In the digital era, record stores have become haunts for only the keenest of audiophiles.  With music readily available for download all over the Internet, the sight of crowds of people gathering to pick up a newly released CD seems like a thing of the past.  However, when the band in question is a group of hometown Indie-heroes, turned major-label artists, exceptions must be made.

   Portugal. The Man nearly tore down the balcony stage at Music Millennium this past Saturday with a set of old material and new songs from their sixth album, “In the Mountain, in the Cloud,” which dropped July 19.  Their presence sent the record flying off of shelves, and sent sweaty fans clamoring for autographs during a post-show meet and greet.

   Having released an album each year since 2006, and two albums in 2009 alone, Portugal is one of the most prolific bands jamming today.

   “Playing music, it’s our love, it’s our job, it’s our career, our hobby,” bassist and back up vocalist Zach Carothers said.  “It’s really all we do… We’re constantly

   Nearly all members of the band were born and raised in Wasilla, Alaska, where they grew up together.  Today, they work, eat, and sleep all under the same Portland roof.

   “We get along pretty well, we got a very good dynamic and it helps in a lot of ways,” said Carothers.  “It keeps us all together.  Keeps us all thinking about the common goals that we have.  It makes us work very hard”

   Though their latest album marks their first time recording with a major record label, Atlantic Records, Portugal has managed to preserve—and perfect—their signature psychedelic and indie-rock fusion sound.

   “We put a lot of pressure on ourselves,” said Carothers.  “We thought about all the legends that were on that roster: Led Zeppelin, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin.  How are we going to compare to that?”

   Before making the label switch, Portugal had been do-it-yourself for years.  They created their own independent label, which made them responsible for everything, from their artwork to tour management to their merchandise.  Signing with a major label took some weight off of their shoulders, to say the least.  Working with producers and engineers at Atlantic helped the band improve their sound and create their most cohesive album yet, but the process was far from messy.  Album production stretched weeks longer than expected as they struggled to write songs.

   “The record fell apart several times,” said Carothers.  “We weren’t communicating very well… We were doing a bunch of tours in between.  We over thought everything.”

   The band wrote and recorded in several different studios across the country before landing in Seattle at their friend’s studio, which they helped build, to record the first CDs.  After trekking on a long and arduous road, a new album was finally born.

   Lead vocalist John Gourley delivers impressive falsettos on “In the Mountain, in the Cloud,” which is clearly influenced by groups like David Bowie, Pink Floyd, and T. Rex.  When it all comes down to it, Portugal has created a sound that stands incomparable to any other.

   The band will kick off their U.S. tour next month, and they already plan to start working on their next album.

   “We always start thinking about it and start talking about it,” said Carothers.  “We’ll come up with a few ideas through jams.  We improvise a lot on stage, stretch out parts, and a lot of times those elements are where we find a real natural riff ruff… We like that whole idea.”