Turnstile Debuts on SNL, Turing Up the Stage with Taylor Swift

Saturday Night Live went hardcore. Last night’s episode was hosted by Dakota Johnson with musical guest Turnstile. As highlighted in the episode promos, Turnstile are the first hardcore band to perform on the show since the infamous Fear performance 45 years ago. (Notably, then-Jesus Piece drummer Luis Aponte had played with Charli XCX on the series in 2021!)

Turnstile extend their impact beyond the hardcore designation: they were the first act nominated for rock, alternative, and metal awards in a single Grammys ceremony, securing wins for both Best Rock Album and Best Metal Performance.

They opened with “Birds,” which featured Daniel Fang delivering a standout drum solo, followed by the “I CARE”/“DULL” medley. Lead vocalist Brendan Yates showcased impressive high kicks and dynamic stage spins. During the second set, the band took the stage in front of a wall of rotary telephones, creating a memorable visual moment: the lights dimmed, revealing only a single blinking red phone on the wall—a clear nod to the Powerpuff Girls telephone—as Yates began singing, “Deep in the night, I’m waiting for the call.”

Dakota Johnson, promoting her upcoming film Verity, also marked her 37th birthday. In her monologue, she reflected on her experiences dating musicians, referencing recent relationships with Chris Martin and the group Role Model. Legendary keyboardist Leon Pendarvis, a longtime member of the SNL ensemble since November 1980 (having narrowly missed the prior “Fear” episode), contributed a brief joke.

“While some crowd members leave the theater with merchandise, I leave with a two-and-a-half-year relationship,” Johnson mused, emphasizing how she values enduring friendships over short-lived romances. She then presented Taylor Swift to the band, dubbing her a “literal therapist.” Johnson directed her attention toward Swift, whose arrival reportedly startled guitarist Pat McCrory. Between lighthearted jokes about dating musicians, mentions of Zoloft, and a preview of Swift’s recent single “Cleveland!”, the interplay added chemistry to the performance.

Check out clips below.

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