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Portugal. The Man Bring Alaska to The Wiltern on Their Denali Tour

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Alaskan natives, Portugal. The Man hit the road for their twenty-show Denali 2025 tour across North America. This past Sunday, November 16th, the alt/rock group set up camp at the historic Wiltern in Los Angeles. The Wiltern was completely sold out, filled with eager fans excited to see their favorite band perform.

Ya Tseen, an indie/alternative artist from Alaska known for blending psych-pop with political themes, performed with Portugal. The Man for the evening. Ya Tseen, also known as Nicholas Galanin, is a musician of Tlingit/Unangax̂ heritage who seems to remain constantly active.

The creative visual artist Ya Tseen draws inspiration from time spent outdoors and with family, while also blurring the lines between music and art. He states that his new album, Stand On My Shoulder, “builds on connection and revolutionary love as the foundation for collective liberation that ran throughout [his previous album] Indian Yard.” 

Portugal. The Man took the stage shortly after Ya Tseen’s set. As the lights began to dim, the crowd roared. A colorful visual of Alaskan nature spread across the stage as each instrument was covered in LED screens, seamlessly creating the illusion of being out in Alaska’s vast nature. The band’s tenth studio album, Shish, is an ode to Alaska, as evidenced by its artwork and song titles, such as “Denali,” “Angoon,” and “Kokhanockers.”

With heavy reference to the icy cold, John Gourley, the singer, stated that “Mush is about survival and ambition in rural life.”  At the same time, the track  “Tanana” acknowledges the reality of generational sadness and the never-ending search for meaning.

While Portugal. The Man has expressed their fondness for Alaska; it was only after releasing tracks like “Tanana” and “Mush” from their album that it became clear that Shish was essentially a tribute to their home state. Originally from Wasilla, the band has showcased its love for Alaska throughout its 20-year career and ten studio albums. This album is also the band’s first album under their own label imprint, KNIK. The label operates under the distribution company Thirty Tigers.

Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

Upcoming Tour Dates:
Nov 19 – Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom
Nov 21 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
Nov 22 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed / Beyond Hunger Benefit
Nov 23 – Columbus, OH – Skully’s 
Nov 25 – Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
Nov 26 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop 
Nov 27 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY
Nov 29 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner
Nov 30 – Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes 
Dec 2 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
Dec 3 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
Dec 4 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
Dec 5 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
Dec 7 – Pelham, TN – The Caverns
Dec 8 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
Dec 9 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
Dec 11 – Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory
Dec 12 – Austin, TX – ACL Live – Moody Theater
European/ UK Tour Dates
Feb 23, 2026 – Dublin, Ireland – National Stadium
Feb 24, 2026 – Glasgow, UK – SWG3 Galvanizers
Feb 25, 2026 – Manchester, UK – New Century
Feb 26, 2026 – London, UK – The Roundhouse
Feb 28, 2026 – Paris, France – Elysee Montmartre
Mar 1, 2026 – Luxembourg – den L’Atelier
Mar 2, 2026 – Antwerpen, Belgium – De Roma
Mar 3, 2026 – Tilburg, Netherlands – 013 Poppodium
Mar 5, 2026 – Hamburg, Germany – Inselpark Arena
Mar 6, 2026 – Cologne, Germany – Palladium
Mar 8, 2026 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Amager Bio
Mar 9, 2026 – Berlin, Germany – Columbiahalle
Mar 10, 2026 – Warsaw, Poland – Klub Stodola
Mar 11, 2026 – Prague, Czech Republic – ARCHA+
Mar 13, 2026 – Milan, Italy – Fabrique
Mar 14, 2026 – Lausanne, Switzerland – Les Docks
Mar 15, 2026 – Zurich, Switzerland – KOMPLEX 457
Mar 17, 2026 – Vienna, Austria – Gasometer
More information on the band’s website.

PORTUGAL. THE MAN

YA TSEEN

All Photo Credit: Taylor Blazer

Concerts Photos

Buffalo Traffic Jam at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto

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Buffalo Traffic Jam-Toronto-4

There is something magical about voices matching the season. The excitement of walking up to the Danforth Music Hall on the perfect autumn night, only to be engulfed in raw, emotive rasp.

Lydia Maes really pulled me in. There’s such an emotional quality to her voice. The way she incorporates the saxophone and the way she hypnotizes the crowd. She played a beautiful set and then later came out with her fiddle, to join Buffalo Traffic Jam.

Colin Lynch completely caught me off guard, with a voice that sounds like he sells out stadiums. He’s young, but that soulful, raspy, depth speaks to every age. 

Then came the one and only Buffalo Traffic Jam. Gritty, earthy harmonies took over the Danforth and the crowd was electrified. There’s something about their sound that feels both stripped down and warm at the same time, and the moment they started, we were all at their mercy. 

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

BUFFALO TRAFFIC JAM

COLIN LYNCH

LYDIA MAES

All Photo Credit: Bailey Morgan

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Concerts Photos

Sabaton Bring Fire and Fury to Vancouver on North American Tour Finale

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Sabaton

After many many years away from Vancouver, Sabaton returned to the PNE Forum on October 8 for a fiery night of heavy metal, military-themed theatrics and massive sing-alongs. The Swedish metal band chose the city to close out its North American tour, and it went out with a bang.

Opening the night was Pop Evil, whose modern hard rock offered a different sound from the headliner’s power metal. Tracks like “Trenches” brought plenty of energy, giving the crowd a reason to get moving before the main event. Their heavier riffs and commanding stage presence made for a solid start to the evening despite the low lighting.

Sabaton wasted little time making its return count. Kicking off with “Ghost Division,” the band delivered a wall of sound backed by pounding drums, sharp guitar riffs and bursts of fire that lit up the Forum. The stage, complete with military-inspired hardware, gave the performance the feel of a full-scale production rather than a standard metal concert.

Frontman Joakim Brodén led the charge with his unmistakable voice and natural sense of showmanship. Songs like “The Last Stand,” “Stormtroopers” and “Night Witches” showcased the band’s knack for turning historical stories into anthems built for thousands of voices. The crowd happily did its part, singing along throughout the night.

The spectacle never distracted from the music. Flames punctuated the band’s heaviest moments, adding extra intensity to “Bismarck,” “Fields of Verdun” and “The Attack of the Dead Men.” For the latter, the band leaned into the song’s subject matter with gas masks, adding another theatrical touch to an already explosive set.

The closing stretch was pure Sabaton. “Swedish Pagans” brought another huge audience sing-along before “Primo Victoria” and “To Hell and Back” sent the Forum into the night at full volume.

After seven years, Sabaton gave Vancouver plenty of reasons to welcome them back. Closing the North American tour with a performance this tight, loud and entertaining was a fitting end to the run. With commanding vocals, memorable choruses and enough pyro to warm the entire Forum, the band left little doubt that its next visit cannot come soon enough.

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

SABATON

POP EVIL

All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer

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