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New Music From Portugal. The Man

Portugal. The Man offers new track, tour dates.

Wasilla, Alaska is known for a lot of things.  The Iditarod, fantastic ski slopes, an unmentionable vice president nominee.  But let’s not forget one of the few bands that was conceived in this fantastic place, Portugal. The Man.  The Wasilla turned Portland, Oregon band has gained critical recognition over the past three years for their multi-layered musical explorations.  This is the music inspired by winters full of darkness and summers full of light, that insular population of Alaska that sticks to their radios diligently while snow piles up outside.  Lead singer John Baldwin Gourley started Portugal. The Man in his hometown of Wasilla after becoming fascinated with the concept of tape loops and sampling.  Having a definitive style has only help the band reach the heights that they have, including Alternative Press naming their album Censored Colors one of the top albums of 2008.

After breaking from Fearless Records last year the band decided to release their upcoming album The Satanic Satanist independently on their own imprint label Approaching AIRBaloons through Equal Vision Records.  For their new album the band left their west coast roots to record in Boston’s Camp Street Studios with producer Paul Q. Kolderie.  This is the first album the band has recorded without the help of any of their friends.  The changes in dynamic lead Gourley and the band to do more preproduction than they have on past albums.  Their single off of The Satanic Satanist “People Say” shows the change-up for Portugal. The Man.  Speaking about the human cost of war, “People Say” shows an impressive difference but still maintains the sound that we know and love from this band.  Gourley’s lyrical prowess still remains, and the band’s pension for upbeat, psychedelic music almost makes you feel band for enjoying a song about war this much.

The Satanic Satanist drops July 21^st.  In the meantime make sure to check out Portugal. The Man on their ongoing tour:

06.05 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
06.06 Madison, WI @ Cafe Montmartre
06.07 Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle
06.09 Bloomington, IN @ The Bluebird
06.10 St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill
06.11 Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo
06.13 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
06.15 Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
06.16 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
06.17 Brooklyn, NY @ Southpaw
08.07-08.09 Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
08.28-08.30 San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands