Brandi Carlile- Broken Horses- SNL 10-21

By the time absolutely iridescent singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile first took the stage in October 2021, dressed in a gold lame’ suit backed by a crack rock’n’roll band, NBC’s Saturday Night Live had long since established its well-earned reputation for showcasing musical talent that deserved national  exposure. But I was not prepared for the impact of watching and hearing a star being born when Brandi Carlile stepped up to the microphone to sing her song, “Broken Horses”. This blew. Me. Away.

Hands down this was the most memorable live TV performance I saw all that year, and ranks right up there with some of the best SNL performances in their fifty years, including Elvis Costello and the Attractions “Radio, Radio”, the Talking Heads “Take Me to the River”, the Rolling Stones’ season opener in Fall 1978, Prince, Sinead O’Connor ripping up a picture of The Pope, even U2 with Bono breaking the fourth wall barrier by leaving the tiny SNL stage to embrace the studio audience.
On her “Broken Horses” first Saturday Night Live performance October 23, 2021 Brandi Carlile, framed by her hired gun identical twin bald-headed guitarists, elicited comparison to Bonnie Raitt backed by Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers. Carlile’s songcraft, stage presence, and impeccable vibrato, with that hot band kicking her backside, made me an instant convert. Be looking and listening for Brandi Carlile’s newest collaboration with her lifelong idol Elton John called “Who Believes in Angels”. –Redbeard