Portugal. The Man
Portugal. The Man | |
|---|---|
 Portugal. The Man performing in Kansas City, Missouri | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Wasilla, Alaska, USA |
| Genres | Rock, psychedelic rock, psychedelic pop, progressive rock, indie rock |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Fearless, Equal Vision, Atlantic |
| Members | John Gourley Zachary Carothers Kyle O'Quin Jason Sechrist Zoe Manville |
| Past members | Kane Ritchotte Ryan Neighbors Noah Gersh Wesley Hubbard Nick Klein Harvey Tumbleson |
| Website | www |
Portugal. The Man is an American rock band from Wasilla, Alaska. The group consists of John Gourley, Zach Carothers, Kyle O'Quin, and Jason Sechrist. Gourley and Carothers met and began playing music together in Wasilla High School in Wasilla, Alaska. Since the formation of Portugal. The Man in 2005, the band has released eight studio albums and three EPs. Their first two albums were released on Fearless Records. They also released material on their own imprint Approaching AIRballoons through indie label Equal Vision Records. On April 2, 2010, the band signed to Atlantic Records. Evil Friends marks their seventh full length studio album and the first collaboration between Portugal. The Man and producer Danger Mouse. It was released on June 4, 2013.
History
Origin
Around August 2002, the band Anatomy of a Ghost was formed by John Gourley and Zach Carothers. Gourley fronted the band having had no previous singing experience.[1] Anatomy of A Ghost quickly gained popularity, but before long, the group broke up. Portugal. The Man was originally started as John Gourley's side project, with Carothers playing bass. Before they had a drummer, they used drum machines and synth-loops as the backing beat. Gourley and Carothers teamed up with Wesley Hubbard, Nick Klein (former guitar tech for Anatomy of a Ghost) and Harvey Tumbleson, and formed Portugal. The Man. The band left Alaska and went to Portland with the intent of recording and touring. The band recorded demos in the summer of 2004, followed by a US tour that fall. In spring 2005, Klein and Tumbleson left and soon after Jason Sechrist joined the band. Portugal. The Man's debut record Waiter: "You Vultures!" was released by Fearless Records on January 24, 2006. The album was produced by Casey Bates.
Independent years
On June 22, 2007, they released their second full-length, Church Mouth, again produced by Casey Bates, and set out on a full U.S. 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.
In 2008 the band left their label, Fearless Records, and added Ryan Neighbors, their touring keyboardist, as an official member and the replacement for Wes Hubbard.
On July 30, 2008, it was announced that Portugal. The Man was releasing Censored Colors under its independent record label, Approaching AIRballoons, in partnership with Equal Vision Records. It was released September 16, 2008.[2] John Gourley was also chosen as the recipient of the 2008 AP Magazine's 'Best Vocalist of the Year'.[3]
In 2009 they played at Bonnaroo and at Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Chicago.[4]
On April 9 Portugal. The Man announced The Satanic Satanist, which was released on July 21, 2009. Originally named The Satanic Satanist of the Majestic Majesty, the album title was later shortened and an acoustic counterpart entitled The Majestic Majesty was released. The Satanic Satanist is themed around memories and stories from singer John Gourley's growing up in the state of Alaska. The album was recorded with the help of record producer Paul Q. Kolderie of Pixies and Radiohead fame.[5]
On February 11, 2010, Gourley announced that American Ghetto, the bands fifth studio album, would be released on March 2. In order to avoid another leak, virtually no copies of the album were solicited until the release date.[6]
Atlantic years (2010–present)
In April 2010 the band announced their signing to Atlantic Records.
During the summer of 2010, Portugal. The Man went back into the studio to record their new album with producer John Hill. They recorded the album in El Paso, Texas, London, England, and San Diego, California. Grammy winner Andy Wallace mixed the album. Wallace has most notably mixed Rush, Nirvana, Paul McCartney, and At the Drive-In records.
During their fall tour in 2010, Portugal. The Man played a new song known as "We Got It All." At SXSW 2011, they debuted another song titled "Senseless." Starting on April 7, 2011, Portugal. The Man began releasing one 30 second clip every week from their new album via their YouTube channel. The songs were "Once Was One," "All Your Light (Times Like These)" and "So American". On April 29, 2011 the first full track was released entitled "Got it all (This Can't Be Living Now.)" They released their second song on May 5 entitled "Sleep Forever." In the Mountain in the Cloud and was released on July 19, 2011.[7] Portugal. The Man's short film, "Sleep Forever", directed by Michael Ragen, clocks in at over 13 minutes and was shot entirely in Gourley's hometown of Wasilla, Alaska. "Sleep Forever" premiered via IFC on June 6, 2011.[8]
Portugal. The Man also made their second appearance at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 10th year anniversary in June 2011, as well as Lollapalooza in August.
On August 8, 2011, after their Lollapalooza show, Portugal. The Man's van and trailer were stolen. The van and trailer contained all of the band's instruments and performance gear. On August 9, the van was recovered, but the contents of the trailer were missing. A list of the missing equipment was made available by the band.[9] On August 12, much of the band's gear was recovered from the home of a man who claimed to have purchased it at a flea market and the band subsequently posted a thank you note on their website saying, "it is more than just a win for PTM, it is also a win for twitter, the world of social media, the Chicago police, and old school journalism."[10][11] The man was charged with one felony count of theft for purchasing the stolen equipment.[12]
In Fall 2011, the band went on a US headlining tour with the addition of guitarist Noah Gersh to the band. They also went on to tour Europe in January, opening for The Black Keys, and going onto Australia to headline and perform at St Jerome's Laneway Festival. In Spring 2012 Portugal. The Man headlined the Jägermeister Music Tour with The Lonely Forest.
On April 3, 2012 it was announced via Facebook that keyboardist Ryan Neighbors would be leaving the band to pursue his own music career with his new project Hustle and Drone. He was replaced by Kyle O'Quin. Drummer Jason Sechrist was replaced by former child actor and drummer Kane Ritchotte shortly after Neighbors' departure.
On February 8, 2013, Portugal. The Man leaked pictures on Bonnaroo's official Tumblr page which showed that celebrated producer Brian Burton, aka Danger Mouse, is producing Portugal. The Man's new record. Danger Mouse is most known for his work with Gnarls Barkley, Jack White, and Broken Bells, and for producing award winning albums for bands like the Gorillaz, The Black Keys, and Norah Jones.[13] According to a Q&A Zach did on Portugal's official tumblr page, their new album will be heavily influenced by Pink Floyd and Dark Side of the Moon.[14]
On February 25, Portugal. The Man released the name of their new album, titled Evil Friends, on Instagram.[15] On March 6, the band revealed the album art for Evil Friends using a Tweet-To-Reveal Mosaic. The next day, the video for the title track from Evil Friends was released on the band's YouTube channel. On June 4, the album Evil Friends was released in the United States. The album features backing vocals by Este Haim and Danielle Haim.
In 2013, singles from the album, including "Evil Friends" and "Purple, Yellow, Red and Blue," were remixed by artists including Bear Mountain,[16] Terry Urban (Portugal. The Man & Friends)[17] and Passion Pit.[18]
Airing December 18, 2013 in the United States, Taco Bell featured Portugal. The Man's Evil Friends song to advertise their Grilled Stuft Nacho item in a television commercial entitled Getaway.
On April 22, 2014, the band announced a partnership with Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute to release a limited-edition run of 400 records to raise awareness for critically endangered Sumatran tigers. The track, "Sumatran Tiger," does not officially exist digitally, and, like all vinyl records, will eventually degrade and also become extinct. The copies were sent to "400 carefully chosen influencers, among them actors, activists, musicians, conservationists, bloggers and journalists," and is, as the band claims, "the first song meant to go extinct unless it's reproduced." The band encouraged fans to "scour the Internet" using the hashtags #EndangeredSong and #SumatranTiger to find recordings of the song.[19]
Music videos and short films
On June 6, 2011 Portugal. The Man released a short film featuring the songs "Sleep Forever" and "Got It All (This Can't Be Living Now)" from their album, In The Mountain In the Cloud.[20] Produced by Richard Hutchins and directed by Michael Ragen, the film features 13 minutes and 16 seconds of Alaskan wilderness intertwined with scenes of PTM front man, John Gourley, dog sledding before he is forced to travel by foot after his dogs abandon him.[21] In the end, Gourley accidentally shoots himself in the face as he trips and falls in the snow. His dogs return and eat their owner, the dead John Gourley.
Currently, Portugal. The Man has also released music videos for their songs "So American", "People Say", "All Your Light", "Do You", "The Dead Dog", "AKA M80 the Wolf", "Lay Me Back Down", "The Sun," "Evil Friends," "Purple Yellow Red and Blue", "Atomic Man", and "Modern Jesus". Most recently the band was featured on the trailer for The Walking Dead Season 4, with the song Heavy Games. Heavy Games is also played in episode 10 inmates and has been included in a sound track album for The Walking Dead released on the 25th March 2014. Furthermore, the band's song "Sleep Forever" was featured on Shameless (US) in the episode "Emily" on 30th March 2014. They are currently in South America and travelling to Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Brazil for Lollapalooza.
Band members
Current members
- John Baldwin Gourley - vocals, guitar, organ, drum machines
- Zachary Carothers - bass guitar, backing vocals
- Kyle O'Quin - keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals
- Jason Sechrist - drums
- Zoe Manville - backing vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, tambourine
- Colleen Jason- backing triangle
Former members
- Kane Ritchotte - drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Noah Gersh - guitar, vocals, miscellaneous percussion
- Nick Klein - guitar
- Harvey Tumbleson - beats
- Kirk Ohnsted - (Touring beats)
- Wesley Hubbard - (keyboards)
- Ryan Neighbors - (keyboards, didgeridoo, synthesizers, backing vocals)
- Justin McRae - (Guitar)
- Dewey Halpaus - (Touring Guitar)
- Matthew Moore - (Touring Guitar)
- Garrett Lunceford - drums on Satanic Satanists
- Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [22] |
US Alt. [23] |
US Rock [24] |
AUT [25] |
FRA [26] |
GER [27] |
SWI [28] | |||||
| Waiter: "You Vultures!"[29] |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| Church Mouth |
|
— | — | — | — | — | 90 | — | |||
| Censored Colors[30] |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| The Satanic Satanist |
|
81 | — | 38 | — | — | 68 | — | |||
| American Ghetto[31] |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| In the Mountain in the Cloud |
|
42 | 11 | 12 | 60 | — | 97 | 70 | |||
| Evil Friends |
|
28 | 9 | 12 | 64 | 93 | 89 | 74 | |||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||
Other albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| The Majestic Majesty[32] |
|
Extended plays
| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| Under Waves of the Brown Coat |
|
| The Pines & The Devil[33] |
|
| Devil Say I, I Say AIR[34] |
|
| It's Complicated Being a Wizard[35] |
|
| My Mind/Seventeen[36] |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US AAA [37] |
US Alt. [38] |
US Rock [39] | ||||
| "People Say" | 2009 | 25 | 16 | 31 | The Satanic Satanist | |
| "Lovers in Love"[40] | — | — | — | |||
| "Got It All (This Can't Be Living Now)"[41] | 2011 | 26 | 36 | — | In the Mountain in the Cloud | |
| "So American"[42][43] | — | — | — | |||
| "Evil Friends"[42] | 2013 | — | — | — | Evil Friends | |
| "Purple, Yellow, Red and Blue"[42] | 29 | 15 | — | |||
| "Modern Jesus"[42] | — | 28 | — | |||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||
References
- ^ "Interview: Portugal. The Man Frontman John Gourley". Inflatable Ferret. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
- ^ [1], Equal Vision Records. Published July 30, 2008.
- ^ "News Articles". Bonnaroo. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
- ^ "Portugal. The Man at Lollapalooza 2009". 2009.lollapalooza.com. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
- ^ "Interview with Portugal. The Man, October 2009". Redefinemag.com. 2011-08-24. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
- ^ [2][dead link]
- ^ "Trash Can Stands and Lunch Box Cases: A Portugal. The Man Story. | Music Emissions - Blog and Podcast". Music Emissions. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
- ^ "Exclusive World Premiere: Portugal. The Man's "Sleep Forever"". IFC. 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
- ^ "Lollapalooza band reports equipment still missing after stolen van found". chicagotribune.com. 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
- ^ "THANK YOU - Blog Detail". PortugalTheMan.com. 2011-08-16. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
- ^ "Lollapalooza band gets equipment back, says thanks with doughnuts". chicagotribune.com. 2011-08-16. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
- ^ "Juan O'Campo Charged in Theft of Lollapalooza Band Portugal. The Man's Gear". Myfoxchicago.com. 2011-08-16. Retrieved 2011-10-02. [dead link]
- ^ "Bonnaroo Tumblr". Bonnaroo. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
- ^ "Portugal. The Man Tumblr". Tumblr. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
- ^ "Portugaltheman Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
- ^ https://thedankles.com/2013/08/29/purple-yellow-red-and-blue-bear-mountain-remix-portugal-the-man/ Retrieved 09-18-13
- ^ https://hypetrak.com/2013/07/terry-urban-portugal-the-man-friends-mash-up-album/ Retrieved 09-18-13
- ^ https://www.indieshuffle.com/portugal-the-man-purple-yellow-red-blue-passion-pit-remix/ Retrieved 09-18-13
- ^ Young, Killian (2014-04-22). "Portugal. The Man Create 'Endangered Song' for Earth Day". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
- ^ https://www.youaintnopicasso.com/2011/06/06/video-portugal-the-mans-short-film-sleep-forever/ Retrieved 12-23-11
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jieN2Hp5hS4 Retrieved 12-23-11
- ^ "Portugal. The Man – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
- ^ "Portugal. The Man – Chart History: Alternative Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ^ "Portugal. The Man – Chart History: Rock Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ^ "Discographie Portugal. The Man". austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
{{cite web}}: templatestyles stripmarker in|work=at position 1 (help) - ^ "Discographie Portugal. The Man". lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
{{cite web}}: templatestyles stripmarker in|work=at position 1 (help) - ^ "Chartverfolgung / Portugal.The Man / Longplay". musicline.de (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
{{cite web}}: templatestyles stripmarker in|work=at position 1 (help) - ^ "Discography Portugal. The Man". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
{{cite web}}: templatestyles stripmarker in|work=at position 1 (help) - ^ DiGravina, Tim. "Waiter: "You Vultures!" – Portugal. The Man". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ Henderson, Alex. "Censored Colors – Portugal. The Man". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
- ^ Heaney, Gregory. "American Ghetto – Portugal. The Man". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ "The Majestic Majesty – Portugal. The Man". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ The Pines & The Devil (Media notes). Portugal. The Man. Fearless Records. 2007.
{{cite AV media notes}}:|format=requires|url=(help)CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Devil Say I, I Say Air - Portugal. The Man". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ It's Complicated Being a Wizard (Media notes). Portugal. The Man. Approaching AIRballoons Records. 2007. 527213-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}:|format=requires|url=(help)CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ My Mind / Seventeen (Media notes). Portugal. The Man. Defiance Records. 2007. LXXXIII.
{{cite AV media notes}}:|format=requires|url=(help)CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Portugal. The Man – Chart History: Triple A". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ^ "Portugal. The Man – Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ^ "Portugal. The Man – Chart History: Rock Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ^ Lovers in Love (Media notes). Portugal. The Man. Equal Vision Records. 2009.
{{cite AV media notes}}:|format=requires|url=(help)CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Got It All (This Can't Be Living Now) - Single by Portugal. The Man". iTunes (US). Retrieved May 21, 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Modern Rock – Airplay Archive". FMQB. Mediaspan Online Services. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
- ^ "So American - Single by Portugal. The Man". iTunes (PL). Retrieved May 21, 2014.