For acolytes of Baltimore-born Turnstile, the truth of the excellence of the music has been decades in the making. The band doesn't skip a beat, literally. Fast or less fast, the melodic hardcore band is terrific and consistently so. That was further proven on the October 3 episode of Saturday Night Live.
The band played two sets. The first was "Birds," and the second was a combination of "I Care" and "Dull." All are from the band's 2025 record, Never Enough, which isn't the best of the band's four studio albums, because all are excellent.
And there is no sell-out. Turnstile isn't trying to sound like anything or anyone, only what they want to sound like. This is the way it has always been and, hopefully, always will be. This keeps the group both familiar and new, as that is the excellence that goes into shaping the band's approach.
Turnstile turns in brilliant appearance on Saturday Night Live
Goodness isn't an option; it is an organic occurrence. The ease with which Turnstile creates music both in a studio and live and then delivers that with something akin to magic is astonishing. This isn't an A&R trick. This is five people getting together, playing as if they have done so for centuries, and molding notes to their will.
"Birds" begins with drummer Daniel Fang doing a solo, shirtless and forceful. That lasts for several seconds until the rest of the band kicks in, and vocalist Brendan Yates sounds a bit like a cadence from a Beastie Boys track. Instead, the tune is more of a combination of the Beasties and Rage Against the Machine, but a sound all Turnstile's own.
This isn't derivative. It's fresh, pounding, energetic, and rightfully short. Punk doesn't need to be long. The music just needs to be authoritative, and that is exactly what "Birds" is.
In the second set, "I Care" and "Dull" mesh in a way that no one would expect two songs to. There is a bit more nuance in the structure, but only to emphasize Turnstile's ability to create melodies over a wall of sound. There is as much Elvis Costello and Manic Street Preachers as there is Ramones, and yet there is enough of each to make music lovers delighted.
Of all the acts that Saturday Night Live has had on in recent years, Turnstile arguably turned in the best performance. Interestingly, the show was hosted by Dakota Johnson, who is good friends with Taylor Swift. Swift made an appearance to say happy birthday to Johnson. At the end of the show during the goodbyes, Swift and the members of Turnstile happily interacted. Talent knows talent.
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