Live Report: Role Model are the life of the party at Electric Picnic

Looking like a gang you’d see playing at a house party, Role Model and his band appear very relaxed onstage, as though they’re in someone’s sitting room instead of the main stage at Ireland’s biggest festival.

This look certainly fits the occasion- there’s bubbles, balloons and beachballs rolling over the crowd, giving the whole place a party atmosphere. It surely must be the most palpably giddy crowd the stage has seen yet.

Taking off with ‘High Hopes’ only increases this bubbling, jubilant energy, as the punchy, country and western twinged chorus is one easily picked up by first-timers and roared by the die-hards.

This sound is consistent throughout his set- it feels very honky-tonk, homemade rock and roll- I wouldn’t be surprised if they could do a great cover of ‘Great Balls of Fire’.

The band’s simple setup and an appreciation for clean guitar tone makes the set feel somewhat ramshackle, but in a way that contributes to the charm and doesn’t detract from the quality in the slightest.

The songs aren't high tempo, but also aren't slow sets, something that sees jiving and dancing galore both on and offstage. He has a great appreciation for impact, and delivers his punchiest lyrics in tandem with the loudest hits of the drum.

Unlike a lot of the country-twinged music coming from the states, Role Model’s music is infectiously optimistic. He often sings from a perspective of being down on his luck but delivers these lyrics while grinning and doing a little two-step.

His effect on the audience is near comical. No act this weekend has seen a crowd scream at such a high pitch- every movement he makes onstage results in roars of adoration.

In between songs, the Olé Olés are consistent but Role Model silences them in an instant by shouting the name Sally.
It’s a cruel trick as they don’t launch into the song of the same name- but it works, and the audience see the funny side. They can wait.

They save it for the end, a cherry on top of what has been a consistently fun set. ‘Sally’ is arguably their most popular song, and the love the crowd feel for it is apparent- as the cameras pan over them, each face begs Sally not to leave poor Role Model when the wine runs out.