant world tour.
The band is taking full advantage of this tour to promote and support causes that are closest to them. Before the show started, volunteers checked if audience members were registered to vote, offering them “VOTE” pins in return. Additionally, they actively encouraged fans to donate to a charity fund that directly supports research into DHDDS, a rare genetic disorder that Frances Gourley, the daughter of PTM members John Gourley and Zoe Manville, was diagnosed within 2023. In exchange, audience members would be entered to win a signed setlist from the performance. Messages promoting donations played both at the beginning and the end of the show.
Kicking off the show was the beloved seven-piece band Snacktime. With their bombastic R&B/ funk sound that stretched to the very back of the venue, the group played an energetic set that got the crowd up on their feet. Although the performance was well-rehearsed, their confidence rang through effortlessly, creating a casual, yet fun atmosphere for the rest of the show. A crowd favorite of their set was their spunky rendition of their track, “I DON’T GIVE A DAMN,” which featured a ton of call and response to engage with the audience. Much of their music speaks messages of unity, support, and good vibes, starting the show off on a truly positive note.
Clan Mother Shoran Waupatukuay Piper (left) & Lakota Harden (right)
A special moment that I didn’t expect was the land acknowledgment made by highly respected Native American community leader and elder Lakota Harden (Minnecoujou/Yankton Lakota and Ho-Chunk) and Clan Mother Shoran Waupatukuay Piper of the local Trumbull reservation of the Golden Hill Paugussett Tribal Nation (based in Trumbull and Colchester). Upon further research post-show, I learned that PTM runs a non-profit organization called the Pass The Mic Foundation, which “focuses on building community resilience, empathy, and awareness through music, stories, art, education and connectivity.” They aim to “convene and organize partnerships and projects informed by community need, then mobilize PTM’s listeners and supporters around that shared vision.” Harden has frequented PTM shows as a primary spokesperson for the organization. She continued, highlighting the unifying power of rock music and how all of our spirits connect back to the earth we walk on. Together, Harden and Piper spoke of the strength that comes from community support, awareness of issues affecting the local Native communities, and finally an acknowledgment of the history of the land they were performing on. It was a motivational way to set the tone for an exciting evening.
Playing songs across their discography, PTM covered all bases for both new and longtime fans. They opened with “Grimm Generation,” a track off of their latest album, “Chris Black Changed My Life,” an album dedicated to their close friend, late hype man, and MC Chris Black, who passed away in May of 2019. Featuring a bouncy, upbeat melody that contrasts with the ironically despondent lyrics, it was quite a melancholy way to kick off. The lighting for this show also added to the melancholy ambiance, basking them in golden light during the lighter moments of the night and showering them in a purple/ blue glow for other reserved moments. The group was also joined on stage by the members of Snacktime throughout their performance, adding Snacktime’s lead vocalist, Yesseh Furaha-Ali, as a special feature. I had never seen an artist include their openers in such a prominent way in their own stage time, at most maybe a single song collaboration. This choice, to me, really highlights the character of PTM members. With the additional members, PTM created an enhanced experience of their music, building off of a new selection of sounds, including Snacktime’s selection of brass and woodwind instruments. 3 songs that struck me the most were “Atomic Man,” “Thunderdome [W.T.A.],” and “Dummy,” which played all in a row. The vast sound that everyone together was able to propel swallowed the crowd. Nothing could distract this audience at the height of the show.
When audiences go to see Portugal. The Man, they are assured to get a show worth the full price of their ticket. The setlist for this show is extensive, but the length of the show is also propelled by the band's extended jam sessions mid-show, encouraging them to go with the song's flow, taking their time and enjoying themselves. They continued with elaborate performances of “The Sun,” “Evil Friends,” and their viral hit “Feel It Still,” which skyrocketed the group into the mainstream in 2017. By the time 10:50 p.m. came around, it was clear they maybe spent too much time jamming as John’s microphone caught the end of him yelling out to the band, “We got 5 minutes.” Oh, how the band made the most of that 5 minutes closing out the show with a strong encore mashing up “Live in the Moment,” “Once Was One,” and “Someday Believers'' alongside their final song at College Street, “Purple Yellow Red, and Blue.”
Experience Portugal. The Man on tour throughout 2024; you won’t want to miss them! For more pictures from the show, visit our gallery.
