Portugal. The Man at First Avenue, Minneapolis (06/22/13)
Tour Dates
06/25 Dallas, TX – House of Blues
06/26 New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
06/27 Houston, TX – House of Blues
06/28 San Antonio, TX – Josabi’s
06/29 El Paso, TX – Tricky Falls
07/02 Santa Fe, NM – Santa Fe Sol
07/03 Telluride, CO – Telluride Conference
07/04 Aspen, CO – Belly Up
07/05 Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amph
07/06 Park City, UT – Park City Live
07/10 San Diego, CA – House of Blues
07/11 Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
07/12 Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
07/13 Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
07/16 Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
07/17 Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
07/18 Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
09/26 Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre
09/27 New York, NY – Terminal 5
09/29 Boston, MA – House of Blues
10/01 Silver Springs, MD – The Fillmore
10/02 Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore
10/03 Atlanta, GA – The Tabernacle
10/05 Austin, TX – ACL Music Festival
10/08 Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues
10/09 Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live
10/12 Austin, TX – ACL Music Festival
10/13 Mexico City, MX – Corona Capital 2013
10/15 Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
10/16 Columbia, MO – Mojo’s
10/18 Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
10/19 Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
10/22 Reno, NV – Knitting Factory
10/23 Ventura, CA – Ventura Theatre
10/26 Las Vegas, NV – Life Is Beautiful Festival
Starting the show was Guards, who we previously covered as Richie Follin in Cults (live band), with Deer Tick in 2011, and, most recently, with Palma Violets in April.
Songs on their set was, as expected, mostly from their album In Guards We Trust released in February via Black Bell Records. They played “Silver Lining” early in, before announcing the band’s names and brief introduction to their new album with “Nightmare”. According to Follin on stage, their “slowest song” is called “Not Supposed To”, even though it didn’t feel slow at all.
I think the highlight for me was when Follin asked the lights to be turned off at the start of “Sail It Slow”, which actually from their 2011 self-titled EP.
By the time Portugal. The Man took the stage to their introductory song The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody”, the First Avenue floor was packed. At least it sure felt packed in the front, as bodies crushed us in anticipation for the band to play.
As you can see from the setlist, most of the songs are from the new album, Evil Friends (“Purple Yellow Red and Blue”, “Evil Friends”, “Atomic Man”, “Modern Jesus”, “Hip Hop Kids”, “Creep In A T-Shirt”, and the first encore song “Sea of Air”). From what I’ve heard live, particularly near the end with “Hip Hop Kids” and “Creep In A T-Shirt” combo, the fans loved dancing to this. This may have something to do with the new record was collaborated with Danger Mouse, who brought a fresh alternative electronic hip hop to their new sound.
Rounding out the rest of the set were odds and ends with the majority of last year’s major label Atlantic’s In the Mountain in the Cloud (“So American”, “Share with Me the Sun”, “Got It All (This Can’t Be Living Now)”, and “Sleep Forever”).
Best audience reaction (prior to the encore), was probably “People Say”, which is a relatively older song from Portugal. The Man.
Encore was “Sea of Air” followed by a medley of “The Devil” and the Beatles’ “Helter Skelter”.
What can I say? If you like dancing, check out Portugal. The Man on tour. Sadly, if you live in Spain, I don’t see them playing in your country this year. Anyway, the Portland-based band is currently out supporting their the new record Evil Friends, out now on Atlantic Records.
