Prelude Press
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Midwest-rock icons American Football have put fans out of their misery, releasing their brand-new eight-minute single and accompanying music video titled “Bad Moons,” via Polyvinyl Record Co. The track serves as the lead single off their highly anticipated fourth studio album American Football (LP4), out May 1 via Polyvinyl Record Co.
Produced by Sonny DiPerri, and originally written as two separate tracks, the fully realized, eight-minute version allows for the full range of overwhelming, emotional intensity. Built atop a repeating sample of a gentle harp strum, the song begins with the band’s signature intricate, interwoven guitar melodies, layered with dynamic rhythms, atmospheric effects, and soft confessional vocals from band frontman Mike Kinsella. The track’s second half builds into a frenetic and driving jam that brings the experience full circle, before its sobering coda.
Mike Kinsella shares, “‘Bad Moons’ is actually a Frankenstein of two different demos we’d been passing around for quite a while: one playful, with children playing and toy-pianos plinking; one brooding, with guitars screeching and drums bombasting. I had already been singing the “(…) in the dark” mantra over the latter, so the biggest challenge for me was thematically bridging the innocence and buoyancy of the first act with the deep despair of the second. I decided to begin the song as a child. Or, rather…two. Stacked up in a single trench coat; secretly, reluctantly living the life of a grown man, accruing all of his missteps and guilt along the way. By the end, these missteps are almost spilling out of the boys. A cathartic confession, hopefully at least somewhat relatable to anyone listening who’s ever lived a life.”
The video, directed by Alex Acy & Rémi Belleville, encapsulates these sentiments – a slow-motion montage analyzing the complexities of boyhood to manhood and how turbulent and fragile that transition can be. “Bad Moons” brilliantly embodies the strife, woes, and cold-hard truths of growing up.
Video director Alex Acy says “I think part of growing up is realizing you can only become more empathetic with others once you become empathetic with yourself. I think boys often have a harder time grasping this, which leads to a lot of dumb & regrettable actions. Rémi & I grew up together and felt like we could connect around this concept from a shared & honest point of view. Quebec, where we grew up & the Midwest feel very similar in a lot of ways. It only felt right to anchor the video in rural Canada.”
“Bad Moons” serves as an embodiment of what’s to come with the band’s upcoming new album, colloquially titled LP4. Announced via the band’s social media this past week, the project sees the band face some of life’s harshest realities head-on, reflecting on the disorientation, compromise, grief, and hard-won perspective of middle age. Overhauling their writing and recording processes, the band has effectively created their most sonically ambitious album to date, layered, dissonant, occasionally confrontational, and always deeply felt.
American Football is set to bring LP4 to their fans across their 2026 world tour. Kicking off this May, the band will return to the road for an expansive four-month run, with dates across the United States, Europe, UK, Asia, and Canada, and more to be announced. The tour marks American Football’s first full run of shows since their sold out 2024 LP1 25th Anniversary Tour, with newly announced performances at upgraded venues in Philadelphia and Toronto, and a second date in London, to meet the massive demand from American Football fans.
In response to the deadly violence and intimidation around the country provoked by ICE, American Football will be partnering with PLUS1 to donate $£1/€1 from every ticket sold across the tour to Safe Passage International & The Illinois Coalition for Immigration & Refugee Rights; two essential organizations defending immigrant rights and supporting deportees, migrants and refugees.
The full list of tour dates can be found below.
2026 Tour Dates
05/15 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall *
05/17 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Block Party
05/18 – Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Hall *
05/19 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theater *
05/20 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom *
05/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom *
05/23 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern *
05/24 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park * (Sold-Out)
06/19 – Milan, Italy @ Alcatraz !
06/20 – Stuttgart, Germany @ Im Wizeman !
06/21 – Cologne, Germany @ Die Kantine !
06/23 – Brussels, Belgium @ La Madeleine !
06/24 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso !
06/26 – Leeds, UK @ O2 Academy !
06/27 – London, UK @ O2 Kentish Forum !
06/28 – London, UK @ O2 Kentish Forum ! (Second Date Just Added)
07/08 – Boston, MA @ Royale #
07/09 – New York, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount #
07/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall # (New Venue)
07/11 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club #
07/14 – Richmond, VA @ The National #
07/15 – Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel # (Sold-Out)
07/16 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse #
07/26 – Niigata, JP @ Fuji Rock Festival
08/07 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues ^
08/08 – Toronto, ON @ History ^ (New Venue)
08/09 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Roxian Theatre ^
08/10 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall ^
08/12 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works ^
08/13 – Indianapolis, IN @ Deluxe at Old National Centre ^
08/14 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed ^
08/15 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom ^
08/16 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue ^
* Mei Semones: 5/15 – 5/24
! Marconi Union: 6/19 – 6/27
# IAN SWEET: 7/8 – 7/16
^ Afternoon Bike Ride: 8/7 – 8/16