American hardcore band Turnstile have made their debut appearance on Saturday Night Live, performing their Grammy-winning hit ‘Birds’ and a medley of ‘I Care’ and ‘Dull’ from their fourth album ‘Never Enough’, as the group prepares to resume their United States tour on Monday.
Turnstile made their debut on Saturday Night Live on Saturday, 4 October, performing three tracks from their Grammy-winning album Never Enough on the episode hosted by Dakota Johnson.
The Baltimore hardcore outfit performing the night after an appearance at Austin City Limits opened with “Birds,” which won Best Metal Performance at the 68th annual Grammy Awards in February. Later in the programme, the five-piece returned for a medley of “I Care” and “Dull.”
The performance was a landmark moment for both the band and the genre: Turnstile are the first hardcore act to play on SNL since Fear’s notoriously chaotic appearance in 1981. Host Dakota Johnson had previewed the booking in a promo earlier in the week, joking that she was ready to start a “wall of death” for the group.
‘Never Enough’, released in June 2025, is Turnstile’s fourth album and the follow-up to their 2021 breakthrough Glow On. It entered the top 10 of the Billboard 200 and topped the Top Hard Rock Albums chart, whilst its title track became the band’s first Number 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart. The record earned the group five Grammy nominations making Turnstile the first band ever nominated across the rock, alternative and metal categories in a single ceremony and secured two wins, for Best Rock Album and for “Birds.”
In August, Turnstile followed it up with Never Enough: Versions, a reimagined edition of the album featuring contributions from Elton John, Hayley Williams, Slayyyter, Julien Baker, Four Tet, Blood Orange, Faye Webster and Alex G, amongst others.
Johnson’s appearance, which featured a surprise cameo from Taylor Swift, marked her third time hosting the show and came a day after the theatrical release of her new film Verity. Turnstile followed Season 52 premiere guest KATSEYE, with Rosalía scheduled to perform alongside host Shane Gillis on 10 October and Gracie Abrams booked for 31 October with host Inde Navarrette.
Turnstile’s tour resumes on Monday, 5 October in Oklahoma City, followed by dates in Lawrence, Kan.; St. Louis; Ventura, Calif.; and Las Vegas before the run concludes on 18 October in Santa Ana, Calif.
Billboard
