Rolling Stone’s Musicians on Musicians Lights Up the Beacon — October 23, 2025
A night of candid conversations and roaring performances, presented by Sonesta International Hotels.
On October 23, 2025, Rolling Stone brought its Musicians on Musicians series to the Beacon Theatre in New York City for the event’s third annual installment. Comedian James Austin Johnson — widely recognized for his striking impersonation of former President Donald Trump — moderated the evening, which translated the magazine’s concept of paired artist interviews into an intimate stage format. Ten performers were matched into duos; they talked openly about craft and the music business in a living-room–style setting before picking up instruments and delivering several songs each.
Among the highlights were RS cover stars Hayley Williams and Jack Antonoff, and a pairing featuring Role Model alongside María Zardoya of the Marías. The relaxed set design — armchairs, a coffee table and a potted plant — created a warm backdrop for frank chats that quickly shifted into electrifying musical moments.
Zardoya’s voice, airy and assured, made a particularly strong impression in the Beacon’s updated acoustics, while Role Model’s backing band did an admirable job translating the Marías’ sound in the absence of her usual ensemble. Role Model himself was playfully reserved during the conversation segment, but when he grabbed the mic he had the sold-out crowd on its feet.
Hayley Williams — who released her solo album Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party in late August 2025 — demonstrated once again why she’s one of rock’s most versatile performers. For the show’s climactic set she shared the stage with Jack Antonoff (Bleachers), the longtime collaborator who supported her solo material while Williams lent vocals to Bleachers’ songs. Their effortless chemistry produced anthemic moments and at least one live debut.
Below are seven standout moments from Musicians on Musicians 2025.
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How an 84-Year-Old Helped “No One Noticed” Break Through
María Zardoya recalled that the Marías’ breakout single “No One Noticed” gained momentum in an unexpected way. After sharing the track privately, an elderly friend — she quipped that he’s 84 — told them the song “sounded like molly,” which prompted Zardoya to put the song online. To her surprise, listeners quickly embraced it and carried it up the charts.
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Role Model’s Post-Show Ritual
When asked whether songs ever get stuck in his head, Role Model admitted it can be torturous. His remedy for switching off after a gig is deliberately lowbrow: he watches light, forgettable podcasts to let his brain unwind and decompress after performing.
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Playing Along with an Alter Ego
Role Model leaned into a running joke about his alter ego, Saint Laurent Cowboy. Asked about the rumor that his song “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out” references a podcaster, he winked and kept the tongue-in-cheek mystique alive — insisting he prefers to keep the character in the shadows and let fans decide what’s real.
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No Surprise Guest for “Sally” This Time
At many shows, Role Model invites a fan or celebrity to join him for the bridge of “Sally.” He explained that the Beacon set didn’t include that tradition — “It’s a corporate gig, so no ‘Sally,’” he told the audience — yet the sold-out crowd’s enthusiasm made the night feel anything but corporate.
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Comedy, Politics and a Light Touch
Hosts and performers ribbed one another throughout the night. At one point Antonoff asked Johnson whether he’d heard from Trump about the impressions; Johnson said he hadn’t, though the impression itself has attracted attention. Williams praised Johnson’s satirical work as a way to process difficult moments in current events.
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Nashville as Muse (and Punching Bag)
Williams revealed that her new solo record was partly inspired by the tidal wave of bachelorette parties she encounters in Nashville. She made clear she enjoys teasing the city but draws the line at others taking cheap shots — “You can roast your own family, but not someone else’s,” she quipped, framing Nashville as both muse and foil.
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Beacon Finale: Razor-Sharp and Unrestrained
Williams and Antonoff closed the night with a rowdy back-and-forth, swapping vocal duties and tearing into each other’s songs. Williams’ gritty vocal on “Kill Me” landed viscerally, and the live premiere of “Good Ol’ Days” was a combustible moment. Bleachers supplied sturdy Jersey rock energy — complete with a sax cameo that reminded everyone how much the genre benefits from bold instrumentation.
