by Audrey Farris ‘25

On only the second night of their U.S. tour, dual-headliners alt-J and Portugal. The Man put on an astonishing performance on February 26 at the Anthem in Washington DC.. The combination of bright graphics, angsty rock music, and 10 minute long guitar solos from Portugal. The Man paired perfectly with the much more mellow and visually artistic set from alt-J. 

The opener was Sir Chloe, an alternative-rock band from Vermont. The band has one album out, Party Favors, making their set predictable. They opened at 6:45 with “Sedona,” an homage to Sedona, Arizona. By the time Sir Chloe was finished only about half the crowd had arrived. They played almost their entire album but were able to cram in two new singles, including “Mercy” which was released on March 1st. Their 30-minute set was nothing particularly exciting, but they have a similar sound to Portugal. The Man, offering  familiarity for the audience. 

Portugal. The Man started their set at 7:30, which was a tasteful fusion of originals and covers of world famous songs, including “In Bloom” by Nirvana and “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2” by Pink Floyd. Portugal. The Man kept their audience fixated the entire 90 minutes mainly due to the music but also by utilizing videos on a large screen with images of the actual live audience as well as animations that fit whatever song they were playing. These graphics put forward a visual element that built on the crowd’s elevated energy. 

During “And I,” a song off of their album Censored Colors, they transitioned into a 10 minute guitar solo that grabbed the audience’s already undivided attention. This was the perfect segway into their most known song “Feel it Still” from 2017. When the iconic drums started and the bass picked up, an image popped up on the screen behind them displaying the message “never going to sell out again.” This was a moment of self-humbling which humanized the band and created

alt-J opened at 9:45 with “Something Good” off of their second album An Awesome Wave. Their set was a wonderful mix of their most popular songs and fan favorite hidden gems. Rather than having videos displayed on a screen behind them like Portugal. The Man did, the band was set up on top of platforms kept in by a metal and screen cage which was used as a projector screen to show graphics including rain and a circle of candles. 

It seemed that the majority of the crowd was there for alt-J since despite it being the last, the energy during their set was the highest. alt-J ended their set with “I’m Losing My Mind,” the second-to-last song off their newest album, The Dream, which is softer in sound but heavier in topic compared to their older albums. It was refreshing to hear them experiment with how they want to define their sound in upcoming albums. After they had finished their set, which went by quickly, they started their encore consisting of “Left Hand Free,” “Hard Drive Gold,” and “Breezeblocks,” each more upbeat and gritty than the previously gentle set. 

The brilliant line-up for this concert created an invigorating experience that made the late night a thousand percent worth it. The contrasting visuals between sets paired with the diverse music medlied together, producing a wonderful experience that will never be forgotten. 

Grade: A