Beloved midwest emo band, American Football, heads out on tour this summer, arriving in NYC for a show at Brooklyn Paramount on July 9th with support from IAN SWEET.
American Football was formed in 1997 by bassist and vocalist Mike Kinsella (formerly of midwest emo progenitor Cap’n Jazz), guitarist Steve Holmes, and drummer and trumpet player Steve Lamos, when they were all students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The band released their first album, American Football, in 1998, which received critical acclaim and quickly gained a large cult following, despite the band’s breakup a year later. With its twinkly guitars, introspective and conversational lyrics, intricate drum parts, and math-rock phrasing, their seminal first album became widely known as one of the most popular and influential midwest emo records of all time.
The band came back onto the scene in 2014, with a deluxe re-release of their first album and sold-out shows in Champaign and New York, in which Nate Kinsella, the final permanent member of the group, joined on bass. Two years later, the band released their second self-titled album, American Football, whose album cover features the inside of the same house from their first album. This house, also known as The American Football House (which the band eventually purchased to prevent it from being demolished), became a landmark for emo fans who would travel to Urbana to take photos with it. Drummer Steve Lamos left the band in 2021, two years after the release of their third self-titled album, American Football, before the band came back in full force in 2024 with a series of anniversary concerts. The band released their fourth self-titled album, American Football, this past February in which they explore particularly dark sonic and lyrical themes, from Mike Kinsella’s extremely honest self-examinations to the mesmerizing layering of guitars across the album. Perhaps their most adventurous and cinematic release yet, the album received rave reviews from critics and fans alike, solidifying American Football as one of the leading artists in the emo genre.
Go see the iconic band perform hits from their latest American Football album along with many more from all their other American Footballs at Brooklyn Paramount on July 9th. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.
Location: Brooklyn Paramount
Address: 385 Flatbush Avenue Extension, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Show Time: 8 p.m.
Doors Open: 7 p.m.
Ticket Price: $41-$128
Ages: All Ages
Leave a Comment