Portugal. The Man's new album features...Son Little? - WXPN | Vinyl At Heart
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Son Little | photo by Joe Del Tufo for WXPN

The hype was very real when Portugal. The Man made their return after four long years without an album. Lead single “Feel It Still” has been crushing the alternative charts, and we learned why during a Free At Noon a few months back. But another single off the band’s brand new Woodstock has a familiar voice on it. Just a few seconds into track one, aptly titled “Number One,” you’ll hear Philly’s soulful Son Little.

This was not a pairing I saw coming, but nonetheless one I can get behind (and wouldn’t be opposed to happening again). The song starts off with a sampling of Richie Haven’s Freedom performed at Woodstock in 1969 — a ticket stub from the iconic event is what inspired PTM lead man John Gourley to get moving on the new album after the band recorded, hated and scrapped one in the years since 2013’s Evil Friends — then in comes Son Little to make his contribution, still singing Havens’ lyrics in a hook. Gourley takes mostly everything the rest of the, with some funky distorted guitars underlayed. It’s a dope start to a solid album, but we won’t go into the rest of it today.

If the sidekick role for Son Little isn’t enough for you, don’t fret. With a new single out now and an album on the way, he’ll return home to Philly for two nights at Boot and Saddle in September. More info on that can be found on the XPN Concert Calendar. Watch the video for “Number One” below.

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