CONCERT REVIEW - Portugal the Man @ Theater of the Living Arts - Philadelphia, Pa with opener Alberta Cross

On Sunday October 23rd, I had planned to go with a concert buddy to see his favorite band Portugal the Man. For the last two years, every time I ask, "who are you listening to" his response has always been "Portugal the Man". So, when I decided to dive in on concerts recently, catching Portugal the Man was going to be a must.


Alberta Cross opened the sold out show at the Theater of the Living Arts with a seven song set. The quintet led by Petter Ericson Stakee vocals+guitar and Terry Wolfers on bass did an ample job of opening. I had trouble warming up with Alberta Cross at first, Stakee seemed to be doing his best Johnny Depp meets Jack White impression, and the band seemed a bit heavy on keyboards. However, once a member of Portugal the Man joined them on the sixth track 'Rise From The Shadows' they seem to erupt into a Perry Farrell meets White Pony era Deftones meets Wolfmother.  Their final was the best, a drum lead head bobber 'ATX', from 2009's Broken Side of Time

 For your taste of Alberta Cross check out the tracks on Soundcloud
The Rolling Thunder EP by Alberta Cross

After a lengthy break including some Muse & Zeppelin on the P.A., Portugal the Man took the stage surrounded by an orb motif that changed colors depending on the song. With a few dates left on the tour, it seemed all the stops would be pulled. The crowd loved them, and it seemed that head man John Gourley was really moved and humbled by the love the crowd gave. He apologized a few times for not having been back since the Johnny Brenda's show, but seemed to have made it up with a 20+ track set list, including some incredible covers.

I went into the show barely knowing the band, but I left thoroughly impressed. It was such a great show for music lovers.  From the funky bass line on 'Work All Day' to simply tearing it up on guitar on 'AKA M80 the Wolf'' the band kept the full house happy. When they broke into the bangin' cover of the Beatles 'Helter Skelter', or melted from their hit '1989' into 'Don't Look Back in Anger by Oasis, or Bowie hit 'All The Young Dudes'; the crowd was put over the top. The only detraction from the whole set was a douche in a suit jacket that felt he could smoke, and pester everyone bouncing around like a drunk fool.

 Track & Respective Album/Original Artist
1.  'So American'                                        In the Mountain In the Cloud
.... straight into
2.   'Work All Day'                                     The Satanic Satanist ..
3.  'The Devil'                                             American Ghetto
straight into
4.  'Helter Skelter'                                       The Beatles
5.  'AKA M80 the Wolf'                             Waiter: You Vultures!
6.  'The Woods'                                          The Satanic Satanist
7.  'Head is A Flame (Cool With It)             In the Mountain In the Cloud
straight into
8   'All The Young Dudes'                            Mott the Hoople wirtten by David Bowie
9.  'Elephants'                                              Waiter: You Vultures!
10. 'Floating (Time isn't Working My Side)   In the Mountain In the Cloud
11. 'All Your LIght' (Times Like These)        In the Mountain In the Cloud
12. '1989'                                                    Censored Colors
13 'Our Way'                                               Censored Colors
14. 'Do You'                                                The Satanic Satanist
15. 'Everyone is Golden'                               The Satanic Satanist
16. 'Got It All' ((This Can't Be Living Now)  In the Mountain In the Cloud
17. 'Mornings'                                              The Satanic Satanist
18. 'The Sun'                                                The Satanic Satanist
19. 'Senseless'                                             In the Mountain In the Cloud
20. 'Sleep Forever'                                      In the Mountain In the Cloud Encore
21. 'People Say'                                           The Satanic Satanist
straight into
22. 'Don't Look Back in Anger'                      Oasis
23. 'Guns and Dogs'                                     The Satanic Satanist
24. 'Chicago'                                               Waiter: You Vultures!
25. 'And I'                                                     Censored Colors


Encore track 'People Say' Portugal, The Man 'Official video