PHOTOS: ROLE MODEL | 3.8.25 @ Marathon Music Works

ROLE MODEL
w/ Debbii Dawson
Marathon Music Works; Nashville, TN
March 8, 2025

Photos by Elizabeth Marsh

When last we saw Tucker Pillsbury- better known by his musical alias ROLE MODEL– live, he was still celebrating his breakthrough 2022 LP Rx, a moody, earnest, alt pop evolution from his early days in hip hop, which, along with a couple of EPs in the preceding years, helped him build a passionate following and viral attention online. The same year of his debut LP, ROLE MODEL both made his headlining debut in Nashville, at The Basement East, and also played Bonnaroo for the first time, delivering one of the fest’s standout moments with a captivating late night set.

In the few years since, Pillsbury has further evolved his ROLE MODEL project, adopting a more folk-oriented, rootsy, and forlorn sound on his more introspective and heartbroken sophomore album, last year’s Kansas Anymore, partially crafted right here in Nashville, a record which has earned the most critical accolades of his career so far, and which has, along with prominent live dates with the likes of Gracie Abrams, attracted more new fans than ever. In celebration, Tucker made his long-awaited return to Music City with a recent headlining show at Marathon Music Works, along with support from folk pop opener Debbii Dawson.

Dawson, who, along with her guitarist, happened to be celebrating a birthday on show night, and was surprised with a cake, delivered a lovely, resonant, and perfectly suited opening set, greeted by a full and enthusiastic room (not only sold out, but this is a show many diehard fans lined up early for). Her songs were a perfect compliment to ROLE MODEL’s new sonic direction, and by the time she finished her performance, the crowd was buzzing both from admiration for her show, and with anticipation for the evening’s headliner.

Unlike that aforementioned Bonnaroo set, where Pillsbury adopted an almost brooding, alt pop star demeanor, the vibe here was a lot more relaxed and approachable, just like the Kansas Anymore aesthetic in general. Rocking an all-black outfit and a cap, on a staged adorned with curtains and stylishly retro lightning, backed a fantastic band and starting out with an acoustic guitar (which he’d trade for electric, and sometimes just a microphone throughout the evening), Tucker’s set was made up almost entirely from that new album, including the additional tracks from recent The Longest Goodbye deluxe edition (the only other songs that made the cut were a few favorites from the early EPs, with absolutely nothing from Rx).

Much more so than a few years ago, the audience was absolutely obsessed, both playing into the lighthearted and silly side of the singer with a bunch of signs and interactivity, but also loudly and meticulously singing along to every word- so much so that ROLE MODEL often let the crowd take over- erupting into deafening applause at the start and conclusion of each track. From both album and show opener “Writing’s on the Wall” to wistful “Look at That Woman,” from poppy and lush “Oh, Gemini” to propulsive sing-along “Superglue,” from the foot-stomping folk of “The Dinner” to Tucker’s reworking of The 1975’s “Somebody Else,” the first half of the show was nuanced and electrifying, and that would continue throughout the back half of the set with standouts like “Slipfast,” “Some Protector,” and “blind.”

A fun tradition this tour, near the end of the night, has been to bring someone- usually an audience member- onstage to dance as the “Sally” during “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out.” Nashville got a very special surprise, however, when the evening’s Sally turned out to be none other than locally-based pop singer Ashe, who we also coincidentally caught at that some Bonnaroo where we last saw ROLE MODEL, and who herself will soon support Gracie Abrams for some international dates. Unsurprisingly, the audience went wild for this surprise, and nearly drowned out the song with their excitement, as Tucker and Ashe danced around the stage.

Though not our first time seeing ROLE MODEL, this certainly felt like the most special ROLE MODEL show we’ve seen yet, in an era that better represents Tucker Pillsbury’s artistry and authenticity than any prior. Closing out the night with “Deeply Still in Love,” we were both mesmerized by the talent on display all evening, and impressed by the depth of these latest songs and the nuance they take on live. And though we love seeing him in smaller spaces, there’s little doubt that when ROLE MODEL next returns to Music City, he’ll be even an even bigger star than he’s clearly become, and it felt really special to see him once more in the middle of this exciting chapter.

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Setlist:

Writing’s on the Wall
Look at That Woman
Scumbag
Oh, Gemini
Superglue
The Dinner
Frances
Slut Era interlude
Somebody Else (The 1975 cover)
The Longest Goodbye
Old Recliners
Slipfast
that’s just how it goes
Some Protector
Compromise
blind
Sally, When the Wine Runs Out
Deeply Still in Love