Turnstile Make SNL Debut With Three-Song Set That Hits Like a System Shakeup

A band playing three songs in a single episode isn't something you see every day on Saturday Night Live. On October 3, Turnstile made their debut on the long-running variety show, appearing in the season 52 premiere's second episode hosted by Dakota Johnson. They kicked things off with "Birds," the heavier cut off Never Enough, then returned later in the show for an "I Care" / "Dull" medley — the former dreamy and atmospheric before suddenly snapping into the raw intensity of "Dull." Three songs in one episode meant TV audiences got a full look at both sides of the album.

The performance came the night after their set at Austin City Limits in Texas, the latest move in a string of milestones since Never Enough dropped. The album arrived last June, and this past February at the Grammys, "Birds" took home Best Metal Performance while Never Enough itself won Best Rock Album. NME gave the record a five-star review at the time, calling it a continuation of the band's signature "feral weirdness" and praising its heartfelt hardcore-pop sensibility.

Turnstile didn't stop at letting the music speak after their wins. Frontman Brendan Yates and bandmates noted that "we're living in a time of rising violence across nations," pointing to the displacement of people in the US, Palestine, Sudan, Iran, and beyond. Speaking to NME later at the BRIT Awards, Yates added that it's important for artists to use their platform: "Artists are a mirror reflecting what's happening in the world."

This past August, the band released Never Enough: Versions, a full reimagining of the album featuring collaborators like Elton John, Hayley Williams, Blood Orange, A.G. Cook, Julien Baker, Four Tet, and Slayyyter. The SNL spot essentially packed a year's worth of momentum into one episode. On the show's schedule, Turnstile followed KATSEYE, who made their own debut the week before, while Rosalía is set to appear as musical guest next Saturday, October 10, in an episode hosted by Shane Gillis.