Noah Kahan made his debut as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live on Dec. 3, 2023, and delivered two stunning performances of his songs “Dial Drunk” and “Stick Season” from his third album, Stick Season.
Noah Kahan and Post Malone Team Up for “Dial Drunk”
The first song that Kahan performed was “Dial Drunk,” a collaboration with Post Malone, who joined him on stage. The song, which was released in September 2023, is a catchy and emotional tune about drunkenly dialing an ex and regretting it the next day. Kahan and Post-Malone sang with passion and harmony as they exchanged verses and choruses. The audience cheered and clapped along as the duo showcased their chemistry and charisma.
“Dial Drunk” is one of the seven new tracks that Kahan added to the deluxe version of his album, Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever), which came out in June 2023. The song debuted at No. 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has since climbed to No. 25, making it Kahan’s highest-charting single to date.
Noah Kahan performs the title track of his album, “Stick Season.”
The second song that Kahan performed was “Stick Season,” the title track of his album, which was originally released in October 2022. The song, which is a folk-pop anthem about breaking up and moving on, went viral on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram and earned Kahan a loyal fan base. Kahan sang with emotion and conviction as he played his acoustic guitar and was accompanied by a band and a string section. The audience was captivated by his raw and honest lyrics as he sang, “I’m untethering from the parts of me you’d recognize, from charming to alarming in seconds.”
“Stick Season” is Kahan’s most successful song to date, as it has spent nearly 30 weeks on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, peaking at No. 4. The song also helped Kahan’s album reach No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, making it his first top-10 album.
Noah Kahan’s Rise to Fame and Future Plans
Noah Kahan is a 26-year-old singer-songwriter from Vermont who started his music career by posting songs on SoundCloud and YouTube. He signed with Republic Records in 2017 and released his debut album, Busyhead, in 2019, followed by his second album, I Was/I Am, in 2021. However, it was his third album, Stick Season, that catapulted him to fame and recognition, as he became one of the leading voices of the folk-pop revival in 2023.
Kahan has also collaborated with other artists, such as Hozier, Zach Bryan, Kacey Musgraves, and Gracie Abrams, and has received a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2023 Grammy Awards. He is currently on his Stick Season Tour, which will continue until April 2024 and will include sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden, Hollywood Bowl, and Fenway Park.
Kahan has expressed his gratitude and disbelief at his success, as he tweeted after his SNL performance: “Thank you so much, @nbcsnl, for having me. This was the most surreal and incredible experience of my life. I love you all so much. He also thanked his fans for their support, as he wrote: “You guys are the reason I get to do this. Thank you for listening to my music and coming to my shows. You make me feel like I belong.”
