American Football

CRITIC'S PICK:
Thurs., July 16
American Football, Ian Sweet, Variety Playhouse - Even in the unpredictable world of pop, few bands have history as unusual as that of American Football. The Emo group released a 1999 debut which didn't click. They disbanded. But over the years, that disc acquired a cult following, which prompted a reformation and, after their early music was reissued to take advantage of the late popularity, a second album emerged in 2016. Three others have since arrived, all highlighting a floating, ethereal, art/prog sound. A new, fourth one (modestly titled LP4) arrived a few months ago prompting this No Feeling world tour. It continues the approach, boosting the instrumentation and production values that some have compared to Radiohead. Jillian Medford, whose band name is Ian Sweet, has released a handful of dreamy albums over the past decade, makes a logical opener. - Hal Horowitz