The Vinyl District

Author Archives: Jennifer Carney

Portugal. The Man
The Week. At TVD.

By Jennifer Carney | Published: April 2, 2012

There’s something different about Portugal. The Man. The Portland psych/pop-rockers have a new-ish record out now (2011′s In The Mountain In The Cloud), devoted fans that include several celebrities, and a big-label record deal with Atlantic. But they’re not just another indie rock band with funny punctuation on a trajectory to super-stardom.

Their musical output is so vast and so precocious (seven albums in six years!) that fans are in constant debate as to which record they think is their best. As quickly as a new album is created, the band’s creative powerhouse – singer John Gourley – is on to the next record, dipping into more influences and working out new musical ideas. There is a certain sense of awe to their music. Their records feel… important.

P.TM fans would agree, of course, as do we, which is why today is the first day of Portugal. The Man. The Week. At TVD.

To kick off a week of giveaways and other fun stuff, we interviewed Zach Carothers (bass/vocals). He and John Gourley form the nucleus of Portugal. The Man, and both have come a long way since playing music together in and around Wasilla, Alaska.

We spoke to Zach while he was en route to Boise, Idaho, which is where Portugal. The Man is kicking off a big springtime headlining tour with The Lonely Forest tomorrow, April 3rd. Zach filled us in on yet another new album in the works, the benefits of growing up in the middle of nowhere, and why vinyl is so important to the band.

Your tour kicks off in less than a week. How excited are you to be headlining?

I am pretty pumped about it. It’s been a while since we’ve done a full headlining tour, it’s always good to get back out there. We’re learning new songs we’ve never done before live, and some old ones we haven’t played in a while, we’re looking forward to it for sure, and we’re super busy getting prepared for it as well.

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Paul Adelstein of Doris (and Private Practice): The TVD Interview and (signed) Vinyl Giveaway

By Jennifer Carney | Published: February 21, 2012

Paul Adelstein has been making music for over a decade, but you probably know him best from his role as Dr. Cooper Freedman on TV’s Private Practice, or from one of his many other big- and small-screen appearances alongside some pretty big Hollywood names. The Chicago native also dabbles in directing, scoring films, writing, and music production. But with the release of his second LP, All the Details (out today!), and a spring/summer tour in the works, Paul Adelstein might become better known as the frontman of his band, Doris.

It’s easy to see how All the Details—which is full of Adelstein’s smart, wry, and sometimes satirical songs—has already been compared to the work of Randy Newman and Harry Nilsson. Songwriting takes center stage on this “come for the music, stay for the lyrics” record. It is a collection of musical short stories played out in folk rock, powerpop, piano-based, early-‘70s ballads, and a smorgasbord of other influences that even Adelstien is at a loss to name. He jokingly describes his music as “sad songs with a snappy beat.” However anyone chooses to describe it, All the Details just may be the one of the most surprising albums of the spring.

You’re obviously a man of many talents. What was your first love: acting, film, writing, or music?

I think music was probably my first love because I just always, always remember it [in my life]. My mother and my sister played piano, and I remember falling asleep and hearing them practice and stuff. I was always hanging around the piano, but I started acting pretty young, too. But there’s something kind of essential about music that’s always been with me. I mean, I think I’ve always been a bit of a performer, I suppose; there’s no denying that.