Portugal. The Man

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Portugal. The Man

Background information
Origin USA
Genre(s) Indie
Experimental
Rock
Blues rock
Years active 2004–present
Label(s) Public Music Records
Website www.portugaltheman.net, www.myspace.com/portugaltheman
Members
John Gourley
Zach Carothers
Jason Sechrist
Ryan Neighbors
Former members
Wes Hubbard
Harvey Tumblson

Portugal. The Man is an American indie four-piece from Wasilla, Alaska, USA. It consists of former members of the band Anatomy of a Ghost. The group is no longer signed to Fearless Records.

Contents

[edit] Style

Musically, Portugal. The Man's style is one of variation. Their style is both rooted in the indie and experimental genre, but their songs also contain elements of soul, blues, and folk music. At times, the band chooses to utilize drum machines and/or synth loops to anchor their songs, while at other times, the band chooses to use the more conventional guitar, bass, and acoustic drum configuration that is characteristic of rock music. The band also utilizes the keyboard in much of its music. In addition to their instrumentals, Gourley's distinctly higher-pitched vocals add to Portugal. The Man's unique sound. Lyrically, Gourley provides the band with abstract and/or enigmatic lyrics that rely heavily on imagery. Gourley's verses are usually delivered in the first person singular or plural.

[edit] Band name

Portugal. The Man The band's name is based on the idea of David Bowie's "bigger than life" fame. They wanted the band to have a bigger than life feel but didn't want to name it after one of their members. "A country is a group of people," guitar player and vocalist John Gourley explains. "With Portugal, it just ended up being the first country that came to mind. The band's name is Portugal. The period is stating that, and The Man states that it's just one person."[citation needed] The name has more personal meaning as well. Portugal. The Man was also going to be the name of a book that Gourley had planned to write about his father and his many adventures.

Also, in the Portugal. The Man lyrics booklet (in the front of the Waiter: "You Vultures!" CD), it states "Music preformed and recorded by: The Approaching AIRballoons. The Approaching AIRballoons are: John Baldwin Gourley - Guitars & vocals, Wesley James Hubbard - Keys & Vocals, Zachary Scott Carothers - Bass & vocals, Jason Wade Sechrist - Drums. Additional touring member: Jesse Joe Cunningham". This started confusion with who exactly The Approaching AIRballoons are, and why it's not Portugal. The Man who is credited. It was brought up on their forums, and was cleared up by John Baldwin Gourley saying " The Approaching AIRballoons are the backing band for Portugal. The original band name was 'Portugal. The Man and the Approaching AIRballoons' ".

[edit] Career

The members of Portugal. The Man (with the exception of Jason Sechrist who was born in Portland, Oregon) were all born and raised in Alaska. Gourley grew up in various parts of Alaska, even spending a year in the woods[citation needed], living in a cabin his parents had built that was powered by a generator and had no phone. Around the 8th grade John's dad bought him a guitar[citation needed]. He played a little here and there but mostly wrote. "I started playing mainly because of Zach, who was in this awful cover band and they played at our high school from time to time. It was like Rage Against the Machine covers, which I loved![citation needed]"

Around August of 2002, the band Anatomy of a Ghost was formed. Anatomy of A Ghost quickly gained popularity, but before long, the group broke up. Through the demise of that band, Gourley and Zach Carothers teamed up with Wesley Hubbard (of Mash Potato Mitch and the Jet Puff Marshmellow Men), Nick Klein (former guitar tech for Anatomy of Ghost) and Harvey Tumbleson - and formed Portugal. The Man. The band left Alaska and went to Portland with the intent of recording and touring[citation needed]. The band recorded demos in the summer of 2004 and followed this with a tour with Chiodos that fall. In spring 2005, Klein and Tumbleson left the band to pursue other opportunities and soon after Sechrist joined the band.

Portugal. The Man's debut record Waiter: "You Vultures!" was released by Fearless Records on January 24th, 2006. The album was produced by Casey Bates.

They have played with Action Action, The Matches, and have also opened up for labelmates Gatsbys American Dream on the Stampeding Machines tour, alongside other similar acts such as HORSE the Band and Forgive Durden. In the summer of 2006 they were included on the Circa Survive headlining tour The Twilight Army Tour with The Receiving End Of Sirens, Days Away, YouInSeries, and Keating. Portugal. The Man toured with The Fall of Troy, Tera Melos and Damiera on The Fall of Troy's Headlining Winter Tour.In early 2007, Portugal. The Man released a new E.P. entitled It's Complicated Being a Wizard. The EP comprised one 23 minute original composition and nine "magic" tracks which reiterate the album in summation, but with subtle differences.

On June 22, 2007 they released their second full length, Church Mouth, which was again produced by Casey Bates. Shortly, before the albums release, the band leaked the album themselves and put it online for free download. The band then set out on a full US headline tour with support from The Photo Atlas, Play Radio Play, Tera Melos, and The Only Children among others. They then toured Europe, and followed it up with another US headlining tour with support from Rocky Votolato and Great Depression during September and October. Following this tour, they joined Thursday on a short east coast tour in November alongside Circle Takes The Square.

On January 7, 2008, Portugal. The Man posted a new blog on their Myspace detailing what the next year will hold for them. They are now off of their label, Fearless Records, they plan on independently releasing a new studio album and are heading over to Europe again this February. On March 26th, 2008 it was announced in a Myspace bulletin that Ryan Neighbors, their touring keyboardist, is now an official member and the replacement for Wes Hubbard. This Summer they will be the main support band for Rx Bandits national headlining tour.

Portugal. The Man has collaborated with the band, The Sound of Animals Fighting, on the re-release of their first album, "Tiger and the Duke." Portugal. The Man remixed three of the songs on that album.

[edit] Band members

[edit] Current members

  • John Gourley - guitar, vocals
  • Zach Carothers - bass, vocals
  • Jason Sechrist - drums
  • Ryan Neighbors - keyboard, percussion, backing vocals

[edit] Touring members

  • None currently

[edit] Former members

  • Wes Hubbard - keyboards, vocals
  • Nick Klein - Guitar
  • Harvey Tumblson - Beats

[edit] Former touring members

  • Jesse Cunningham - guitar
  • Dewey Halpaus - guitar, backing vocals
  • Kirk Ohnstad - guitar, percussion, backing vocals
  • Matt Moore - guitar
  • Jeremy Garcia- guitar, backing vocals

[edit] Discography

[edit] References

  1. ^ Billboard, Allmusic.com

[edit] External links

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