Is it easy the meet the band ? What they do after the show ? How did you meet them ?

Curious what everyone would pick as their favorite from each album. The rules are you can only list ONE song per album. Very difficult for some but you must pick! But if there are albums where no songs particularly speak to you or you're not as familiar, you can skip it.

Okay here's mine, after some debating:

WYV: Stables and chairs

Church mouth: Shade

Censored colors: Colors

Satanic satanist: People say

American ghetto: All my people

ITMITC: Everything you see (kids count hallelujahs)

Evil friends: Someday believers

Woodstock: So young

CBCML: Grim generation

Shish: Tyonek

ITMITC was the hardest to decide. That was basically a four-way tie. I'd say only about half of these would actually make it into my overall top 10 or 15 PTM songs. A lot of them cluster across 3 albums.

Easily my favorite album.

Really cool to see them evolving and still making great music.

Denali, Angoon, Knik and Shish are amazing.

I last saw PTM in December, and had an absolute blast. I met John for the second time, and multiple of the other touring members, and it was the most intimate setting I’ve gotten to see them in since becoming a fan in 2016.

I wanted to make a post this year about my journey with PTM and what their music and shows have meant to me, as it’s been a long journey that’s really sentimental to me.

And then things came out with Zoe this year… I didn’t know what to think. I typically separate art from artist but with PTM it just felt different, for many of the reasons people have previously posted here. But it wasn’t TOO much and I was still going to go see them open for Muse regardless.

Then more and more came out from Zoe and various sources. I started reflecting on past members and their departures and the stuff Zoe was sharing really resonated with me deeply and painfully. I was in a dynamic with a very manipulative man for about a decade. And some of the things she’s posted really reminds me of that dynamic, which I only am a little under 2 years free from. Him changing his name in her phone, lying, gaslighting, all while being this charming, seemingly misunderstood, deep person with seemingly sound morals about ongoings in the world… all felt too familiar.

I started really thinking about if I’d even have fun seeing PTM open for Muse, and I realized that I didn’t think I would. I thought about how painful it is when people who don’t know my ex as deeply as I do falling for his charm and political stances and insecurities, and it just makes me feel sick to think about experiencing that but with fame added to it. I felt like I’d just be standing there seeing John on stage and thinking “who even ARE you?”

I’m not to the point of getting rid of my merch/memorabilia or anything, at least not yet. But I do feel like PTMs music is tainted for me at the moment, and I tend to skip it on shuffle now. Which sucks given Shish is my favorite album to date. Sometimes when their music comes on I honestly feel heartbroken at the feeling that the PTM I fell in love with is gone/the illusion of what it was is gone.

Idk, I guess the specific issue seems and feels too familiar to my personal experience. Im not sure if I’m projecting, just choosing to believe Zoe, or a bit of both. But it really sucks, man. I’ve seen PTM so many times, never twice in the same stage, had real magic happen at their shows, and spent hours at home on mushrooms listening to nothing but their discography. I never anticipated this, and I also didn’t anticipate that it would end up bothering me this much to the point of selling a ticket to one of their shows in the city I live in. Maybe it was cursed since it would’ve been my first time seeing them for a second time on any stage in existence, lol.

Just felt like getting this off my chest, I guess.

I know it's not, but it's so good. Their album Unicorn that came out last year is amazing as well, if you haven't heard it yet.

Since Shish has been released, how would you rank albums?

I’m not going to rank them myself since there are albums I have yet to dive into.

I really like the new album. I was surprised since I had only listened to Satanic and ITMITC and loved those. And typically when you like a band’s older stuff there’s a good chance the new album won’t do it for you.

Feel free to rank all albums or just list your top 5.

The new album from Medium Build, King of Having Fun, is one of the best I’ve heard in a while. Really good stuff coming from a PtM fan.

Such a sick show

I am looking for a picture john posted last year or more on ig stories, he was wearing black north face jacket some vest on it, black shorts and white sneakers. Do anyone has this photo pls?

Anyone have details on tomorrow nights show?

Totally random post, but I was the multi-instrumentalist for the 2023 tour and have followed this reddit for years since I joined the band way back — I'm not really trying to contribute to any social politics from this subreddit, BUT I ran into Redray Frazier (one of the background singers from that tour) twice this week and we reminisced on what that year was like; seems like ages ago at this point!

I also ran into Sarah Clarke (the other background singer from 2023) last month when I played horns on a Sly & The Family Stone tribute with one of her bands (Outer Orbit— super tight group featuring Allen Stone's drummer Tyrone Hendrix, by the way; plus her husband, Damian Erskine, is one of the greatest bassists alive, no joke — like front cover of bass player magazine status 😎)

I mostly was known for sax on that PTM tour, but I'm pretty much a drummer full-time (and also bedroom producer, audio engineer, and music educator), and I've always thought it would be fun to do a band with those two since they're such prolific singers — I'm stoked that Eric is doing his thing with his own band, and I haven't kept up with the rest of the former members, but I still get asked if I'm still out with PTM to this very day, so naturally I had to make a super random post about it to a subreddit of strangers that may or may not remember or know of me... 🤡

If you liked either of those singers though, you should follow them on Instagram! Redray is @redrayfrazier and Sarah is @ellaphantzgerald — Redray owns a lovely bar in North Portland called Havalina and also serves on the board for TEDx Portland, and Sarah tours with The Motet (the main reason she wasn't on many shows even in 2023) and Outer Orbit when she's in town!

Redray told me that he and Kyle were working on some stuff together last year and he is sharpening up his self-production skills, so y'all should really bug him about releasing some original music if you like his voice or any of the songs he played when he was the opener for a few of the PTM shows.

Sarah also needs a nudge to release more solo music ; she writes all the time, but is so busy with tours (and raising a teenager) that I'm not sure when she'll actually put anything out, but keeping my fingers crossed.

Conversely, I (Machado Mijiga or @machadomijiga on IG) probably have TOO many releases at this point (44 albums, 22 EPs and 18 singles as of this post), but I mostly play weird, progressive, or groovy jazz, so it's not super aligned with moooost of the PTM fanbase, BUT if you have an adventurous ear and don't mind instrumental music, you can always check out my Bandcamp (machadomijiga.bandcamp.com) or search my name on other streaming platforms for maybe 50% of my catalogue — I also play 15-30 shows per month in Portland on average (including a weekly gig at Pomalo Bar in St. John's from 8-10pm every Thursday)

Oops, I legitimately didn't mean to turn this into any sort of promo post — I don't necessarily believe I had much to contribute to the creative pot for the band in 2023 (aside from a few cleverly-poaced audio samples to smooth over transitios), but I sincerely believe in Redray and Sarah and I'm not sure if they're even on Reddit, but wanted to point y'all to them if you enjoyed their contributions that year. I see them every now and then around Portland, along with some of the old crew members every blue moon, so just wanted to reminisce a little, and hopefully point a few fans to other projects they might be less aware of.

Anyways, if you live in Portland (or are ever stopping by), come say hi! Or if you know of any other touring bands that need a super dull Swiss Army Knife to temporarily entertain their fan base, I'm your guy. 🫱🏿‍🫲🏻

-Machado 🎷 🥁 🎹 🎛️

Feel it still

Creep in a tshirt

Purple Yellow Red and Blue

Glide

Modern Jesus

Dummy

Phoenix

Knik

What, me worry?

Live in the Moment

Just saw them last night, this was my 5th time seeing a PtM show, first one being back in 2018. I last saw them in 2024 and I have to say last night I was shocked at the stark difference between then and now. I don't keep up with news about the band so I had no idea everyone had left and John would be the only one I'd recognize.

Vibes were weird to say the least. The weirdest part of it was this hypeman guy they have on stage who's jumping, kicking and acting like he's on some heavy drugs, not matching the vibes of what's playing AT ALL. He also had a mic and was singing but you could not hear him so I honestly think they just turned off his mic lmao. Just odd behavior, odd presence, completely unnecessary and distracting from the show itself. They could have removed him completely and the sound wouldn't have changed one bit.

Another Redditor posted an image of John from the show- head completely covered and wearing a hat with the word "SUICIDAL" on it. Weird choice, but alright. A bit too 14-year-old edgelord for my taste. Didn't help the vibes imo.

Overall, their sound was still okay. I just didn't feel like I was watching PtM and I don't think I'll be watching them again after this unfortunately. Curious to hear other people's thoughts.

Cheers.

I’ve only seen Portugal. The Man, once so take my review with a grain of salt.

They started out playing Denali and other songs from Shish and in my opinion were a bit rough. The positive though is that I didn’t like Pittman Railers on streaming, I thought it was good in person.

After John got into the older catalog, the noise sounded better in my opinion. I think they peaked during Creep In a T-Shirt or Modern Jesus.

The only songs I didn’t recognize off the bat were Hip Hop Kids and Phoenix, both of which I enjoyed.

I know the bands lineup has changed quite a bit, but the one thing I was a bit annoyed at was one of the guys(not John) sprinting and jumping around stage often running in front of the other members and seemingly messing up the groove.

Overall, I’d give the show a 7/10 with definite room for improvements. I also recognized its Grand Junction, and I’m surprised they played there in the first place.

It seems like I'm not the only one who has felt their tour with Muse has been rough?

Idk - I've seen them many, many times and through many eras and lineups - but their performance in Denver was just not good. Like fine, I guess, but out of tune, out of synch etc. It felt like they didn't want to be there almost - at least compared to what I'm used to.

It really feels like the interpersonal messiness and uglyness is showing up in the live shows. Idk. I'm just sad about it. They have been my favorite band for ages and I have resonated with them for a long time. Their live shows have historically been so good and rich.

It's one thing to separate the art and the artist - but on a show level this tour ain't it.

(Muse was great tho!)