12/27/2011 - What a Week... With Portugal. the Man
by: Darrin Christopher Huycke
When I landed in Fairbanks on December 14th at 2:30pm, I immediately text messaged a friend and said that I was watching the sunset. I had never been that far North during the winter daylight hours and though it was beautiful, it was only mid-afternoon! That "day sunset" gave me the vibe that it was going to be a great night.
The crowd's volume hushed and the stage lighting dimmed as the headlining band of the night was about to start their set on the stage of the Blue Loon in Fairbanks, AK. The energy and anticipation was high as the audience awaited the first notes by Portland boys: Portugal. the Man . My eyes wandered around; it was my first time in the Blue Loon and the atmosphere of the venue dazed me. It reminded me of the Bear Tooth Theater. The difference is, Bear Tooth has a capacity for their shows of 1100 people, whereas Blue Loon holds 400. The stage, the mezzanine, and many other features make the Blue Loon a very appealing venue to see shows. As the band struck their instruments & the lights flashed on beginning the next hour of our lives, I was in awe, and thought to myself: "What a week..."
Photo by Steve Hagar
In the days prior to my arrival in Fairbanks, I started checking out the local band that was opening for Portugal. the Man, Young Fangs. We didn't get to speak until before the show, in fact, right as they were walking on stage, but I was able to follow up with them after they were finished. Young Fangs haven't been around long. "We started doing shows in January of this year (2011)" says Joshua Labuda, singer and guitar player for Young Fangs. Since then they have already opened for: Filter, laVoy, and now Portugal. the Man. Even though they have had such amazing success so quickly, there were whispers heard through-out the crowd asking "Who ARE these guys?" Well, Young Fangs is a three piece consisting of two brothers, Joshua and Brennen Labuda, and Joel Fagre.
The crowd was really into it and compliments were flowing out like the beer taps. Not all fans were new though, "When we moved away from the mic, everyone was singing one of our songs. It's really the greatest feeling ever," says J. Labuda . Young Fangs have the sound that motivates you to dance, yet settles your mind into a state of peace. With similarities to Tokyo Police Club, the Morning Benders, and Kings of Leon, I was sold that they there were a perfect match to open for the world touring force of Portugal. the Man. Young Fangs has a crazy weekend of shows soon. You can catch them opening for AWOLNATION on Friday, January 6th, 2012 at the Blue Loon, and at the Sitzmark Bar in Girdwood, Alaska on Saturday, January 7th with laVoy and The Sweeteners.
Photo by Steve Hagar
Moments before Portugal. the Man took the stage to start the set, I spoke to lead singer John Gourley briefly. John and myself have shared some unique memories in the past, and we both were excited to see each other. Gourley and Zach Carothers (bass and vocals) are originally from the Wasilla area, which had a thriving music scene from 1998 through 2004. That scene revolved around a great venue called: Mead's Cafe, and back then, we could have never understood how much we would cherish that place.
As time rolled away from our Wasilla days, I witnessed what can truly come from the ambition and hard work of following your dreams. After departing the state to further pursue Anatomy of a Ghost, the previous project of Gourley and Carothers, Portugal. the Man was born. It's not too hard to Google Portugal. the Man and see what has taken place since the formation, but as a friend of theirs, and to know they are touring the world and influencing lives, it is truly amazing. While talking with Gourley as he was about to get on stage that Wednesday night at the Blue Loon, I could see the joy in his face to be doing these homecoming shows.
Photo by Steve Hagar
Portugal. the Man took us swiftly into the world of which Gourley and the crew write about. Their set was one of the best I had seen from them. They had mastered their craft even more since the last time I saw them in Spring '10. As the band finished up their set, there were outcries for an encore almost immediately, and it didn't take long for them to get answered. Portugal. the Man rocked out their final songs and departed the stage to go spend time with fans and family members that reside in Fairbanks. It was an intimate and amazing show that night, yet there was more to come with the next show in Anchorage, AK at the Egan Center two nights later.
Photo by Steve Hagar
After a full day of recovery, it was time for the "big shebang" homecoming show for Portugal. the Man on December, 16th Egan Center. I was in for another night I wouldn't forget, starting with a set from local Anchorage band Turquoise Boy. Turquoise Boy had a great set, which wasn't a surprise because they have impressed me at every performance. Assistant Editor for Anchorage Night Out, Jeremie Fincher, profiled Turquoise Boy in Anchorage Night Out's "Band Blog" section. Once Turquoise Boy finished their set, Anchorage was ready for the homecoming performance they had been waiting months for, if not years.
Portugal. the Man has done a handful of shows in Anchorage since they started, but none were as big as this one. Years ago they had their first shows in Alaska, one at Chilkoot Charlie's and the Downstairs. In the Spring of 2010 they played another show at the Bear Tooth Theater. The vibe of those shows were more low-key than the Egan Center one, maybe because of the difference in venue size, or that this was the first combined all ages show in Anchorage. More than likely it is because Portugal. the Man is "on their game" as of late. After their return home from a tour around Europe, Portugal. the Man will be heading back to do another European tour, but this time they will be opening for the Black Keys.
Portugal. the Man's performance that night certified their impact to Alaska's music scene. If Alaskans had not witnessed their craft before, they had now and left understanding why the world has turned heads towards Portugal. the Man. This was not only their biggest show they have put on for Alaska, but also their own families. I could see the glow in Gourley's and Carothers' face when they walked off stage. With the mass amounts of shows they have done throughout the years, not many end with being embraced by family, and that just added to that aura of the night.
Not long after the show was over, the band and their staff regrouped and headed over to their private after party at the Anchor Pub. Past and present friends gathered around, sharing drinks and stories, catching up with the development of each others lives and life on the road. It was a magical night and the cap to a homecoming experience over 2000 people shared. At the end of the night, I grabbed Gourley for a second to thank him for all that came out of our friendship so many years ago. Not just for the unforgettable week I had working with him, but for him sharing his vision with the world that we had spoke about during those Mead's Cafe shows. The conversation was interrupted though when his phone begged for attention. I asked him, "John, it's YOUR after party, and it's past midnight. What could possibly distract you from this?!?" He simply replied, with a grin on his face "It's 10am in Paris, France. There's always work to do. They're playing us on radio right now and asking me when we'll be back." As I let that soak in, I basked in the realization that all of this is much bigger than I had grasped.
I had witnessed the growth of true artists. Musicians, which sacrificed for over a decade to achieve their goal to share their love of music with the world. It began as small shows in Mead's Cafe, to getting messages from Paris about singles they are playing on air. Portugal. the Man got this far because of you, the music fan, that went to the podunk shows in the middle of nowhere. The fans that bought $5 demos that didn't have the best audio quality. This isn't the way just Portugal. the Man got to where they are, but how ANY local band does. So I ask you, please, support local music! Get out to the shows you hear about around town on Anchorage Night Out (all ages, 21+, ANY!) . Get to know the musicians you enjoy. Support those that support local music. Listen to 94.7 the End, they have a two hour segment called "Homegrown" which plays local music only, and airs every Sunday at 7pm. Read and share local band interviews, can you find some right here on Anchorage Night Out. Watch TV shows like "The Venue" which airs on Sunday (Saturday late night) at 12:30am on Channel 2 KTUU, or "Underground Live" at 1am on Sunday & 2:30am on Monday on Channel 5 KYES.
Enjoy local, enjoy music, enjoy life.
Darrin Christopher Huycke
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