Portugal. The Man is the probably biggest band to come out of Portland in recent years: In January the six-piece (who originally formed in Alaska) won a Grammy in the “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” category for their hit single “Feel It Still,” and accepted the award by hailing Satan and shouting out the Trail Blazers.
The self-proclaimed “Lords of Portland” found inspiration for their latest album, 2017’s Woodstock, in the current state of America (the Rolls-Royce engulfed in flames on the cover says it all) and modern-day parallels to protest movements of the ’60s and ’70s. Most of the record isn’t explicitly political—it’s polished party pop made for the radio—but lately, Portugal. The Man’s been using their newfound platform to boost the causes they care about.
Earlier this month, the band made an appearance at a Human Rights Campaign event honoring Congresswoman Maxine Waters in Los Angeles, and Saturday they’ll stand in solidarity with the students from Portland-area middle schools, high schools, and colleges participating in the March for Our Lives to demand an end to gun violence in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, last month.
“Children in our country are being slaughtered, and we all need to stand up and insist that our representatives listen and enact laws based on what the majority of the people, not the lobbyists, want,” the band explained in a statement. “We are so encouraged to see the kids pull this event together, the very least we could do is come out and support them.” The protest begins with march starting at the North Park Blocks that ends at Pioneer Courthouse Square, where Portugal. The Man will perform.