Chuck Timely Graces Boston

"The weather is fucking horrible. I really did not expect more than half of this to be filled...but I forgot that New England is fucking tough as rocks!!" - Role Model

Role Model, aka Chuck Timely, New England's main pop boy Tucker Pillsbury's latest alter ego, stopped by a sold-out Leader Bank Pavilion on September 27th as part of Chuck On Tour. Even a nor'easter couldn't deter eager fans from showing up in droves at the Boston seaside venue. Thrilled fans at the venue would make an onlooker believe it was a perfect summer day. Outfits included sparkling pink-and-yellow ensembles that matched the colors on the Chuck Timely & The Hourglass album cover, and friend groups in makeshift trash-bag ponchos with tape spelling out "Sally" across the 5 of them.

First up was beloved indie songstress Samia, who instantly captivated the crowd and transformed the misty seaside into the perfect backdrop for her haunting set as she performed flushed in blue lights on stage. Standout tracks "Bovine Excision" and "Pool" displayed her smooth falsetto and mesmerizing, aching vocals. Though her discography is mellower and more vulnerable than the sound Role Model is known for, her knack for storytelling through her songwriting made her a natural fit for the double bill. She closed out her set with "Fit N Full," a song she noted was about "being naked in a restaurant," boasting equally cheeky dance moves like twerking and skipping around the stage. Samia's set might have been short and sweet, but it packed a punch. The singer delivered a provocative, thought-provoking performance that showcased her knack for uncovering sharp insights on universal experiences like growing older and grappling with the concept of self, turning something seemingly mundane or overlooked into a shared existential phenomenon.

Soon after, the lights dimmed again, and fans released thunderous cheers. Role Model strutted on stage in slouchy jeans, a navy blue rain jacket, and a matching navy blue Red Sox cap. "Oh, I came to dance, Boston!" he remarked before shaking his hips all across the stage. He opened the show with the viral track "High Hopes 3000," setting the euphoric tone for the night. Lyrics like "High hopes / Don't let me lose 'em now" united the crowd as everyone rejoiced that the show could continue as scheduled despite the weather.

Tracks like "Look at That Woman" and "Superglue" showcased his charming country twang and warm vocals. The mist rolled in from the Boston Harbor seafront, glistening like sparkles in the air. The loudest singing of the night came during the beloved track "The Dinner" on the lyric "I'm the child of my mother, New England-born and raised." The moment filled the crowd with pride and excitement.

"We're home baby!" Role Model screamed, "My whole career I used to call this my hometown show...I am very happy to be here if u can't tell." The singer hosted his album release party in his home state of Maine earlier this year, joking that Boston still holds a special place in his heart even after he finally had a real hometown show. The star is also known for his cheeky humor and banter. The night's most memorable hilarious saga came when he spotted a Jack Daniel's stall at the venue and shouted to see if he could grab a drink. During the track "Love I You," he headed down into the crowd near the stall to sing the back-and-forth conversation with a lucky fan in the front row. When he walked back on stage, he joked that he wanted to get a drink from someone over there, but they were all too young in that section: "I'll come back down and get one when it's the right time!" After the swanky, upbeat track "Writing's on the Wall," he walked back to the Jack Daniel's stand himself, but there was nothing there! He couldn't help but laugh and shake his head as he headed back onstage. Finally, the saga ended when a fan offered him a pint, and he brought it back on stage, joking, "always take a drink from strangers!"

He continued to make the night extra special, subbing in Boston for Houston during the lyric "I'll take my ass to Houston" on "The Longest Goodbye." The fan tradition that followed reminded everyone of the power of live music. Throughout his last tour, a loving trend caught on where fans would yell back "I'll do the dishes" after Role Model sings the lyric "See, lovin' me's like doin' a chore." The singer laughed and smiled ear to ear as he shredded on the acoustic guitar. Another fan tradition was head-banging during the grungy bridge of the personal track "Some Protector." While the track's subject matter might not resonate with him now, he acknowledged that the song has transformed into something new now that fans have adopted it so passionately and have formed deep connections to it on their own. Fans screamed along to the lyrics, a moment of catharsis as they danced with abandon.

Role Model held the energy high the rest of the night. Placing the beloved viral song "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out" in the penultimate spot of the setlist. He spotted a large group of fans dancing together on the side of the venue and spontaneously jumped off the stage and over the barricade to join them in the mosh pit. Everyone cheered as they looked on in disbelief.

The singer addressed the elephant in the room: "We've never not had a fun show in Boston! I was very scared we'd have to cancel this. We've done it before, and it was not good." Last year, he had to postpone his sold-out House of Blues show because he was sick. The change ended up turning into a great surprise when the updated location for the show was a bigger venue across the street, MGM Music Hall, that could hold many more fans. Now that Role Model is at Leader Bank Pavilion, it is only a matter of time before he is back selling out TD Garden.