If there is any one band that’s keeping the idea of psychedelic rock alive, it’s Portugal. The Man. That’s not to say that there are not other bands out there that partake in psychedelic rock, moreso that Portugal’s ability to blend other more popular styles of rock in to their psychedelic style has helped keep them relevant and accessible to more of a broader audience.
A quick look around the Fillmore proves how broad Portugal’s fan base is. The prog/almost post- hardcore side of Portugal draw a younger crowd that you’d be more likely see at Warped Tour or Taste of Chaos; whereas the more trippy, psychedelic side of Portugal. The Man might take you back to the glory days of The Fillmore. The only difference is that now at the Fillmore, we experience a micro-managing staff, arbitrary lines taped on the floor and “reserved” tables the no one ever sits at.
Portugal. The Man has a unique ability to blend harder, louder rock with spacious psychedelic rock and yet retain a relevant appeal. This is refreshing. Portugal. The Man won’t appeal to the fan who is looking for a reproduction of any of their albums, they certainly draw their set construction from the 60’s side of their sound, reserving a fair bit of their set for improvisation. The jamming is clearly lost on the younger side of the crowd, yet obviously enjoyed by the seasoned jamming professionals that the Fillmore knows so well. Even though Portugal. The Man has been around for a few years now and it will be interesting to see how well they would fair with a headlining national tour.
