Band with local roots stays grounded amid success

WASILLA - 2011 has been a big year for Portgual. The Man.

The band - originally based from Wasilla, but now based in Portland, Ore. - released its first album on the legendary major label Atlantic Records. The band has played at major music festivals like Lollapalooza, sold out shows in Europe and were featured in Esquire and Spin magazines, to name a few.

"It's been really intense to see the growth, see our tours grow and see more people. It's been incredibly good, incredibly stressful," bassist Zach Carothers said backstage at the band's final show of the year in Anchorage.

The Dec. 16 show was designed to be a homecoming of sorts for the group - Carothers, vocalist-guitarist John Gourley, keyboardist Ryan Neighbors, guitarist Noah Gersh and drummer Jason Sechrist - which was on tour much of the year, but was welcomed home last Friday by an enthusiastic crowd. Attendees from 13 to 40 were in the crowd, dancing and taking in what the band had to offer.

On their six albums, one for each year as a band, Portugal's sound is described as psychedelic pop with different effects and instruments used to add depth to the rock sound. Live, the band has a less polished, rock-and-roll style of play, but even then it's not your typical rock show.

Once onstage, the band immediately jumps into three or four songs before greeting the crowd. On stage is a tentacle-looking setup of white orbs crossing the back with lights inside to flash colors in sync with the beat and mood of the music. The whole show is a mass of fog, lights and sound, giving a dream-like atmosphere to the two-hour performance. When the band speaks to the crowd between songs, it's to offer thanks for attendance and a cheerful announcement that they're "so happy to be home and be back in Alaska and see all these familiar faces."

Adding to the hometown vibe of the show was the addition of Johanna Soderlund and her violin. As longtime family friends, Gourley invited Soderlund, a junior in music and global studies at Carnegie, to join the band for the show. Soderlund also happened to be flying home to Fairbanks the same day, so she extended her layover in Anchorage to join the band on stage.

"I listened to their albums as much as I could before getting up there, and then just played improv on stage. We rehearsed a little beforehand, and I wrote out some particular parts to play, but other than that I just went by ear," she said after the show. "It's a lot of fun to play with people where a violin wouldn't be expected."

Offstage, the band members are regular Alaska guys.

"We're just kids, grown men at this point, from Wasilla," Gourley says. "I never expected to be playing the venues we're playing, opening for other bands. I didn't expect it."

Carothers said it's a surreal experience for them to perform on stage at venues around the world.

"I didn't expect to be able to afford concert tickets to those places," he said.

Portugal. The Man was reconstituted from the remnants of another band. Around 2002 when Carothers and his band Anatomy of a Ghost were looking for a vocalist, he contacted Gourley. Carothers and Gourley had played together before in a side project, and Carothers admits he wasn't even sure if Gourley could sing, but wanted to invite him along.

The band gained popularity, broke up after a few tours, but Gourley and Carothers knew they wanted to perform together, so they found a drummer and guitarist and played on, continuing their side project under the name Portugal. The Man. In July, the band released its major label debut on Atlantic Records.

As one of the biggest bands from Alaska, Portugal offers an inspiration to fans wishing to also take the stage as a career. Carothers has advice for those who would follow in their footsteps.

"Do it knowing it's very hard. A lot of people think it's easy, you live an easy life. I've washed dishes, built houses, and this is harder work. Figure out what you want to do, plan where you want to go as a band, what you want to achieve."

The band has achieved a lot this year and been through a whirlwind of promotion, touring and travel. Now that they're finally home, they've got a lot to say.

"There's a lot that I miss," Carothers said. "Obviously friends, family. But I miss the whole vibe: mountains, outdoors, going fishing. ... I think there's two sides to growing up with this beauty and isolation. It's good for art, definitely. But on the other hand, leaving and experiencing the outside makes you appreciate it more."

That humble attitude is palpable as Carothers and Gourley talk over breakfast at local Denali Family Restaurant about how busy they've been enjoying the rare time they have off, relaxing and visiting friends and family. Their pride and love of their home state extends beyond the music and conversation. The two share their ideas for a documentary they're making to share the story of what Gourley describes as "the real Alaska." Unscripted, not approved by a producer, is what they're looking for, making plans to go to Nome and Bethel to talk to Alaska Native People and hear their stories.

"It's not hunting or fishing for sport - Alaska is rich in culture," he said between sips of coffee.

Aside from the documentary, the band has most of 2012 mapped out already. Shortly after the New Year, the band will travel to Europe to tour with the Black Keys and then make its first jaunt to Australia. The band has released an album annually since forming, and they say that won't change as they have plans to go to El Paso in March to record their next album.

"We've got one song we've been trying out," Carothers says about the album for 2012.

With 2011's "In the Mountain in the Cloud" he said, "We got past our first hump on the major label, learned what to do, what not to do; realized what works and what doesn't."

Carothers says he just likes to get to see the world and experience new things while traveling. When asked about his plans for the rumored final day of the calendar, Dec. 20, 2012, where the world will supposedly fall into apocalypse, Carothers quickly considers what he wants to do.

"I'd go fishing, but it might be too cold. I'll probably go to the Mug-Shot Saloon, and then hang out with my mom - at least that's what I'll probably be doing anyways," he said.

For Gourley, being the lead singer in a band is as unlikely as a roses blooming in winter.

"I was really shy in school," he said. "I still have anxiety attacks on stage."

Gourley also does all the artwork for the band's T-shirts, album covers and even an iPhone 4 cover.

Despite their thousands of fans around the world, growing album sales and major label, Wasilla's members of Portugal. The Man are still Alaska boys at heart, just a little older these days and with more stamps on their passports.

"I think there's a real sense of closeness in a small community. It exists in some areas of big cities, and in big cities you can experience different things and be more tolerant to other things, but it's different growing up with a close-knit town," Carothers said. "Here, it's a great place to grow, take time to decide what you want to do."

Dylan Gette-King is a senior in high school. Find out more about Portugal. The Man online at portugaltheman.com.