13th Annual Honda Civic Tour: GROUPLOVE and Portugal. The Man
McMenamins Edgefield, Troutdale, OR
08.11.14
Like a couple of 16 year olds chewing bubble gum and screaming to get our t-shirts signed, Seattle Music News followed the Honda Civic Tour to their Portland-area date. Anticipating the slight change in the line-up, we were eager to visit the historic McMenamins’ property and also get a chance to see the alternate opener, Tokyo Police Club. The wild and varied past of McMenamins, which includes a poorhouse, a sanatorium, and a reform school, contains plenty of intriguing, scary tidbits. Unexplained crying babies, women in white floating around, and breweries and restaurants aplenty – this was surely the best place for Honda to park it. Love it!
In alternating fashion, Tokyo Police Club took this evening’s opening slot, as Typhoon had kicked off the tour for the previous evening’s concert at Marymoor Park in Redmond. Based on Tokyo Police Club’s energy and their ability to liven up the crowd, one would never guess that it was being put on record in Portland as the hottest day of the year. Hailing from Newmarket, Ontario, TPC has been putting it in the books now for almost 9 years. Singer and bassist David Monks, guitarist Josh Hook, keyboardist Graham Wright, and drummer Greg Alsop, finally released Forcefield, a highly anticipated full length that has taken them years to painstakingly write, polish, and perfect. But don’t worry kids, their trademark sarcasm and biting wit has not been lost in the editing process. The unrelenting, hilarious optimism in their standout track, Hot Tonight, is contrasted by a moody, introspective loneliness in Argentina, Pts. I, II, III. Speaking from the days of small Tallahassee clubs, these guys have come a long way, and for good reason. Be sure to check out their latest album, simply because it’s amazing.
Keeping things fresh, super-duper GROUPLOVE played Didn’t Have To Go live for the first time, dedicating the song to Robin Williams, who had passed only hours before the set. Hannah Hooper took a time-out during their set, imploring the audience to put their stupid phones away and connect with the music. She specifically demanded that we “make shit with [our] hands” and be present in the moment. Most agreed, Hannah, most agreed. Portugal. The Man headlined the night, with a set list that looked eerily familiar. They did, however, appear more in sync and engrossed as they settled in to the tour. Their energy was contagious, and the Portland crowd got a good dose of incredible sound, in what was a very well-rounded evening.
Photos By Guest Photographer Abby Walter
Review by T. Monte
Portugal The Man
Grouplove
Tokyo Police Club
Great shots – you must have been within a foot of the performers, love this!!
Thank you! We definitely were, what a great show!