Alaskan pop rockers Portugal. The Man will perform at an upcoming Bernie Sanders rally in Tacoma, Washington. The announcement follows recent rally appearances from Jack White, The Strokes, Bon Iver and Vampire Weekend.
During the 2016 Democratic primaries, Bernie Sanders installed rapper Killer Mike as his rally hype man. This time around the music community is all too eager to support the progressive candidate. Portugal. The Man will play at Sanders’ rally on Monday evening (PT).
Watch: Bernie & Killer Mike, 2020
The Alaskan formed, Portland-based band have made no secret of their support for the self-proclaimed democratic socialist. The band’s Instagram stories have lately been dominated by pro-Sanders messages. They’ve also offered criticisms of some of Sanders’ contenders, including billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg.
The Democratic primaries are like an election unto themselves, and are creating rife tension among the party that will oppose Trump in the November 2020 election. Things kicked off in Iowa in early February where Sanders won the popular vote in a narrow contest with Pete Buttigieg. The two were also neck-and-neck in New Hampshire the following week.
Former Vice President Joe Biden and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar are also contesting the Democratic primaries. Sanders’ left wing policy proposals would make him a vastly different leader to Barack Obama, the States’ most recent Democratic President.
A couple of years ago Portugal. The Man ditched a performance on Channel 7’s Sunrise due to the show’s problematic statements about Indigenous children. “We do not want to be apart of that show at this time. We come from rural Alaska and hold very close to our hearts the Indigenous people of our home,” the band said in a statement.
Barack Obama named the band’s Grammy winning single ‘Feel It Still’ as one of his songs of 2017.
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Watch: Portugal. The Man – Feel It Still
