Berk Rosenwald
Jul 13, 2026
The evening unfolded like a retrospective, pairing every era of American Football's catalog with visuals and performances that deepened the emotional weight of each song.
On July 8th, 2026, American Football rolled into Boston for an emotional, sparsely arranged, and throwback-laden set that stirred emotions for their loyal cult following and for budding moshers alike—all eager to embrace the emo titans with open arms. Following opening support from Ian Sweet, the atmosphere within the hallowed walls of Royale Boston felt so intimate that nobody really wanted to leave.
The music of American Football can be spacey and cryptic, sometimes lacking the type of song structure that so many artists make their name by perfecting. But this is where they find their niche and their strength: the strained vocals of Kinsella coupled with the polyrhythmic drumming of Steve Lamos and finger-picking of Steve Holmes come together to create an atmosphere that oozes with emotional fervor and intricacy.
The set worked backwards in time. It began with the ethereal sounds of “Man Overboard” from their 2026 eponymously titled LP4. The band worked their way through all four of their full-length, self-titled albums and ended with the massive hit “Never Meant." It was at this time that a pit opened up in front of center stage. The somber mood of that track, juxtaposed with the energetic moshing from young and old fans alike, served as a testament to just how important American Football has been for Midwest emo music.
A standout element of the set were the deeply moving visuals, ceaselessly projecting onto a massive white sheet behind the stage. Reflecting the sentiments of each song in their performance, the projections oscillated between somber drops of rain, violent thunderstorms, psychedelic teal waves, roaring orange sunscapes, and rapidly blooming mushrooms. At times, lead singer Mike Kinsella would step back from the mic and linger right in front of the projections. During these moments, he became lost—totally immersed in his guitar.
Finally, the night ended with a surprisingly long (four-song!) encore, during which some fans felt comfortable enough to crowd surf all the way to the front of the stage. From that point, they were hoisted up onto stage in an act of camaraderie from a stirring sea of people below. Kinsella and company did nothing to stop this. Instead of taking notice or trying to curb the mood, they did what they do best—play masterfully to a room packed with some of their closest fans.