Behind the Scenes with Role Model on Tour at The Troubadour

On July 19 Role Model released his sophomore album “Kansas Anymore” and quickly followed up the event with a sold-out show at Los Angeles’ The Troubadour in West Hollywood. 

The musician, born Tucker Pillsbury, has been on a steady rise since releasing his first EP in 2017 and signing with Interscope Records in 2018. His first album, “Rx,” came in 2022 and was all about falling in love. Cut to 2024 and the relationship had ended, which, thankfully for fans, resulted in a new record. 

This fall he will hit the road with Gracie Abrams, but in the meantime celebrated his album’s release at The Troubadour. He documented his first time setting foot on the famed stage (which was marked with a “pre-show stretch, I suppose”), his soundcheck (“Pretending to know how to play guitar on stage now”) and a moment backstage with Lizzy McAlpine (“LOOK AT THAT WOMAN”) who is featured on the “Kansas Anymore” song “So Far Gone.”

Prior to hitting the stage he listened to The War on Drugs and joked around with his band.

“I love my band so much, I think it’s rare for artists to have any sort of bond with their band, but we have been through it together and gotten very close,” he says. “I love these boys.”

The West Hollywood show was his first time performing in over a year. 

“I was a little nervous walking out, to be honest,” he says. That said, the nerves quickly went away when he met with the fans’ reaction. 

“Performing these songs live for the first time was something else,” he says. “How they knew all the words to the new album in a matter of four days is beyond me. I love them.”