American Football Hits a High Note in Minneapolis
Midwest-emo legends American football closed out their tour Sunday night with a set that felt both expansive and deeply personal.
Afternoon Bike Ride
Opening the show was Montreal-based trio Afternoon Bike Ride. They kicked things off with a warm set that offered a gentle yet powerful introduction to the evening. Blending elements of indie pop, folk and electronic music, the band builds its songs from soft vocals, bright melodies and layered textures.
Midway through the performance, singer Lia Kurihara paused to explain the name of the band’s latest album, “Running With Scissors.” Kurihara shared that caring for her father, who lived with dementia before his death, often required making quick decisions that could feel reckless. Her story gave the album’s title new meaning and brought a moment of openness to a set already filled with tenderness.
American Football
American Football’s music has always found power in contrast: clean, intricate guitar lines give way to heavier passages, unexpected rhythms settle into memorable melodies,and moments of restraint make the louder sections land with greater force.
The atmosphere was strengthened by the visuals projected on the screen behind the band. At times, the images appeared to emulate, covering the stage in shifting lines and other hazy textures. Elsewhere, glowing green mushrooms emerged from the darkness, accompanied by other stark, high-contrast images.
The music itself moved patiently, with each song given time to develop. American Football’s arrangements are intricate, but the individual parts never seemed crowded. The guitars wound around one another in delicate patterns, sometimes moving together and sometimes branching into separate melodies. Steve Lamos, the drummer ( and trumpet player) of American Football, was my favorite part of the show. He held everything in place, guiding the songs through unexpected turns while completely locked into his groove.
Although the band is closely associated with nostalgia, the show did not feel trapped in the past. The musicians played like they were enjoying themselves – whether the songs they performed were off their latest release, “American Football (LP4)”, or classics that have stood the test of time.
Songs like “Honestly?” and “Uncomfortably Numb” filled the crowd’s need for nostalgia. You could really tell the band has played those songs a lot – given their confident performance which proved they’ve nothing but time to hone their older songs.
When the time came to play the track most people know them for, the GA pit began to get more restless than one would expect at a midwest emo show. From moshpits to crowdsurfing, Minneapolis really showed American Football some love.
Quite honestly, American Football was a band that I just didn’t expect to ever see live. I thought I missed the window. Oh how happy I am that this wasn’t the case.
