Rig Rundown: American Football's Mike Kinsella & Steve Holmes

Full Rig Details: bit.ly/AmericanFootballRR
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Inventive open tunings, offset time signatures, jangly Teles, and dream-machine pedals help illuminate the cinematic melodies and moods for the archetype of Midwest emo.
The 15-year history of Rig Rundown has established that guitar gear fascination (and obsession) runs deep in our community. It’s 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 “bedroom college project” focused on self-expression, musical creativity, and working with what you had, which wasn’t 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’t 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-F-A-C-G-B-E-derived 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’s headlining show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl, cofounding members Mike Kinsella (vocals/guitar) and Steve Holmes (guitar) invited PG’s Perry Bean onstage for a refreshingly practical gear chat. Kinsella recalls the band’s basic beginnings and explains how he starts every American Football demo. Then, Holmes shows off his “gorgeous and favorite” Tele. Plus, we encounter a Rig Rundown first where the tech has veto power over setlists.
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[Brought to you by D’Addario Trigger Capo: www.daddario.com/TriggerCaposRR]
00:00 - D'Addario Trigger Capos
00:15 - American Football Soundcheck Intro
00:55 - Perry Bean & Mike Kinsella Intro
01:44 - American Football's Beginnings
02:41 - Exploring Open Tunings
05:08 - Mike Kinsella on Playing Telecasters
06:57 - Fender Player Plus Telecaster from Joe Trohman
08:36 - Mike Kinsella's Fender Vintera 70s Tele Custom
09:20 - Mike Kinsella's Fender Tele-Sonic
11:30 - Mike Kinsella's Fender Deluxe Reverbs
12:32 - Mike Kinsella's Pedalboard
17:41 - Tunings with Tech Mike Garzon
19:01 - Steve Holmes' 2014 Fender American Elite Tele
19:41 - Steve Holmes' Jazzmaster & Jaguar
20:44 - Steve Holmes' Twin Reverbs
21:17 - Steve Holmes' Pedalboard
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2023
#guitar #guitarist #rigrundown #emo #midwestemo #americanfootball #guitarplayer

[@premierguitar]

Shop American Football's Gear: Fender Player Plus Telecaster - sweetwater.sjv.io/LXoZLM DiMarzio Chopper T Bridge - sweetwater.sjv.io/xkXNGk Fender American Professional Jazzmaster - sweetwater.sjv.io/nLj2Qx Fender Vintera '70s Telecaster Custom - sweetwater.sjv.io/y2Em1D Fender Deluxe Reverb - sweetwater.sjv.io/rQLg5B Fender Twin Reverb - sweetwater.sjv.io/1roWAg Keeley Caverns - sweetwater.sjv.io/B0e2L9 EarthQuaker Devices Avalanche Run - sweetwater.sjv.io/R5Y6V7 EHX Holy Grail Nano - sweetwater.sjv.io/q4k2Mn EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker - sweetwater.sjv.io/Qyz6DY EarthQuaker Devices Dispatch Master - sweetwater.sjv.io/PyVNgM Walrus Audio Emissary - sweetwater.sjv.io/k0Qo6M

[@lightandtheweight]

Thank you for outlining the gear used and with links!!!

[@adrienneraeash3440]

The capo product placement at the beginning definitely knew its audience

[@racheljanereads4239]

Definitely grabbed a screenshot of all those tunings

[@BromeliadBro]

Now you can be the 4,000th person to rip them off

[@mohitrahaman]

These were already on reddit or twitter

[@judemisura4323]

​I guess anyone that uses DADGAD ripped off Jimmy Page too?

[@vexedpixels]

@@judemisura4323and therefore whoever Jimmy Page inevitably ripped off

[@nausicaa8179]

@@BromeliadBroBECAUSE ONLY ONE PERSON CAN TUNE THEIR GUITAR. Shut up dude

[@jtweito]

Such an incredible band. Caught them on their last tour. The guitar tech is 100% a champ....tunes guitars, plays percussion, sings, plays keyboard then goes back to tune

[@wcheng4927]

This!

[@mohitrahaman]

Yeah I noticed that guy in other live videos, doing shakers and percussion. Cool dude

[@The_Dylan_Snow]

I hope the guys in AF know the impact they've had on so many people, inspiring them to play, helping get through tough times, all of that. Been waiting for this Rig Rundown once I saw the teaser story, great as always!

[@capt_howdy]

_You either die an indie hero, or live long enough to see yourself wearing mandals in your 40s._

[@AlbinoTuxedo]

Mike Kinsella and AF are literally the reason i own a Telecaster. I might dip my toes into other guitars eventually, but Teles feel like home to me. Forever chasing the tone from AF EP1...

[@samseitz9937]

I love how the interviewer is trying to have a super gear heavy conversation with Mike and he’s just pretending to know what he’s saying

[@paulbradshawguitar]

thank you so much for shining a spotlight on these bands, part of my youth right there in the whole emo/hc/post hardcore bands, kudos and keep doing these =)

[@premierguitar]

Thanks for watching!

[@shadowridrs]

Saw them with dinosaur Jr and it was insane. So glad you guys are covering them. Such a great band and the tech is wildly good between actually performing and still being their tech during the show.

[@LieutenantTickles]

What a wild combo to be on a bill

[@DonVitosGhost]

My girlfriend and I watched them perform at the Brooklyn bowl that night :) what a great show, got to meet them afterwards. Friendly guys!

[@midnite_in_november]

It amazes me how one of my guitar idols is so gear ignorant and just creates some of the most beautiful music

[@DanAddison]

All of my most super talented muso friends over the last couple decades have been exactly like this, just investing almost zero effort into gear, not knowing or caring much about specs and ‘toan’. I used to be like that too, and quite prolifically productive, then as my creativity and inspiration dried up as I aged, I became like everyone else: confusing shopping with creativity. Thinking I’m working on music when all I’m doing is geeking out about gear and buying stuff that doesn’t support new original music, just supports guitar retailers. I know a million times more about guitars and equipment now, and it’s basically pointless. Worse than pointless because it’s counterproductive. Knob twiddling instead of songwriting.

[@midnite_in_november]

@@DanAddison yea I collect rare pedals and love offset guitars so those are a huge hobby of mine but I envy the players who just create.. like I have multiple pedals I paid $1,000+ for and I enjoy them but I would rather just be able to be super creative instead

[@cdwizzerd]

feel like gear knowledge is more important for recording engineers than musicians 🤔

[@midnite_in_november]

@@cdwizzerd as in know what pickups are each kind and different style of guitars and pedals? I think it benefits a player just as much but that’s not saying it’s needed as we can see here

[@theozin.labrador]

a great interviewee would be ryland from origami angel! his setup is super creative and he sounds absolutely amazing live (from what i've seen in videos lol)

[@TheMomentsLeadingToNow]

Been waiting for this rig rundown for ages

[@natedogsturdikat8538]

Been waiting years for this

[@premierguitar]

🖤

[@ZakkiLowe]

Been waiting for this one. 🎉

[@geusefrava960]

he looks like the singer from owen

[@michaelgiuffre7837]

he is the singer from owen! ha

[@seeaaaannnnnnnn]

the drummer from Cap'n Jazz?

[@geusefrava960]

@@seeaaaannnnnnnn He looks like that dude too, they could almost be triplets

[@bluenitriletouch2842]

I already know this is gonna be an amazing rig rundown

[@brad_genx_sk8er]

"Ya i dunno what this thing is, I guess it's like a guitar or somethin."

[@ileutur6863]

And yet they defined an entire genre.

[@brad_genx_sk8er]

@@ileutur6863 "yeah it's like a genre of like.. music or something? I dunno"

[@robertkeene7909]

Thank you Premier Guitar, for doing this Rig Rundown 🎉❤

[@premierguitar]

Our pleasure!

[@356Jordan]

Saw them live. Tech guy Mike is the hardest working man.

[@LieutenantTickles]

It's endearing how little he knows about his gear but how well he uses it.

[@midnite_in_november]

Yes!

[@outtasightouttamind6263]

Y'all should do one with Ruban from UMO. dude has some wild sounds on the current tour

[@premierguitar]

It’s happening!

[@yoznfroogurt]

I think of Victor from Cap'n Jazz and Owls as so impactful and is a huge reason of the birth of this style. Maybe even Kevin Shields with these alternate tunings, etc.

[@ScamLikely9327]

Chicago Music Exchange is properly the best music store I’ve ever been to. I bought the Peach Strat from them. And they take trades so I got like 150 bones off that joint.

[@xTidus24xx]

LETTTSSS GOOOOOOOOO

[@cdwizzerd]

I met Mike in London years ago, such a cool guy

[@keithbrand6815]

So I wonder if Owen's -The Avalanche is subconsciously inspired from staring at his Earthquaker Avalanche pedal during those AF tours

[@jipes]

So sad that these videos don't illustrate with SOUND specially with all these great alternate tunings

[@fuji3018]

Fuckin legendary

[@ohnesorgen4642]

wondering now if the name of Mike's solo album The Avalanche was inspired by his avalanche pedal

[@__AFA]

Waited for this a video of the guys for so long! may AE continue its reign.

[@aubreyxengland]

when the Rig Rundown is at 8am and you have a beach party is at noon lol

[@dandunlap4941]

that capo ad jump scared me

[@Candyman_Young]

Love the channel/interview, but gotta work on the microphone inconsistency !

[@TheSonsofHorusx]

That tech earns every bit of his chedder

[@devinfrench4924]

I love steve holmes

[@dakota5799]

Can somebody please remind me what that song they’re playing during their soundcheck is. Soooooooo good.

[@dakota5799]

Just remembered it’s the ending of Every Wave To Ever Rise.

[@Stratking01]

It’s “Keeley” my boy.. not “Dunleavey” 😂

[@takeshelter5313]

Cool

[@chasefranson8481]

Great video! Minus the LLBean Jesus sandals and the manpris jeans

[@chaz32]

Great to see that classic player jazzmaster, my 08 always lended itself well to this style.

[@Joobie]

I'm glad they bought the house.

[@ModernMachinesMusic]

Top 10 worst audio. If the mics weren’t working literally iPhone audio would’ve sounded better. Cmon guys!

[@elihyland4781]

I really need to meditate on how much of an impact these guys had on my life. Yowza

[@juniperlights]

I like that they use the same barber.

[@v33punk]

Six minutes in and damn bro. Let him talk! I want to hear what HE thinks about his Fender guitar, not you.

[@juniperlights]

Sounds like whoever mic’ed that fender mic’ed Mike too. 😝

[@benallmark9671]

I’d love to know if that Tele custom deluxe is a Vintera or Vintage II model , anybody know ?

[@premierguitar]

Vintera I

[@benallmark9671]

@@premierguitar thanks

[@bjpearce3415]

And it starts with a capo add...attacked...😊

[@AlbusBand]

Perry Bean is a hunk

[@perrybean9153]

Aww shucks! ❤❤❤

[@AlbusBand]

@@perrybean9153 love you brother; see you in January for our annual Anaheim hang?

[@perrybean9153]

You know it!!!!!

[@AlbusBand]

@@perrybean9153 😘

[@oscarsanchez5292]

Fastest click ever

[@premierguitar]

😺

[@The.One.True.B]

what in the hell is happening on your head? bro got the anime baby cut

[@its_just_berk]

Dunleavy 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@NateTheMeh]

I heard Dunleavy makes a GREAT compressor

[@bvaladez74]

Dunleavy 4 knob is legendary. @@NateTheMeh

[@neliojunior4357]

Was this a beach emo festival?

[@benallmark9671]

What does he have on his feet ?

[@versnellingspookie]

Sandals, duh...

[@jeffgengler6964]

Toes

[@hildaarlistiyani7834]

Elder emo

[@matthewstory2316]

Hate to say it nothing wrong with it imo , i do it to ( dope) he keeps running index finger down nose , as well as pinching the end of nose and the index finger wiping the eye,

[@johnqpublic2718]

victor villareal was a legend

[@xweezitupx]

American Eightball 🤧

[@chrixtopherjane]

Doesn't know what Hot Rails are. Definitely familiar with the other rails though.

[@kimseniorb]

same hairstyles lol

[@GTRalso]

Never heard of ‘em.

[@almightyEsquilax]

Now you have

[@TylerWilhelm-tj8tw]

what on perry’s head

[@ryanwhite1683]

The audio is TERRIBLE

[@premierguitar]

We had major wireless issues compounded by an extremely short window of time to film so we tried our best to troubleshoot our equipment and scan for fresh/clear frequencies, but in true show biz fashion, the show must go on and we did what we could to make the episode happen. Thanks for understanding and checking out our content/channel -Team PG.

[@benallmark9671]

Brutal

[@jtweito]

​@@premierguitarthat sucks. But dang I'm stoked you guys got this. This rules. 🎉

[@KalosPVP]

The SM57 draped over that fender amp is weird as hell. I wonder how that sounds because it shouldn't work well at all.

[@cheeseburger1752]

Perry is a cool guy but why is lil bro wearing capris? 💀

[@taylorlenahan5881]

Such a great band, but there's just something about grown men in LL Bean Jesus sandles that keeps me awake at night.

[@NoUploadJustComment]

Someone wanna make an edit without Perry?

[@theozin.labrador]

it seemed like the host felt unconfortable saying the word "Emo". Like, within the first 2 min he says midwestern .... "rock band" and that they've inspired a 3rd wave of ........ "bands that think they're gods" I mean, you can say emo dude, it's not 2006 anymore lol also, he says some things that are just wrong as well - the 3rd wave thing, which would be 4th wave, AF inspired the 4th wave of emo bands. Also calling LP1, their most famous record, EP1 was pretty wack

[@perrybean9153]

Comments like this one are exactly why I was reticent to say emo, my guy. 😂 I get enough guff as it is. If we got 10 different fans in a room, emo would mean something different to everyone. As far as most impactful AFB record, also relative, mostly depending on how old you are, and where you were in life when you first heard the record. Thanks for watching and cheers! Hope you get to catch them on this tour!

[@jeffgengler6964]

This comment is satire…right?

[@versnellingspookie]

You seem like a true emo... whiny as hell

[@martygraw1406]

I’m sorry but he says the word “like“ so many times that I had to stop.

[@DonVitosGhost]

It’s a rig rundown not a presidential inauguration.

[@davidl.7027]

Easily bothered eh? Not a great quality to have

[@vinivola]

In my opinion, this interview is the best example of why most of the time when you do see a guitar Tech? Speaking on behalf of the guitarist he is employed by. It is indeed a good thing. Because the alternative to the previous situation I described is what you are witnessing. Currently, and that is a guitar player who has no idea about the gear. He is employing and in my opinion, that is so annoying.

[@the_us_state_of_arizona]

that makes no sense

[@OhanaFilms]

He knows how to play the guitar, who cares if he doesn’t know what hot rails are.

[@davidl.7027]

There's still plenty of more useful information to get from the players themselves. The ability to play beats gear. Gear is secondary always to the ability to play and be creative with what you have which this video is an example of more than that the silly rant you just went on

[@eddykidd]

Who??

[@binxboi7156]

1:02

[@ileutur6863]

Who are you eddy?

[@DonVitosGhost]

American Football. Some of the greatest pioneers of Midwest Emo :) hailing from Urbana, Illinois.

[@nobodiesband]

Damn I feel sorry for you, your other recent comments on this channel look equally negative too. But I can't even imagine not having had their music around when going through complex emotions, changes, phases.. such profound feelings attached to it for me.. so emotive, such authentic playing, melodic goldmine, just something so universal about the sound.. that's who

[@davidl.7027]

If you don't know who American Football is I suspect you ask the "who?" question for a lot of these rig rundowns that don't feature mainstream bands