Celebs
“Step Brothers” star John C. Reilly was visiting a Boston dive bar with a friend. When the band invited him up to sing, he obliged.
Actor John C. Reilly performing a song at Tavern at the End of the World, a dive bar in Boston near the Somerville border. Tavern at the End of the World; Getty Images
August 4, 2026 | 10:37 AM
1 minute to read
“Step Brothers” actor John C. Reilly has been making the rounds in the Boston area recently — including for an impromptu late-night performance at a local dive bar.
The multi-talented performer (he’s been nominated for an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) took the stage on Thursday at Tavern at the End of the World, an Irish pub tucked in the corner of Charlestown between Sullivan Square and the Somerville border.
According to local musician Jimmy Trapella, he and his band Bosstown Heavy were performing at the bar on Thursday when Reilly, who was there with the friend, joined the group for a couple of songs, including “54-46 (That’s My Number)” by Toots and the Maytals.
(Still unconfirmed: Whether or not Reilly touched the drum set.)
Reilly popping up to sing on someone else’s song is nothing new for the actor. Reilly is a yearly attendee of the Newport Folk Festival, and regularly joins musicians for a song during their sets. At this year’s festival (July 24-26), the “Talladega Nights” star was invited on stage by several artists, including Nathaniel Rateliff and Dawes.
Prior to journeying down to Newport, Reilly brought his new one-man stage show, “Mr. Romantic,” to the Emerson Colonial Theatre on July 23. All told, that’s at least 10 days the actor spent in the area.
Following his late-night revelry at Tavern at the End of the World, Reilly also stayed local the next morning, visiting Kelly’s Diner in Somerville for breakfast.
Legendary Actor John C Reilly knows where to go for the best breakfast,” Kelly’s owner Jay Holmes wrote on Facebook. “My daughter Emma said he was so cool.”
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