You probably know "Feel It Still." It’s that infectious, bass-driven track that seemed to play in every grocery store, car commercial, and wedding reception for three years straight. But if you tried to name the guys behind it, you might stumble. Most people think Portugal. The Man is a solo act. It isn't. Not even close.
The band is a bit of a moving target. Since they crawled out of Wasilla, Alaska, in the early 2000s, the list of Portugal. The Man band members has shifted more times than most fans can keep track of. It’s a collective. It’s a friendship. Honestly, it’s mostly just a group of guys who refuse to stop making music, regardless of who is sitting behind the drum kit this week.
The foundation: Gourley and Carothers
At the center of the storm, you have John Gourley and Zach Carothers. They are the constants. They’ve been playing together since their high school days in Alaska, originally in a screamo band called Anatomy of a Ghost. When that band imploded, they didn't go get "real jobs." They moved to Portland, Oregon, and started this weird, psychedelic experiment.
John Gourley is the voice. You’d recognize that high-register, soulful falsetto anywhere. He’s also the primary songwriter and the guy who does most of the band's surrealist artwork. He grew up in a house powered by generators in the Alaskan wilderness, which explains why his lyrics often feel like a fever dream about nature and isolation.
Then there’s Zach Carothers. He plays bass and provides the literal and metaphorical heartbeat of the group. If John is the quiet, artistic soul, Zach is the guy making sure the show actually happens. He’s loud, he’s funny, and he’s the one usually talking to the crowd between songs. They are the two-man nucleus. Without them, there is no Portugal. The Man.
The current lineup and why it matters
Beyond the founders, the lineup gets a bit more crowded. Right now, the band is generally considered a quintet.
Kyle O'Quin is the wizard on the keys. He joined around 2007 and has become an indispensable part of their sound. If you hear a trippy synth line or a lush piano arrangement, that’s Kyle. He brings a technical proficiency that balances out the band's more instinctual, "jam-band" tendencies.
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Eric Howk is on guitar. Eric’s story is incredible. He’s a childhood friend from Alaska who joined the touring band in 2015. He’s a phenomenal player who happens to use a wheelchair after an accident in 2007, and he’s been a vocal advocate for accessibility in the music industry. His presence added a new layer of grit to their live shows that wasn't there before.
Rounding things out is Jason Sechrist on drums. Jason has had a "it’s complicated" relationship with the band. He was the drummer from 2005 to 2011, left for a few years, and then came back in 2016. It’s that kind of band. People leave, they go do their own thing, they realize they miss the chaos, and they come back.
A revolving door of talent
It’s worth mentioning that being one of the Portugal. The Man band members often feels like being part of an alumni association. The list of past members is long. We’re talking about people like Nick Klein, Wesley Hubbard, Harvey Tumbleson, and Garrett Lunceford.
Then you have the frequent collaborators. Zoe Manville, who is married to John Gourley, has been providing backing vocals and percussion for years. She isn’t always listed as a "core" member in press releases, but if you see them live, she’s almost always there. Her voice is the secret weapon on albums like Woodstock and Chris Black Changed My Life.
The "Chris Black" era
You can't talk about the band members without mentioning Chris Black. He wasn't a musician in the band. He was their friend, a "hype man," and essentially the glue that held their social circle together. When he passed away, it devastated the group.
Their 2023 album, Chris Black Changed My Life, is a direct tribute to him. It’s interesting because it highlights how the band views membership. To them, being in the band isn't just about who plays the notes. It’s about the community around them. This is why their lineup feels so fluid; they prioritize the "vibe" and the history over a rigid corporate structure.
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Why the lineup changes so much
A lot of bands break up when a drummer leaves. Portugal. The Man just keeps rolling. Why?
Because they are prolific. In their early years, they were releasing an album every single year. That kind of pace is grueling. It burns people out. If a member wanted to go home or start a family, John and Zach generally let them go with no hard feelings and found someone else who was ready to hit the road.
They also lean heavily into the "Portland" ethos. It’s a very collaborative scene. If a friend from another band is free and wants to tour, they’ll bring them along. This keeps the live shows feeling fresh. You never quite know if you’re going to get a tight, four-piece rock set or a sprawling, ten-person psychedelic orchestra.
Does the lineup shift affect the sound?
Actually, yes. It’s pretty obvious if you listen to the discography chronologically.
- Waiter: "You Vultures!" (2006) is twitchy and experimental.
- In the Mountain in the Cloud (2011) is huge, cinematic, and Bowie-esque.
- Woodstock (2017) is polished, pop-heavy, and radio-ready.
Each version of the Portugal. The Man band members brings a different flavor. When Kyle O'Quin became more central to the writing process, the music got more complex and "proggy." When they worked with Danger Mouse, the lineup tightened up to focus on hooks.
The reality of the "Portugal. The Man" name
People always ask: "Which one is Portugal?"
The answer is: none of them.
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John Gourley came up with the name because he wanted the band to have an identity larger than just one person. He thought about how a country represents a group of diverse people. He picked Portugal because it sounded cool, and "The Man" was meant to be the "representative" for that group.
It’s a bit of a loophole. By naming the band after a fictional character/country hybrid, they gave themselves permission to change the lineup whenever they felt like it. It’s not "John Gourley and the Backing Band." It’s an entity.
What to expect if you're a new fan
If you’re just getting into them, don’t get too hung up on the names. Focus on the chemistry between John and Zach. That’s the soul of the project.
If you go to a show today, you’ll likely see:
- John Gourley: Lead vocals, guitar.
- Zach Carothers: Bass, backing vocals.
- Kyle O'Quin: Keyboards, synthesizers.
- Eric Howk: Guitar.
- Jason Sechrist: Drums.
- Zoe Manville: Vocals, percussion.
But don't be surprised if there are three other people on stage playing trumpets or tambourines. That's just how they work.
Final thoughts on the collective
The story of the Portugal. The Man band members is really a story about survival in the modern music industry. They’ve stayed relevant for two decades by being flexible. They don't let internal ego trips over who is an "official" member stop them from making music.
They are a working-class band from Alaska that happened to stumble into a Grammy-winning pop hit, and they’ve handled it by keeping their circle tight and their lineup open.
Actionable insights for fans
To truly understand the band's evolution through its members, skip the "Greatest Hits" playlist and try these three things:
- Watch their KEXP sessions: Specifically, compare the 2011 session to the 2017 and 2023 ones. You can see the physical and sonic shift in how the members interact.
- Follow Eric Howk on social media: He provides the best "behind-the-scenes" look at what it’s actually like to be in the touring unit.
- Listen to 'Anatomy of a Ghost': If you want to hear where John and Zach started before they became "The Man," find their 2003 album Evanesce. It’s a wild departure but shows the roots of their partnership.