ROLE MODEL: No Place Like Orlando

The 27-year-old indie pop-rock artist ROLE MODEL (aka Tucker Pillsbury) brought an electrifying performance to the House of Blues Orlando (3/14/2025), the fifth stop on the US leg of his “No Place Like Tour” tour. Pillsbury released his second studio album, “Kansas Anymore,” in the late summer of 2024 and most recently dropped its deluxe version “Kansas Anymore: The Longest Goodbye” just 10 days before the US leg began.

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Outside the venue was a long line of fans that wrapped around the block, all waiting to see Pillsbury perform. As fans made their way in, it was clear they were attending a ROLE MODEL concert; everyone was either wearing cowboy hats and boots, carrying humorous signs, or wearing DIY shirts — all things that played into the joke of  Pillsbury’s alternate TikTok personality, Saint Laurent Cowboy. 

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When the, the lights went out, and the crowd roared and chanted his name. With his band leading the way, Pillsbury walked on stage with a wide smile and casually strapped on his acoustic guitar amongst the loud cheers. He made his way to the front of the stage where fans in the crowd waved their signs in anticipation of his first song. 

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Warm yellow lights blasted over him as he sang the opening lyrics of “Writing’s On The Wall,” which was immediately met with fans screaming the lyrics right back at him. 

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After singing the first few songs, Pillsbury took some time to speak to the audience.

“We finally made it to Floridaaaaaa!” he exclaimed.

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“This is the first time I’ve ever started my tour in Europe and Australia before North America. And I love Australians, don’t get me wrong. They’re very polite. Like, after each set, it’s just dead silence. And I will say,” Pillsbury paused, “I do miss the rowdiness of crowds like these. The raunchy signs, the screaming, and…” The crowd began to bark. “... the barking.” 

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“I’m glad to be back,” he concluded. The crowd whooped and cheered so loudly that it drowned his voice out.

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Throughout the show, Pillsbury often paused in between songs to read fans’ creative signs and reintroduce himself. “Hi, we’re the 1965… and we’re so happy to be here,” he said once. “I’m Ed Sheeran, and this is a song you may know,” he said another time, making the crowd laugh each time. 

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Pillsbury’s set contained most of the tracks from “Kansas Anymore” and a few older songs such as, “That’s Just How it Goes” and “Blind.” The crowd never failed to scream his lyrics back word for word, especially during his more fun and upbeat songs such as “Scumbag,” “Superglue,” and “The Dinner,” where he took the chance to dance and run around the stage.

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“The Dinner” specifically drove home the theme of the tour with the lyrics:

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 “I click my heels three times, oh

We're not in Kansas anymore

Take me home.” 

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A few crowd members dressed up as Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz were dancing ecstatically during this song. One Dorothy-dressed fan in particular turned to me while Pillsbury was performing “The Dinner” and told me that she had just gotten out of the hospital that day, making this night and song that much more special. 

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Pillsbury also slowed it down during songs like “Frances,” “Old Recliners,” and “Compromise,” but there was no comparison in crowd reactions than when Pillsbury sang “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out,” a recent track released with his deluxe album. The crowd screamed at the top of their lungs, watching Pillsbury dance and sing with the Sally of the night (a fan) on stage. 

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He ended the night with “Deeply Still In Love,” and blew kisses as he walked off stage. 

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ROLE MODEL has been one of my favorite artists for almost seven years. This was my third time seeing him live, and it was just as fun and exciting as the first two times. Over the years, he has built a loyal fanbase that not only enjoys his music but are deeply connected to him through his humor and relatability. Pillsbury’s ability to engage with the crowd and not take himself too seriously has transformed him into an amazing performer who forms lasting impressions and creates memorable nights for thousands of fans. 

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No show is the same, and there’s no place like Orlando. 

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