Valley rockers look forward to homecoming gigs

July 27, 2007

By Will Elliott/Frontiersman

WASILLA - A lot has changed since John Gourley left Wasilla five years ago to pursue his music in the Lower 48.

A host of other Alaskans have made that migration, though more than a few of the bands have perished. By all indications, the all Mat-Su Valley lineup of Gourley's band Anatomy of a Ghost was set to avoid that fate, signed to a respected indie label shortly after its debut and riding a gathering wave of post-hardcore popularity on tours across country.

For various reasons, Anatomy of a Ghost folded, though its members have gone on to other projects. As the band disintegrated, Gourley was already building another project with Anatomy of a Ghost bassist Zach Carothers, also of Wasilla. Since then other Valley musicians have recorded or toured with the group, building a growing fanbase for an enigmatic, organic, experimental rock sound that the band's Web site claims &#8220paints a picture without spelling anything out.”

With multiple United States and European tours behind them and a second CD coming out next week, Gourley and Carothers's new band, Portugal. The Man, is coming home to celebrate with two Alaska shows this weekend.

Some will go to cheer on local heroes, others to heckle longtime friends, others to revel in the sheer hype surrounding Portugal's brief homeland stop amid a summer of busy touring. Some will leave ecstatic, others bewildered by what they just experienced - by the name, the lyrics, the music, or Gourley's visual art, which graces everything from the band's album cover to its posters, buttons and clothing. Others may simply leave nonplused by music that relies more on groove and esoteric miscellany than singalong melody.

Gourley said he's happy to be following his dream and to be back for a weekend to share that passion with his friends and family.

&#8220Most people aren't given the families we have - supportive and loving and beautiful people,” he said. &#8220It's nice to have that backing, someone saying they believe in the music. And the friends who have been there since the start, of course, are a huge reason for my doing this. We just have a lot of love for everything we are doing and we are very lucky to have been raised in such a caring and supportive community.”

On the national scale, that appreciation is building more slowly for Portugal as for Gourley and Carothers's previous, poppier band. Nevertheless, Gourley said he would rather play what feels right than simply milk a genre.

&#8220We feel very happy with what we have done and what we are doing,” he said.

Industry pressures have made that hard at times, Gourley said.

&#8220Music has become so watered down through test markets, survey groups and text voting that you're bound to see the same album cover 500 times and the same T-shirt design double that and hear the same songs even more,” he said. &#8220It is impossible to avoid at this point. It has become a world where artists have a life span of one or two years. Music is in terrible need of a collapse or a huge change. There is no going around that.”

Portugal's refusal to succumb to that predictability turns off some listeners, but it's precisely what draws others in, Gourley said. Playing something unique is riskier than playing what's sure to sell, but it also means that many fans are more loyal since there isn't a whole genre of other bands competing for attention with similar music. On the band's first European tour, the members were astounded by the level of support shown by foreign fans.

&#8220Germany was huge for the band, the biggest step by far,” he said. &#8220It was very amazing to see people in different parts of the world singing along and just backing the band in general.”

As it turned out, Portugal. The Man was more popular in Germany than it was prepared for. In the United States, the band shared the stage with tourmates or opened for other bands. In Europe, the band was shocked to learn it was headlining its own shows.

&#8220Our first trip to Germany was by far the most intimidating tour we have ever done,” Gourley said. &#8220We literally showed up with a 25-minute set - 35 if we really pushed it. At the first venue, first night, the day we got in, jet-lagged and out of our minds, we are told in very broken English that an hour and a half is a short set. Well, to us at the time the only option was to jam and hope for the best. In all this we were fortunate enough to pull it off and really find ourselves at the same time. A huge step for the band musically, but definitely an intense time.”

After all their travels, Gourley said the Valley is still his and Carothers' favorite place to play, though the necessity of continual touring makes it hard to come home.

&#8220The Valley is where we started playing, where we decided what we wanted to do with this band,” he said. &#8220If it weren't for touring and music and art, that is where I would be and eventually will come back to. At this point, with all the traveling, it's not the most simple option. In the end, Wasilla, Palmer, Willow, Knik, Houston and Big Lake have all influenced the band and myself personally in so many ways. It's never forgotten. Only love for our home.”

Portugal. The Man takes the stage at Club Oasis in Anchorage 8 p.m. tonight (21 and over). Saturday's show is also 8 p.m., at Club Millennium (all ages). Check out the band's Web site at www.portugaltheman.net. Click the Store link on the band's main site for clothing, music and more of Gourley's art.

Contact Frontiersman reporter Will Elliott at 352-2252 or will.elliott@frontiersman.com.