Sturgill Simpson Performs Two ‘A Sailor’s Guide to Earth’ Tracks on ‘SNL’ [WATCH]
Sturgill Simpson took the Saturday Night Live stage on Jan. 14, performing "Keep It Between the Lines" and "Call to Arms," both from his latest release, 2016’s A Sailor’s Guide to Earth. Readers can press play above and below, respectively to watch.
Both of Simpson's SNL were energetic, but "Call to Arms," his second song of the night, was especially so -- raucous, even. The artist and his stellar band were full of energy: Simpson was bounding around the stage during both performances, and during "Call to Arms" his keys player was climbing on top of his instrument; that song ended with Simpson smashing his guitar onto the stage as well.
Simpson is one of many country and Americana artists to grace the Saturday Night Live stage during the show’s four-decade run. Margo Price, Chris Stapleton and Maren Morris all performed on the show in 2016 alone, while Blake Shelton acted as the sketch comedy show’s host and musical guest in January of 2015. Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift are also among those who have hosted and performed on SNL.
Since releasing his debut album, High Top Mountain, in 2013, Simpson has earned a bevy of fans, as well as critical praise, with his traditional sound and style. A Sailor’s Guide to Earth — his first project since signing with Atlantic Records — debuted at No. 1 on the country albums chart and at No. 3 on Billboard‘s all-genre 200 chart; it also received two nominations for the 2017 Grammy Awards, one for Best Country Album and the other for the all-genre Album of the Year.
Watch Sturgill Simpson Play "Call to Arms" on Saturday Night Live
Where Does A Sailor's Guide to Earth Rank Among 2016's Best Americana, Alt-Country and Folk Albums?