Before attaining global recognition as a defining pillar of the 'Midwest Emo' sub-genre, American Football was a humble University of Illinois-based indie rock band led by Mike Kinsella (founding Cap'n Jazz drummer-turned- vocalist-and-guitarist) along with Steve Holmes (guitar) and Steve Lamos (drums / trumpet). They were influenced at the time by artists including Steve Reich, Tortoise, and The Sea and Cake. Together, American Football would play no more than a dozen sparsely attended shows before going their separate ways. With college graduation and some variation of adulthood looming, the band's parting gift would be shared in the form of a self-titled album, released in September of 1999 via the locally founded Polyvinyl Record Co. American Football has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 from every ticket sold on our tour will go towards organizations protecting immigrant rights and supporting deportees, migrants and refugees. www.plus1.org
