Brace for impact. A one-stop shop for Sturgill Simpson videos

By Karen Bernick, January 17, 2017

Grammy nominee Sturgill Simpson is enjoying publicity gold surrounding his big Saturday Night Live performance January 14, 2017. He’s riding the wave with music giants like NPR, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Billboard, Country FanCast, The Boot and a host of other outlets. Even Hollywood Life spit out a story just before SNL with stuff you need to know about Sturgill.

As blogger The Rambler Zine observed, Sturgill Simpson “unleashed a fury of a performance” on SNL. He presented songs Keep it Between the Lines and Call to Arms from his most recent album, A Sailor’s Guide to Earth.  His outlaw voice and intensity are trademarks. The New Orleans horn section in his rocking band adds something exciting and special to the alt country songs. His keyboard player is a performance artiste. Sturgill’s own fancy footwork surprised me; he can bust a move. And that culminating guitar thunk will make future mic drops seem weak and insignificant.

After Saturday, I concluded Mr. Simpson’s quote to Nashville Scene last spring, “In 10 years I’ll be the biggest country star on this planet, I guaran-blankin’-tee it.” wasn’t as outlandish as it seemed when I first read it. 

I urged my music-loving pal Cathy to check out the SNL performances. She was impressed and wanted to know more. So here’s a round-up of favorite videos for her and others craving Simpson material. If you haven’t seen the SNL stuff, check that out here and here. Then take a gander at this relatively small sample. (There are hundreds more videos online, let me know if I missed a favorite.) These are listed in order of most recent first. I claim no rights to content and, beware, some of it is explicit.

Oh Sarah on “Charlie Rose” October 13, 2016. Published by Charlie Rose October 14, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CByeY0yeQeU

Up Close & Personal With John Prine and Sturgill Simpson/ Grammy Pro. Great interview about songwriting with Paul Zollo Published by Grammy Pro August 1, 2016. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2w7drfMaHk

Sturgill Simpson Returns in Waffle House (spoof) on Late Night With Stephen Colbert Published by Late Night With Stephen Colbert on July 1, 2016. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9WBVULoic0

Brace for Impact (Live a Little) The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Published by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on April 19, 2016 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz7cBnlhhG4

Turtles All The Way Down published by Grand Ole Opry, April 29, 2015.  Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqDKWe7WrEQ

NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert Published by NPR Music, Sept 2, 2014. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5cMqD0WqYE

Long White Line performed at Music City Roots. Published by Music City Roots Oct. 31, 2013.  Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5PpIH4HZ_k

Could You Love Me One More Time (Live on KEXP @Pickathon) Recorded Aug 3, 2013 and published by KEXP Sept 11, 2013. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aYB2VFDK40

You Can Have the Crown/Some Days – Live at Sun King Brewery. Published by MOKB Presents April 27, 2013. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNV16tz1NK0 (The Rambler Zine, thanks for the point to this one!)

Sometimes Wine (Sturgill Simpson and Sunday Valley). Published by LiveAndBreathing September 27, 2012.  Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T610KFOSNHw

I repeat, I claim no rights to any of the content in the videos. And I snapped the photo at the top of the post while watching SNL from my recliner.

Learn more about music fan Karen Bernick here.  Please feel free to share this article or others. But please use photos with permission only – just email me with any requests. If you like this post, please consider following me here, liking my Facebook page Karen Loves Country or following me at Twitter. Thanks for reading! #SturgillSimpson #CountryMusic