Turnstile Brings Grammy-Winning Hardcore to SNL
Turnstile became the first hardcore band to play Saturday Night Live in 45 years, performing their Grammy-winning song 'Birds'.
Turnstile made history with their Saturday Night Live performance. The band performed their Grammy-winning song 'Birds' from the album Never Enough, kicking off the set with a drum solo from Daniel Fang. Lead singer Brendan Yates energized the stage with high kicks and spins during the intense performance.
Turnstile also performed an 'I CARE'/'DULL' medley on the episode. The band had played Austin City Limits' Weekend 1 the night before their landmark SNL appearance. Their recent Grammy wins for Best Rock Album and Best Metal Performance set the stage for this crossover moment.
A surreal stage and symbolic staging
During their second performance, Turnstile played in front of a wall of rotary telephones. The lighting shifted dramatically, with the set going dark and leaving only a single phone blinking red on the wall. This surreal visual backdrop contrasted sharply with the band's raw, physical energy.
Dakota Johnson hosts, brings Swift and personal humor
Dakota Johnson, 37, hosted the episode and promoted her movie Verity. Her monologue humorously referenced her recent relationships with musician Chris Martin and the band Role Model. "Some people leave concerts with merch and I leave concerts with a two-and-a-half-year relationship," Johnson said. She added, "But I have really good friends. They don't judge me for dating these men. They're actually really supportive."
Johnson referred to surprise guest Taylor Swift as my literal therapist. Swift came out during the goodnights holding a cake, an appearance that seemed to startle Turnstile guitarist Pat McCrory. It is unclear if the cake's design referenced the band's album Never Enough.
Taylor Swift’s cameo and playful exchange
Taylor Swift appeared in a cameo, joking that Johnson treats her like a therapist. Swift offered a humorous rebuttal to the host's characterization. I'm not your therapist, actually, Swift said. You just show up once a week in my house with an empty bottle of wine and ask if I want some....
The episode closed with Turnstile preparing to continue their busy schedule. The band has tour stops on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before heading back to Austin for ACL Weekend 2.
