Jul 23

Jul 23 American Football + Ian Sweet at The Orange Peel

An iconic night took place in Asheville on July 15 at The Orange Peel as American Football played a sold-out show.

Ian Sweet, an indie dream pop band from Los Angeles, composed of Jilian Medford (vocals), Kaycie Satterfield (guitar), Bernie (keys), and Ross Chait (drums), started the night off. Medford brought an upbeat yet grunge sound to the stage, like a mix of Wednesday and Beach Bunny. Her stage presence was strong, and she was a natural at connecting with the crowd and adding new fans. Highlights from the set included her most recent single, “Silver Screen,” about the spotlight and how it changes those in it, and “Criminal Kissing,” which will be on the band’s upcoming album Shiverstruck, slated for a July 24 release.

Their beautifully executed set got the crowd amped and ready for the night's headliner. Formed in 1997, Midwest emo band American Football brought the genre into a new light. Mike Kinsella (vocals), Steve Holmes (guitar), Steve Lamos (drums/trumpet), and Nate Kinsella (bass/vibraphone) created a sound so iconic they are still selling out venues almost 30 years later.

The crowd was buzzing with excitement as the lights dimmed and the band took its place on stage. The set kicked off with “Man Overboard,” the first track on the group’s newest album, American Football (LP4). The song's intro vocals created a sort of suspense as band members filtered in on stage, cheers erupting as Mike Kinsella made his way to his spot front and center, and the room filled with beautiful instrumentals and iconic guitar riffs.

As the set progressed, Kinsella took a moment to address the crowd and express gratitude for the band's longevity. He even joked that some of their songs have been thought to be an homage to how they've aged through music, and that it's time to finally embrace such aging.

An intimate moment came towards the end of the night when the lights dimmed and a spotlight was put on Kinsella as he played the intro to “Stay Home.” The energy in the venue shifted as attendees were enticed with the familiar guitar instrumental from American Football’s debut album. As the rest of the band joined in, the spotlight grew until the stage was fully illuminated and the house lights were brought up, making the crowd visible.

Kinsella announced that their set was ending — but not to worry as they would be back on stage for a handful of encore songs. As the speech progressed, the crowd began to whisper as the band’s best-known song, “Never Meant,” hadn't been played yet. Kinsella ended his speech with one last thanks: to the crowd, his band, and to music and its impact on his life and the rest of the world. And with that, the iconic intro to “Never Meant” filled the venue and cheers erupted from all corners of the room.

The band closed the night with a long encore of four songs from American Football (LP4), concluding with “Bad Moons” — a beautiful choice as the song’s length gave the audience time to settle with the fact that, after the stage lights dimmed and the house lights came up, it would be time to step back into the real world.

Indeed, what American Football brought to Asheville was nothing short of pure love and beautiful, life-altering music, showing that Midwest emo is more than just a genre — it's a way of life.

(Photos by Olivia Thomas)