Portugal. The Man Review @ The Opera House

Portugal. The Man - The Opera House
Review by: Marie Rupolo

I haven't missed a Toronto Portugal. The Man show in something like 5 years. Seems a little extreme right? Wrong. If you've ever seen PTM live you're surely in agreement that it's one of the most amazing live experiences to be a part of.

The show on October 18^th, at The Opera House was the biggest venue I’ve seen these guys perform in and yet it still felt just as intimate and moving as every other PTM show I’ve been too. Extended solos, pillows of smoke and stage lights simulating molecules all worked together to create yet another perfect night. PTM has this unmatched way of taking over any venue and turning it into your buddy's garage. It's this, mixed with the passion they radiate that makes even the most sober audience member feel completely out of their body.

The set, as always, was seamless. Songs flowed into each other perfectly and with very little chatter. Zach voiced his love for Toronto and something about Lavish and Squalor on Queen W. Then it was back to the tunes. Everything you could want to hear live graced our eager ears. From AKA M80 the Wolf, People Say and just enough of the new stuff like So American made up a perfect hour of musical bliss.

The last time PTM was here, In the Mountain In the Cloud had just been released and we got to talk to Zach Carothers and Ryan Neighbors about the bands life so far. They specifically mentioned how stoked they were about being on a major label. What truly amazes me is that even this time around, their new found success hasn't made them any less humble. That said, it's impressive how true to their roots they remain. Every new album gets better and better and the passion and magnitude of work going in is so evident. The amount of fans attending shows continues to multiply every time they tour- things like that clearly display that these guys really know what they're doing - and that they love doing it.

As I have mentioned in previous reviews of PTM, apart from their stunning musical compilations, the band also has some brilliant artists. If nothing else, the album artwork alone is worth the price of the album. If you have any interest in art, I highly encourage you to pick up a show poster or album. They'll be worth a lot more than something somewhere down the road. Speaking of worth, it is completely worth it for you to catch a PTM show before tickets become more expensive than an Oasis concert. Catch them while they're still playing venues still small enough that you can feel the intensity and passion fill the room. Not that when they're huge that'll change, it might just be harder to notice when you're drowning in the inevitable sea of fans that PTM are quickly accumulating.

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