LIVE REVIEW: ROLE MODEL
PHOTO CREDIT: JEAN NGOOI
How big can Role Model be?
Where have the male pop-stars gone? Female artists dominate the modern musical landscape. On 8 February 2025, at the Forum in Melbourne, Role Model, born Tucker Pillsbury showed he could fill the man shaped void in the pop zeitgeist.
Role Model’s push towards stardom has momentum. The “No Place Like” Australian tour sold-out months ago. You could tell in the venue. Expectant fans lined the steps of the Forum from the back door to the stage, including for the opening act. The opener, Medium Build performed admirably. The Alaskan singer’s warm voice washed over the anxious crowd.
For the opener, ‘Writing on the Wall’, Role Model teased his easy confidence and toothy grin. ‘Look at that Woman’ and ‘Scumbag’ were well received follow ups.
Taylor Swift’s tall shadow over pop-music has ushered in the age of the self-aware songwriter. A key skill of the modern pop-star is knowing the meta narrative surrounding them and how to reject, embrace or subvert it. Chappell, Olivia, Sabrina and even Kendrick all understand the discourse about them.
Role Model knows his meta narrative. He knows he’s hot. His first piece of crowd banter is reading out an audience sign saying; ‘Welcome Home, Jacob Elordi’. ‘I’m 6 foot’ he replied to another trying to dispel the ‘5’7 rumours’. He knew when to let the crowd sing, he knew that Melbourne hates Sydney and he knew the crowd wanted the viral lyrics of ‘Espresso’. After he hummed them, he whispered ‘Sydney didn’t get that’.
The meta narrative includes your dating life. Role Model’s high profile break-up with influencer Emma Chamberlain looms large over his most recent album ‘Kansas Anymore’ and the setlist. From ‘Oh Gemini’, ‘Frances’ and ‘Slut Era Interlude’, he presents as heart broken, still in love and moving on. Through it all, he betrays an admirable gentleness and warmth for his past love. The crowd got a sense of a man who is comfortable in his own skin, including after, and maybe even during, heartbreak. Although not his song, his excellent cover of the 1975’s ‘Somebody Else’, neatly developed this theme. His reflective self-assuredness continued through ‘Sally’ and ‘Slipfast’.
He's not all self-conscious and overwrought though. He wants to be a rock star. His childhood admiration for Elvis is obvious, particularly the hip shakes, a crowd favourite. His shoulder shimmying excited the crowd.
After just over an hour, Tucker and his band pretended the show was over and half-heartedly retreated backstage. It’s almost always clear that a band will return for an encore. This gestural conclusion was completely transparent. It was so transparent it was played as a joke. When Role Model quickly reappeared, the response was as if he’d never left. The biggest hit of the album ‘Deeply Still in Love’ was a fitting finale. And that was it, the lights came on after a tight 90 minutes.
Role Model is not a certified star yet, but he possesses all the tools to become one. He has the talent, charisma and confidence to take the next step up the musical ladder. Understandably, his devoted fans expect him to do so.
