American Football Returns with Bad Moons
Emo icons American Football returned with "Bad Moons," a song that balances their signature melancholy with forward momentum. The track is being praised as a perfect comeback that maintains their emotional core while showing growth. This marks a significant return for the influential midwest emo pioneers.
"Bad Moons" is the lead single from the band's fourth album, titled `American Football (LP4)`, scheduled for release on May 1, 2026, via their longtime label, Polyvinyl. The nearly nine-minute track was produced by Sonny DiPerri and combines two older, separate demos—one described as playful and the other as brooding—into a single song. The band's journey has been marked by significant gaps between albums. After releasing their highly influential debut in 1999, the group disbanded in 2000 and only reunited 14 years later. Their second self-titled album followed in 2016, a full 17 years after their first. This upcoming album marks their first collection of new music since `American Football (LP3)` was released in March 2019. In the interim, the band released a single in late 2021 featuring the original track "Rare Symmetry" and a cover of Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You." The new music follows the 2023 return of original drummer Steve Lamos, who had departed the band in 2021. The classic lineup of Mike Kinsella, Steve Holmes, and Lamos, along with Nate Kinsella, celebrated the 25th anniversary of their debut album with a sold-out tour in 2024. In support of the new album, American Football has announced a multi-continent tour for 2026, with dates across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Due to high demand, a second show has already been added in London.
