Alaska’s greatest alternative-rock export, Portugal. The Man stopped over in Columbus on Sunday evening, and while many in the city were up at the north end of town enjoying the neck-pain inducing festivities of Rock on the Range, the Express Live! stage played host to a captivatingly enjoyable evening of indie psychedelic rock, an epic video light show, and a slightly out-of-place opening act.
Touring behind their eighth studio album ‘Woodstock,’ Portugal. The Man walked on-stage right around 9 p.m., as the sun had set behind the outdoor Express Live! amphitheater. They quickly jumped into quick-hit covers of Metallica and Pink Floyd before settling into the first of their many radio tested hits, “Purple Yellow Red & Blue.” From here on out it was a no-nonsense 90 minutes of old and new musical cuts set against the spectacular video-visuals that were being flung from a massive projector at the front of the stage, smothering both band and large screen behind them in colours, bubbles, cartoons and the occasional messages from management.
Kentucky rapper Jack Harlow opened the show, to the delight of a few, and the confusion of many that were likely expecting an opener more inline with the styling of the headliner.
Matt Ellis is a freelance photographer who covers bands that visit the city and the Columbus Crew MLS team. More about Matt can be found at Matt Ellis Photography.
