Playing Saturday Night Live is a big deal. Getting booked on the hallowed late-night comedy show has traditionally served as a sort of “you made it” milestone, certifying that a band has attained a level of success sufficient to appeal to an audience that’s been watching the same program every Saturday since 1975. But in what we see as an unusual departure for the show, a collection of not-so-mainstream artists have been musical guests this year, earning the right to add “played SNL” next to “scored effusive Pitchfork review” on their list of accomplishments.
Let’s examine the evidence: On January 13th the Shins performed with host Jake Gyllenhaal, and in doing so became the first Sub Pop band in the label’s history to play SNL. (Nirvana were on Geffen by the time they performed on the show in 1992). February 3rd featured Lily Allen, the British anti-pop star just beginning to build her fanbase stateside, and she was followed last weekend by the genius pairing of host Rainn Wilson with the Arcade Fire. March 17th Snow Patrol will play the show, with host Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
We spoke with veteran Saturday Night Live producer (and the woman in charge of booking talent) Marci Klein about this phenomenon, and she told us it’s all in our heads.
“No matter how you look at it, it’s random,” Klein said, insisting that the bands she books get the coveted SNL nod of approval because they’ve caught her ear. “I never know what label they’re on. I agree that music is kinda good right now,” Klein offers. But in terms of the booking process, she explains that it is, as it always has been, about the music. “I liked Arcade Fire, I played them for Lorne [Michaels,] he loved them too. It’s a feeling you get about one of that bands that should be one of the chosen bands on our show. But I don’t look at the label, I look at the bands.”
Coincidence or not, we’re psyched about any reasoning that allows Arcade Fire to infiltrate the Saturday night plans of our nation’s baby boomers. We’re thinking the Hold Steady should be next, followed by Interpol and the Long Blondes.
Who would you like to see play Saturday Night Live, and with which host would you pair them?
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- Portions of Album Content Provided by All Music Guide © 2008 All Media Guide, LLC.
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