Last week, Mastercard hosted a series of free concerts to get people hyped for Grammy night. We stopped on Friday to catch Francis and the Lights and Portugal. The Man. Their performances did not disappoint.
In anticipation of the biggest night of the year for music, the 60th annual Grammys, Mastercard House Sessions put on a series of free concerts with the help of top-tier artists such as SZA, St. Vincent, Dua Lipa, and Portugal. The Man. The event, held at New York’s Skylight Studios, was sponsored by Absolut Vodka so Mastercard holders got the opportunity to enjoy performances by their favorite artists with a fantastic craft drink in their hand. On Friday, Francis and the Lights treated guests to a dynamic solo opening performance. The night was capped with a phenomenal set by band-of-the-moment, Portugal. The Man.
It’s been a big year for Portugal. The Man. If you haven’t heard their 2017 smash hit “Feel It Still”, then you probably haven’t left your house much. The record went platinum and landed them their first-ever Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. It isn’t hard to see why it appealed to listeners worldwide. The combination of frontman John Gourley’s falsetto vocals, the infectious and beachy guitar riffs, and the bouncing bassline makes for a song that you can’t help but tap your feet to. However, after attending their pre-Grammy concert, it became apparent that Portugal. The Man is more than just their pop-heavy single.
Prior to taking the stage, the room was filled with the familiar chords of The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody”. Towards the end of the song, Portugal. The Man got into position and seamlessly transitioned to “Purple Yellow Red And Blue”. They then launched into a spectacular performance full of grit, impeccable solos, and hard-hitting melodies. Quite the opposite of what you would expect from the band who came up with “Feel It Still”. They even whipped out impressive covers of The Beatles’ “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” and Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall”. 2017 might have been the year they rocketed to the mainstream, but their performance proved that they have been rocking the stage for quite some time
Portugal. The Man wasn’t the only standout act of the evening. Francis and the Lights brought his explosive energy to the MasterCard House. While the name might not sound too familiar to most, Francis and the Lights has an impressive collaboration track record under his belt. They first placed themselves on the radar when they landed the opening spot for Chance the Rapper’s 2016 Coloring World Tour and then went on to collaborate with Grammy-winning artists including Bon Iver and Kanye West. In 2017, their productions caught the eye of label head Pusha T due to the use of a unique blend of pop and R&B elements who signed them to GOOD Music.
Portugal. The Man wasn’t the only standout act of the evening. Francis and the Lights brought his explosive energy to the MasterCard House. While the name might not sound too familiar to most, Francis and the Lights has an impressive collaboration track record under his belt. They first placed themselves on the radar when they landed the opening spot for Chance the Rapper’s 2016 Coloring World Tour and then went on to collaborate with Grammy-winning artists including Bon Iver and Kanye West. In 2017, their productions caught the eye of label head Pusha T due to the use of a unique blend of pop and R&B elements who signed them to GOOD Music.