American Football
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The 15-year history of Rig Rundown has established that guitar gear fascination (and obsession) runs deep in our community. It\\u2019s the life blood of our show. But if there was ever antithetical example to guitar gluttony and equipment idolatry, it would be American Football. Their original self-proclaimed \\u201cbedroom college project\\u201d focused on self-expression, musical creativity, and working with what you had, which wasn\\u2019t much.
For the recording of their pioneering American Football album released in 1999, they borrowed most of their gear, shared a single guitar cable and tuner, didn\\u2019t use bass, and formulated odd open tunings that allowed for sinuously melodic cinematic passages between Kinsella and Holmes. Their exploration of unique open tunings inspire a legion of players include 6-string virtuoso Yvette Young. (She now ships all her signature Ibanez guitars in a tricky open tuning\\u2014F\\u2013A\\u2013C\\u2013G\\u2013B\\u2013E\\u2014derived from American Football.) Their ingenious and scrappy methods went on to inform the brand of Midwest emo that simmered a devoted fanbase waiting for their return after disbanding in 2000. First returning to the stage in 2014 and delivering two more American Football albums in 2016 and 2019, the band continues using minimal gear for maximum art.
Ahead of American Football\\u2019s headlining show at Nashville\\u2019s Brooklyn Bowl, cofounding members Mike Kinsella (vocals/guitar) and Steve Holmes (guitar) invited PG\\u2019s Perry Bean onstage for a refreshingly practical gear chat. Kinsella recalls the band\\u2019s basic beginnings and explains how he starts every American Football demo. Then, Holmes shows off his \\u201cgorgeous and favorite\\u201d Tele. Plus, we encounter a Rig Rundown first where the tech has veto power over setlists.
Brought to you by D\'Addario Trigger Capo.
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