![]() ![]() ![]() And that’s exactly what happened Saturday night.Īt the same time, Sturgill Simpson knew his place. Sturgill is the trouble-minded “fuck it all” kind of guy that is exactly what Chris Stapleton needed to come out of his shell. He’s the one that shook up country music by adding psychedelic influences to a traditional country record, by slamming his Telecaster down on that same Saturday Night Live stage, by staging a protest outside the 2017 CMA Awards. That’s why putting Sturgill Simpson on stage with Stapleton was such perfect chemistry. His From A Room records from 2017, they felt like they could have used more energy. And he’s a risk averse kind of guy to begin with. Being on stage for Stapleton is a safe space, because he’s so good at it, and his wife is right there by his side. It’s too easy, too natural for him to sing, so he doesn’t have to try. His voice carries a tremendous amount of soul and vitality when he sings, but yet sometimes his performances feel a little flat. There is a good chance Chris Stapleton hasn’t written a complete song in the last two years. The other problem is that Chris Stapleton has been suffering from a lack of passion. The primary problem with Chris Stapleton is that he’s been successful, which makes many with a eternal underdog spirit amid a culture of losing unable to identify with him. It’s not because he’s unwilling to speak out about the bad parts of the mainstream that he’s very much a part of-which is unfortunate. He wrote songs as a professional songwriter that ended up being cut by these guys. It’s not because he wrote songs for Luke Bryan and Thomas Rhett-which by the way, he didn’t. And the fact that the turncoat Sturgill Simpson was with him will make it even worse.īut the main reason Chris Stapleton has made for the imperfect country music superstar that certain traditional and independent fans can’t get behind is not because he’s not country enough. The people who hate Stapleton-who are a smallish, but a vehement and vocal minority-will get a hearty laugh at all the hyperbole that has and will accompany the performance of Chris Stapleton on Saturday Night Live, January 27th, 2018. To certain segments of traditional country fans, he’s more polarizing than Trump. Now you had a musical feeling that you can only equate to when the few lucky bastards were able to see pairings of musical greats like this live back in the 70’s.Ĭhris Stapleton has now become the most polarizing man in country music, and it’s not even close. Okay, now you’re supposed to just nestle into bed and act like that didn’t just happen? You felt like you could take on the damn world, while a few short hours previous you were perfectly oblivious that Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson were even planning to perform together. "Either side, win or lose, right or wrong, it’s a battle that’s all in your mind, you better open wide," she sang.At 12:01 last night (or this morning), after all the hands had been shaken, and all the hugs exchanged on the Saturday Night Live set in New York’s Rockefeller Center, you didn’t know what to do with yourself. Singing the seductive "curious/furious" she delivered the emo/punk tune with strong energy. Willow's first song on "SNL" was definitely more muted but nonetheless powerful. "She sounds like if Florence raged AGAINST the machine, and I’m kind of living for it," observed another, referencing two stylistically different bands that Willow seemed to evoke. Great Job Willow and band thanks for being you." "The rock screams where bad ass and I enjoyed the humble bow afterwards. "I love when humans put their art out there for people to feel however they want to," posted another fan. Sadly I think she remains underrated because folks keep writing her off because of her family ties. "She’s been writing some gems and her voice and voice control have gotten so good. "I’m so in awe of her talent," wrote one commenter on YouTube. The song culminated in Willow smashing a bottle to the ground and heaving her guitar through the screen of a TV set in true rock star fashion. Alternately shouting and crooning, she captivated the audience with her intensity. ![]()
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