It may have only returned this month, but Saturday Night Live’s 46th season is already delivering some serious six-string standouts.
Two weeks ago, Jack White paid homage to Eddie Van Halen with a bout of Wolfgang-enabled two-hand tapping, and now Fender’s latest signature signing, Grammy-winning R&B star H.E.R., has given her new Chrome Glow Stratocaster a fittingly stellar TV debut.
The singer-songwriter took to the SNL stage to perform new track Hold On, a smooth ballad in the vein of Prince and D’Angelo that's loaded with irresistible gained-up lead lines.
At 2:54, H.E.R. ups the ante – and the octave – with some sensational bends that elevate the track to a whole new level, besides demonstrating the dynamic performance of her signature model’s Vintage Noiseless pickups through her Kemper rig.
The H.E.R. Stratocaster launched last month, and turned heads with its Chrome Glow finish and anodized aluminum pickguard.
“The coolest thing about it all is being the first black woman to have her own signature guitar with Fender,” H.E.R. told GW in an exclusive interview to celebrate the launch.
“I think it will inspire a lot of young black girls – and actually a lot of young girls in general – to pick up the guitar, which is something we don’t see enough of.”
H.E.R. and her band also used the set to support the current #EndSARS protests, which call for an end to police brutality from Nigeria’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
“I’m about 85 or 90 percent there. But it’s that 10 percent that sets me off. I can’t knock out those old solos as smooth as I used to”: Ace Frehley is practicing more than ever as he keeps his demons behind him and returns to arenas
“A lot of old-school guitar players can play amazing. But sometimes they’re not so innovative with the actual sound”: Steven Wilson on why guitarists need to switch up their tones to prevent their solos sounding stale
