Midwest Emo Legends: American Football Are a Must-See Live Band
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - August 12: American Football headlines Marathon Music Works. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
Midwest Emo legends American Football return to Nashville after nearly three years away in support of their new album, Lp4. The band is also celebrating a decade of Lp2, the album that helped reunited them.
The night began much like Lp4 with “Man Overboard,” a hypnotically mellow introduction with the band cast in ethereal projections. It is looming, with the slow build of its percussion and reverbed guitar adding and eerie haze over the stage. After a few minutes of buildup, frontman Mike Kinsella joins the fray, with his instantly recognizable voice layered in vocal effects. The band leans heavily on their math rock elements of their sound here, with unexpected breaks and starts are their piece evolves. Steve Lamos is one of the finest drummers you’ll see live, with his percussion repeatedly becoming a defining feature of songs throughout the night.
Sticking to their current footing, the band then shift into “Blood on My Blood,” another new song from Lp4. It is beautifully textured, with various elements across the band blending into one softened cacophony. Nate Kinsella lays down a sturdy bass here while adding beautiful backing vocals to his cousin’s delivery. Mike Garzon is also present, the band’s “all arounder” who handles additional guitars and vocals while also working as one of their technicians side stage. The three-part guitar is truly beautiful to hear live, with all three ebbing and flowing together effortlessly, feeling more like one singular entity rather than the work of three separate musicians.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - August 12: American Football headlines Marathon Music Works. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
Finally breaking from new material, American Football begin taking notes from Lp3 with “I Can’t Feel You” and “Uncomfortably Numb,” the latter of which saw indie rocker Soccer Mommy join the band on stage in Hayley Williams’ stead (Williams is featured on the original recording). “Uncomfortably Numb” is rather upbeat musically compared to the rest of the opening foray, earmarked by Steve Holmes’ twinkling guitar. Touring member Cory Bracken also shines here, with his vibraphone adding a delicate addition to the sonic palette. But without a doubt, the real star power here is the combination of Kinsella and Soccer Mommy on vocals, their soft melodies playing off of each other with ease, adding an intricate back and forth that keeps the audience fully engaged in the moment.
Setlist
Man Overboard
Blood on My Blood
I Can’t Feel You
Uncomfortably Numb (ft. Soccer Mommy)
Wake Her Up
Home Is Where the Haunt Is
My Instincts Are the Enemy
Honestly?
Stay Home
The One with the Wurlitzer
Never Meant
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The One with the Piano
Patron Saint of Pale
No Feeling
Bad Moons
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - August 12: American Football headlines Marathon Music Works. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
While American Football’s summer is winding down, the band still has plenty of dates left on the books, including a night at Colorado’s iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre supporting Jack Antonoff and Bleachers.
You can find all of American Football’s upcoming and future tour dates here.
Aug 13 – Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe at Old National Centre^
Aug 14 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed^~
Aug 15 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall Ballroom^
Aug 16 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue^
Sep 8 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall*
Sep 9 – Dallas, TX – Longhorn Ballroom*
Sep 10 – Austin, TX – Levitation Festival 2026*=
Sep 22 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
Sep 23 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre+
Sep 24 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
Sep 26 – Mexico City, MX – Pitchfork Music Festival CDMX 2026
Nov 28 – Santiago, CL – Fauna Primavera 2026
Dec 5 – Lima, PE – Veltrac Music Festival 2026
Dec 11 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live
Dec 12 – Tampa, FL – The Ritz Ybor
Dec 13 – Orlando, FL – The Plaza Live
Dec 15 – Jacksonville, FL – Five
Dec 16 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore
Dec 18 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall
Dec 19 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium
Dec 20 – Buffalo, NY – Asbury Hall
^ w/ Afternoon Bike Ride
~ w/ Rainer Maria
* w/ Nine Perfect Lives
= w/ Tanukichan
+ supporting Bleachers
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - August 12: American Football headlines Marathon Music Works. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
American Football is quintessential for any fan of Midwest Emo, post-rock, math rock, or any of their associated genres. Their 1999 debut defined much of the music that would follow the band and their subsequent releases would further solidify their place as legends. With the release of Lp4 and the anniversary of Lp2, this tour feels like a no-brainer.