Portugal. The Man review, Kentish Town Forum, London: Sweat-soaked gig proves their prowess as a live band

Backed by self-deprecating messages broadcast on a giant screen, they offer a set comprised of their best material and some well-chosen covers

Red hot: John Baldwin Gourley led the US rockers through a sweltering set in the capital (Redferns/Getty)

In what has to be one of the sweatiest venues in London (seriously, Forum, get some bloody air conditioning), US rockers Portugal. The Man perform a set that takes in some of their best work from a career spanning around 15 years, with a brass section thrown in for good measure (because why the hell not?).

The band are naturally self-deprecating and broadcast this humour on a giant screen behind them with messages including: “We love playing [city name]” and “We are Portugal. The Man… just making sure you’re at the right gig.” Over at their merch stall they’re selling T-shirts that bear the legend: “I liked Portugal. The Man before they sold out.”

It’s also a firm “fuck you” to fans who accused them of such a thing when their infectious pop-rock hit “Feel It Still” turned into a massive hit, winning them a Grammy at this year’s awards ceremony in New York and racking up almost half a billion streams on Spotify.

But with eight albums behind them, Portugal. The Man are so, so much more than one song. In fact, as they blast through their set with minimal time-wasting via crowd interaction (it’s way too hot for that), it’s astonishing to realise just how catchy most of their tracks are.

Latest single “Live In The Moment”' opens with a mournful verse, led by frontman John Gourley’s sweetly-pitched vocals and a euphoric, urgent drum beat, before it transcends to an infectious chorus.

“Modern Jesus” from their 2013 album Evil Friends features that sweet arcade game-style synth line from Kyle O'Quin, while superb covers of the Stones and Pink Floyd are made their own. Their set has a neat synchronicity: track “All Your Light (Times Like These)" bleeds into the menacing instrumental outro from The Beatles’ “She’s So Heavy” and they close “Sleep Forever” with a rendition of “Hey Jude”.

Audience members fan themselves furiously with their tickets and scraps of paper as the band wave and exit briefly, with an instruction to wait for an encore broadcast on the screen. They return for a few more tracks from their back catalogue, including the psychedelic, Bowie-influenced “So American” from 2011’s In The Mountain In The Cloud.

They may be old hands, but Portugal. The Man, with their exploration of modern living, feelings of uncertainty or antipathy, and fiery commentary on the modern political landscape in America, have never felt more relevant or more necessary. And it’s cheering that they can still have fun with it, at the same time.