American Football at the 9:30 Club on July 11, 2026

Last Saturday night, oldheads and indie kids alike crowded into the 9:30 Club to see the epitome of the midwest emo genre: American Football. American Football has had a long history: originally formed in 1997, the band broke up in 2000 and wouldn’t reform for another 14 years. Since their 2014 reunion, they’ve released three more eponymous albums, and have continued capturing the melancholic feeling that launched them to stardom over a decade ago. 

Before American Football took the stage, audiences were treated to indie rock opener, Ian Sweet. Gearing up for the upcoming release of her fifth studio album, Shiverstruck, this Los Angeles musician played both existing hits and soon-to-be-released singles, with her shimmering vocals and confessional lyricism serving as the perfect emotional runway for the headliners.

Surrounded by a misty blue light, American Football began their set with “Man Overboard,” the first song off their newest eponymous album. This melancholic track set the tone for the rest of the performance. Between complex drum tracks and wistful guitar melodies, a sense of bittersweet solitude wove through the crowd. Reminiscent of a winding drive down a snowy twilight road, the song’s slow-building tension gave way to the kind of quiet catharsis the band has built its signature sound around.

From there, the setlist wove between old favorites and new cuts, the band’s signature vibraphone glinting beneath layers of interlocking guitar and drum work. Mike Kinsella’s voice, still strong throughout the years, held the room captive throughout the entirety of the show. The main set closed with their most popular song, “Never Meant,” before the band returned for an encore stacked with newer material from their LP4, easing audience members gently back into the outside night.