Nathaniel Rateliff’s ‘SNL’ Berth is Well-Deserved
It’s really hard to know how to even quantify the opportunity of the late night TV berth these days, or what sort of impact it may have on an artist’s career. Getting to perform on national television is always a big deal, and a bucket list item for most any performer. But the days of performing on The Tonight Show making your career are sort of over.
With appointment TV just not being that much of a thing anymore, and the bifurcated nature of media in general, it’s just hard to draw a large audience, especial in light of many late night shows becoming just a slightly funnier extension of the news, and the COVID-19 pandemic putting a crimp in production quality.
But the one exception may still be Saturday Night Live. Since it only happens once a week and their season for new shows is limited, the rarity and honor of the opportunity is virtually unparalleled for television performances. It’s like a country artist getting the opportunity to play the Grand Ole Opry for the first time. There’s a weight behind it from the history of that stage.
Nathaniel Rateliff and his band The Night Sweats have never really fit well into the country music perspective on Americana as a more rock and soul-oriented artist. Not a knock whatsoever, just an observation on a performer you’re likely to see on the same festival lineups as many of your favorite independent country stars, but is not always considered directly adjacent to them like Jason Isbell, John Moreland, or Brandi Carlile often are, for example.
But make no mistake, Nathaniel Rateliff is a roots music hero, and a success story of independent music. In 2020, we finally saw independent country artists like Tyler Childers, Cody Jinks, and Whiskey Myers break through to earning Gold and Platinum certifications from the RIAA for sales. For Nathaniel Rateliff, he was already there. The self-titled Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats album from 2015 was Certified Gold in 2017, and the album’s big single “S.O.B.” was Certified Platinum in 2018.
Similar to The Avett Brothers (who also minted a Gold single with “I and Love and You” in 2014), Nathaniel Rateliff in a sort of under-the-radar fashion has become a massive roots music phenomenon and a perennial headliner that has helped put support behind elemental American music with a soul that’s been lost in most of today’s musical offerings.
All the more reason to celebrate that Nathaniel Rateliff has been tapped to perform on Saturday Night Live on February 13th. Sure, from the independent country and roots world, it feels like berths for Jason Isbell and Tyler Childers are probably past due. And who knows, they may be coming up in the offing. But Nathaniel Rateliff is still a worthy name from our side of the music world to root for, and this SNL honor is certainly worthy.
After releasing his first three albums as a solo artist, Nathaniel Rateliff formed the soul-oriented Night Sweats for his 2015 and 2018 records released via Stax. His February 2020 solo album And It’s Still Alright also released via Stax is more of an acoustic-oriented singer/songwriter effort, and may be the perfect entry point for listeners more shaded towards the country side of Americana. It was kind of a pandemic approach to an album before we knew the pandemic was upon us.
It’s cool to see Nathaniel Rateliff get the opportunity to take the SNL stage on February 13th. It’s a win for roots music, it’s a win for independent music, and it’s always fun when you get someone to root for when it comes to these opportunities.
Now SNL, please check out Tyler Childers and the tear he’s been on lately, and pull the trigger on him as well.
Bill from Wisconsin
January 26, 2021 @ 1:34 pm
Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats will be cool. I haven’t watched SNL for years other than catching vids of musical performances. I’m thinking Charlie Crockett would be a great guy to have on there also! He’s done the Opry already.
Mary
January 26, 2021 @ 9:40 pm
I second the CC recommendation
Di Harris
January 26, 2021 @ 1:57 pm
“But the one exception may still be Saturday Night Live. Since it only happens once a week and their season for new shows is limited, the rarity and honor of the opportunity is virtually unparalleled for television performances. It’s like a country artist getting the opportunity to play the Grand Ole Opry for the first time.”
What a pile.
hoptowntiger94
January 26, 2021 @ 3:43 pm
I don’t get him and I’ve had plenty of (over) exposure to him because he’s always at every Willie Nelson event. He’s a lot of clapping and noise. He always looks way too fucked up too.
Here’s to seeing Childers next on SNL.
Jake Cutter
January 26, 2021 @ 6:57 pm
Yeah same here, don’t get it. Seems pretty bombastic and overcooked to me. Personally don’t think this is a good representation of indie roots music, but enough people seem to like him, so what do I know.
Ryan
January 26, 2021 @ 5:04 pm
I really enjoy Nathaniel Rateliff. He’s a very talented artist and Im happy to see him get the success he is getting. Hey Mama is a great song and is even better to run to
Mac Sledge's Revenge
January 26, 2021 @ 6:25 pm
Regarding late night in general… David Letterman probably doesn’t get enough credit for providing the platform/stage that he did for Americana and roots music through the years. I don’t know what kind of direct input he made in those specific bookings (or if his booking manager folks just skewed toward that direction over time), but he was clearly a fan and champion of many artists who would never get invited onto a national program otherwise. There were so many great performances through the years.
Ian
January 26, 2021 @ 7:24 pm
I have been watching Waylon and Johnny Cash interviews from Letterman of late. He loved Tom Russell and booked him fairly regularly. Also Todd Snider (who was backed by the great Tommy Womack on bass, who I subsequently came to greatly admire). I would love to see Tyler Childers guest on his Netflix show (among many others).
Trigger
January 26, 2021 @ 7:48 pm
Wrote about Letterman’s support for country and roots artists a few times over the years. He really was the A1 guy for supporting cool acts, and many were booked on his behest.
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/david-letterman-reaching-out-to-support-roots-artists/
Mac Sledge's Revenge
January 27, 2021 @ 7:18 am
I was sure that you wrote about it at some point before I started showing up, but was too dumb/lazy to look it up. Great stuff — thanks!
p.s. Also just remembered that Jason Isbell and Elizabeth Cook recorded a two-song record specifically for Letterman (as a “thank you”) of Pancho & Lefty and Tecumseh Valley. The latter is especially great.
Jack W
January 27, 2021 @ 8:55 am
You probably know this, but Elizabeth Cook also learned how to do and performed the Velvet Underground song “Pale Blue Eyes” on her last performance on his show and at his request (she had done the VU song Sunday Morning on her Balls album).
I also love what Dave said after having Tony Joe White on right after his performance of Polk Salad Annie:
If I was this guy, you could all kiss my ass.
Bill from Wisconsin
January 26, 2021 @ 8:14 pm
Just had to watch again when he had Tony Joe White on with the Foo Fighters. When they finished Poke Salad Annie, he points to Tony Joe and says to the audience, “if I was this guy, you could all kiss my ass!”
mouths of babes
January 26, 2021 @ 8:15 pm
Letterman tapped Warren Zevon as his back up band leader multiple times when Paul Shaffer couldn’t do the show. Nothing more needs to be said about his bonafides.
Stringbuzz
January 26, 2021 @ 8:17 pm
I’ve seen him and he was real good..Cool big band. I don’t listen to him though. I’ve listened to his albums, but only once or twice. If he was playing and it was a cheaper ticket, I’d prolly go.
Jim mint Crickets
January 26, 2021 @ 8:32 pm
This brought to you by the Ford Motor Company.
Chris
January 27, 2021 @ 5:11 am
I’m happy for Nathaniel, but SNL hasn’t been funny in decades.
Being a SNL alumni years ago usually translated into being a comedic force of nature.
These days, however, these people are usually just washed up comics who were never funny to begin with.
Can’t say I’ll be watching.
Thanks for the info on Letterman-I didn’t know he promoted country musicians.
DJ
January 27, 2021 @ 6:33 am
Never heard of him- so, I went to you tube and listened to SOB- pretty rousing, kinda like black gospel- one of the commenters said it sounded like southern gospel and country combined- I like it, but, I still won’t watch SNL-
Derby
January 28, 2021 @ 11:43 am
SNL is garbage. But still happy for Nathaniel Rateliff and band. They are excellent and the more people that know their music the better. Tearing at the Seams remains one of the finest albums of the last 5 years.