American Football is an alternative rock band from Urbana, Illinois. Formed in 1997, the trio was composed of Mike Kinsella, Steve Holmes, and Steve Lamos. Their self-titled debut album was released while the group was still in college. However, the band remained together for merely three years after parting ways in 2000 due to a mutual agreement to focus on personal lives rather than music. What these college students could never have predicted was the precedent their debut album set for the Midwest emo genre. Over time, their self-titled album garnered a devoted cult following, inspiring numerous alternative rock bands to attempt to emulate its distinctive sound. After a hiatus spanning over a decade, the group reunited in 2014 and released their next self-titled album, LP2, in 2016 with the addition of Nate Kinsella. American Football would go on to release LP3 in 2019, and LP4 in May of this year. Despite being apart for nearly two decades and initially relying on the weight of their debut album to reintroduce themselves to the rock scene, American Football has continued to receive critical acclaim. Their reunion has been embraced by both long-time listeners as well as a new generation of Midwest emo fans. In addition, their influence on the alternative rock scene has led them to collaborations with indie giants such as Paramore’s Hayley Williams, Ethel Cain, Slowdive’s Rachel Goswell, and many others. With American Football’s first album being one of my all-time favorites, I knew I could not pass up the opportunity to see them perform live at The Observatory North Park. I was even more ecstatic to learn that I was being provided with the opportunity to see one of my favorite bands in collaboration with Live Nation and KCR College Radio. 

Opening for American Football was Mei Semones, a one-of-a-kind musician who combines jazz, rock, and Japanese pop into a unique indie sound. Similarly to American Football, Semones began releasing music while she was a college student, laying a foundation for a career that has rapidly garnered critical recognition. Since the release of her debut EP Tsukino in 2022, Semones has been dubbed “The Best of What’s Next” by the music publication Paste and has gone on to release three additional EPs and her debut album. Semones and her band delivered an exceptional performance during American Football’s stop in San Diego. I was impressed at their remarkable musicianship as they seamlessly transitioned between tempos and key signatures within the same song without compromising their cohesion. What was even more impressive was Semones’ ability to alternate between English and Japanese lyrics with ease while simultaneously navigating her intricate and fluid compositions. My personal favorites from her discography include Dumb Feeling, Tora Moyo, and Kurayami.  

Before American Football hit the stage, they promoted their partnership with The Ally 

Coalition to fundraise money for the LBGTQIA+ community. When fans scanned the QR code or texted the phone number projected onto the stage, they would be directed to enter a raffle with the chance to win a setlist signed by all members of American Football. I felt that it was highly honorable for American Football to give back to the community and encourage activism among their audience members. I have seldom seen artists promote a charity cause during their tours, so I felt it was pertinent to mention American Football’s advocacy within this review.  

One of my personal highlights from this concert was the visual production. The lighting and projections beautifully encapsulated the essence of American Football’s music: melancholic, nostalgic, and deeply introspective. During the song Home Is Where the Haunt Is, time-lapse footage of various flora blooming was paired with intense green lighting, creating an immersive atmosphere that complimented the emotional weight of the piece. Similarly, the performance of I Can’t Feel You conveyed the track’s emotional intensity into a compelling visual experience. Towering trees loomed over the performers while a sparse forest revolved in a dizzying circle beneath a pitch-black sky, reinforcing the song’s themes of unease. However, the visual that was met with the most acclaim from the audience came when the iconic American Football house was projected behind the band. Serving as the album cover for the band’s debut album, this building is a hallmark of the emo music fanbase. Its significance extends beyond album artwork, as the image is so iconic, individuals have travelled to Urbana, Illinois to take photographs with the house and pay homage to American Football.  

During their set, American Football blended classic hits and newer material from their discography. The band performed fan-favorites such as Honestly? and Stay Home, as well as newer releases including Uncomfortably Numb and My Instincts Are the Enemy. The band concluded their main set with their beloved hit Never Meant, which was met with an enthusiastic cheer from the crowd. As the band exited the stage, the audience abruptly erupted into echoes of “one more song!” in the hopes that American Football would return for an encore and close the night with a fan favorite. After a raucous declaration from the crowd for the band to play one more song, American Football returned to the stage to play an encore spanning four songs from LP4. These included The One with the Piano (a reference to “The One With The Wurlitzer” from LP1), Patron Saint of Pale, No Feeling, and concluding with the album’s biggest hit Bad Moons. The encore perfectly concluded the evening as it allowed American Football to commemorate the legacy of their debut album, while highlighting the evolution of their discography spanning three decades after their formation. From a small group of college students recording music in Illinois to musicians selling out venues around the world, American Football has established a long-lasting legacy that continues to foster innovations within emo rock genres.  

My experience watching American Football managed to surpass my expectations. As one of my favorite bands of the 1990s, I entered the venue anticipating an excellent performance. However, what I did not expect was American Football’s ability to make such a large venue feel incredibly intimate. Their understated stage presence and ability to emotionally connect with the audience allowed American Football to transform their concert into an unforgettable experience. I would like to thank Live Nation and KCR College Radio for granting me the opportunity to cover this show and fulfilling my aspiration to experience American Football live in concert!