Alaskan outfit, Portugal. The Man brought 2019 to an end with two nights of shows at The Fox Theater in Oakland. I wasn't at their New Year's Eve show but I was at their show on the eve of New Years Eve and it was just as exciting. Night 1 was very close to selling out and very well might have by the time I got there for some of the opening act, Chicano Batman.
 |
Portugal. The Man @ The Fox Theater, Oakland 12/30/2019
photo by Marc Fong
|
The crowd was vibrant and chatty, millennials, Y and Gen-Xers still giddy with Holiday cheer and ready to celebrate. And really, what better way to celebrate the end of a decade than at a concert surrounded by happy people who like the same music that you do?
A couple of indigenous Alaskans took the stage before the band (Portugal. The Man) with a passionate speech. It wasn't preachy and fans respected it. It's great when musicians use their voice for the greater good and the stage is the perfect platform to give people an insight to what topics matter to them.
Lights turned low, fog machines kicked in to high gear, sound clips teased "Feel It Still" and a huge projection of Beavis and Butthead whirled fans into a frenzy at the start of their set.
They kept that energy going with a cover of the Metallica hit "For Whom the Bell Tolls" which was pretty epic coming from an alternative, psychedelic rock band.
 |
Portugal. The Man @ The Fox Theater, Oakland 12/30/2019
photo by Marc Fong
|
 |
Portugal. The Man @ The Fox Theater, Oakland 12/30/2019
photo by Marc Fong
|
The 6 bandmates spread them selves out thin, making the stage spacious as they played. There was bursts of light and colors and a whole lot of foggy haze and even some confetti but other than some images being projected behind them, it was a minimalistic setting.
 |
Portugal. The Man @ The Fox Theater, Oakland 12/30/2019
photo by Marc Fong
|
The only song they played from their last album, 2017's Woodstock came at the end of their set by way of what some will argue made them sell-outs. Portugal. The Man pulled a classic move, saving the best for last and the crowd was definitely feeling it when they finally played "Feel It Still". Every other song was either off of 2013's Evil Friends or 2011's In The Mountain In The Cloud. They ended Monday night's show the same way they started it, with a cover, two covers actually, Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" and "Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones.
 |
Portugal. The Man @ The Fox Theater, Oakland 12/30/2019
photo by Marc Fong
|
It looks like these Portland transplants are gearing up to hit the music festival circuit in 2020 so keep an eye out for Portugal. The Man on festival line-ups near you!
 |
Portugal. The MAn @ The Fox Theater, Oakland 12/30/2019
photo by Marc Fong
|
 |
Portugal. The Man @ The Fox Theater, Oakland 12/30/2019
photo by Marc Fong
|
set list 12/30/2019
1. For Whom the Bell Tolls
2. Holy Roller
3. Modern Jesus
4. Creep in a T-Shirt
5. Atomic Man
6. All Your Light
7. Purple Yellow Red and Blue
8. Hip Hop Kids
9. Sleep Forever
10. Feel It Still
11. Another Brick in the Wall (Pink Floyd)
12. Satisfaction (The Rolling Stones)
No comments:
Post a Comment