It only seems appropriate that the first song on American Football’s reunion album is called “Where Are We Now?”. It’s been 17 years since the emo band from Illinois has created music together after calling it quits so very early on in their career (especially after finding such success). Their first self-titled album was released in 1999. The band broke up in 2000. In 2014 after a brief reunion tour (which quickly sold out Webster Hall in the East Village), a deluxe edition of their first album was released with a few other demos and live performances (19 tracks in total), and the band announced that they were actually going to stick together this time.

American Football is Mike and Nate Kinsella, Steve Lamos and Steve Holmes. And maybe a lot of years have gone by since the beginning, including various side projects that members of the band pursued (like Mike Kinsella fronting the indie group Owen). But sometimes returning to your roots is just the way to go. Clearly a lot has changed since the early 2000s. These guys are no longer the same band writing emo songs as heard in “The Summer Ends” when they sing “Well maybe I’ve been wrong. Maybe my intentions are irrelevant. But honestly it’s not just for me. We’ve both been so unhappy, so let’s just see what happens when the summer ends.” They’re older now, different. And yet, with this album, they’re somehow still the same. Songs on this album (especially their titles) like “I’ve Been So Lost for So Long” and “I Need a Drink (or Two or Three)” proves that.

So what’s the plan for American Football? Tour. Appreciating the loyalty of their fans all this time. And keeping alive that same smooth emo sound, just in a more mature way.

Terminal 5

January 28

8 p.m.

w/ Joan of Arc, Mothers

$30

axs.com