American Football rocks Manila

American Football in Manila. Photo: Bong Sta. Maria

At some point during American Football’s Manila show at the Power Mac Center Spotlight in Makati, frontman Mike Kinsella expressed surprise about the show selling out as fast as it did.

It was the band’s first time to play in the Philippines, and they probably had very little idea that they would have a huge following on this side of the world.

To those unfamiliar with the US band, a brief introduction: formed by Kinsella, Steve Lamos (drums, trumpet), and Steve Holmes (guitars) in Urbana, Illinois, the post/math rock band released its first full length album in 1999.

They disbanded almost immediately after releasing it, and did not return until 17 years later.

LP1 steadily gained traction, especially during the rise of internet accessibility in the early 2000s. Somewhere between the almost two decades of absence, American Football was given a number of labels, including godfathers of modern/Midwestern emo, the generation that came after the hardcore punk era.

LP1 has slowly formed a cult status, continually gaining new fans. In 2014, the band announced a reunion in the form of LP2, and then another one three years later (LP3).

Two decades of American Football

An energetic performance by Typecast, who are also American Football fans, warmed up the fans with both old and new songs, as well as a Get Up Kids cover.

American Football kicked off with “Silhouettes,” the first track off LP3. “Tell me again, what's the allure of inconsequential love?” Kinsella sings—a slow burn, preparing the crowd for what’s to come.

Next was “Every Wave to Ever Rise,” which featured Dee Cruz, vocalist of Filipino math rock band Run Dorothy. Kinsella mentioned that Cruz reached out to him on Twitter, asking if she could sing, and she did so wonderfully.

Above: Dee Cruz of Run Dorothy performs with American Football, who staged a concert in Makati City last Friday. All photos: Marvin Chua/Bandwagon

She seamlessly provided vocals in all songs she took part in, but especially stood out during “Uncomfortably Numb,” the haunting and weary Hayley Williams-backed song from LP3. “I just want you home,” she sings with a subdued voice that Williams did on the original, before Kinsella croons: “I’ll make new friends in the ambulance” – perhaps be one of the record’s most unsettling lines.

This, and Rachel Goswell’s (Slowdive) vocals in “I Can’t Feel You” were some pretty big shoes to fill, and she delivered. 

Songs from all three LPs were played, such as crowd favorite “Honestly” and “I'll See You When We're Both Not So Emotional” off LP3, and “My Instincts are the Enemy” off LP2.

The current lineup includes bassist Nate Kinsella, who joined the band in 2016. Holmes was not present in the Asia tour.

“Heir Apparent” had the crowd participate in a little surprise for the band. Yellow paper crown hats were handed before the show, to pay homage to the song outro, which features (and usually performed with) a children’s choir.

Needless to say, the one and a half-hour show was energetic, nostalgic, and somewhat intimate. It looked like what any American Football fan will expect in a 2019 show—a congregation of 30 to 40 somethings as well as some much younger ones. Clearly, the power of LP1 remains very strong to this day.

Goodbyes

The crowd knew that the show would end with “Never Meant,” the song which most likely started it all for most American Football fans. It was the first track off LP1, a song that painted a landscape that’s equally light and profound, with its odd time signatures, complex drumming, and lyrics that—let’s face it—possibly drove many to shed a few tears.

Shortly before the lights were turned on, signaling the show’s end, someone from the audience yelled and requested another round: Never Meant, round two! A post-concert dad joke that may have fallen on deaf ears, but in the spirit of appreciating a band has inspired and influenced many, maybe one can agree with him. After all, most of us will most likely continue to have this song on repeat for years to come, maybe not bearing the same heaviness it did 20 years ago, but remains blissfully meaningful.

These days, when not touring, the band is busy doing non music-related work. For instance, in this interview by Bandwagon, Kinsella says that he spends most of his days being a father, and Lamos is an English professor in the US. Whether they’re releasing an LP4 in an immediate or distant future, it’s pretty clear that the fans will be patient—with fingers crossed that another concert would also be in order.

American Football Live in Manila was presented by Bandwagon in partnership with Independent Play. —JCB, GMA News