AMERICAN FOOTBALL MESMERIZE THE ACE THEATER

I’m only hours fresh in L.A. after a 10 year absence and I am cruising in the back seat of a Civic with my friend, Dreamy, on our way to see American Football at the Ace Theater. This is because, as crazy random happenstance would have it, the guy that passed American Football and Cap’n Jazz my way in the early years of high school in Charlotte, North Carolina is now the revived band’s guitar tech (thanks for the photo pass, Mike!).

Ace Theater

The Ace Theater is gorgeous red everywhere supported by a super gothic architecture. The lights go dim and a very fawn-ish girl comes out alone on the gigantic stage with a guitar and hazy low light. She kills it and everyone goes quiet until the applause and the rest of the band walks on stage to join her. The band is Mothers and they treated the theater, all eagerly anticipating American Football, to an ephemeral and patient set. Similar vibes to the headliner in the sense that it felt blissed out, but the brevity of their performance suggested we were just scratching the surface of their sound. But their time allotment was through and they left the stage.

Mothers

Mothers

Mothers

Mothers

Mothers

Mothers

Mothers

The house is packed when American Football comes out. Immediately the lights go batshit and a formidable indie-band of my younger years bring the heat with the opening track off of American Football LP2, “Where Are We Now?” – gotta love when a band displays candor. Mike Kinsella & co sound so tight. I’m sure they are all in understandably different places than when they put out American Football in 1999, but I can honestly say I believe they have retained all the charm I attribute to their sound and have only gained maturity and technical prowess. Watching the candor and the killer musicians was a mesmerizing thing. Thanks again, Mike.