It’s still a little surreal to be seeing Portugal. The Man listed at venues the size of the Moda Center, even as an opening act. The band’s veer into the worlds of grimy pop and hip-hop-influenced experimental rock helped them transcend their identity as under-the-radar festival dynamos and into the pop culture zeitgeist with their Grammy-winning hit single “Feel It Still.” That the band has managed to keep their oldest fans even while ascending to the mainstream is a testament to their work ethic; their insatiable flag-waving for all things Portland continues to endear them to new audiences completely unfamiliar with their modest soul-punk-groove beginnings.

by Ryan J. Prado