American Football @ The Franklin

American Football brought their unique Midwest Emo sound to the exact place it fit, the Franklin in Philadelphia

This venue itself looks like it’s practically ripped out of a math rock album cover, rooted in a building that once was an old General Electric Switchgear Electric Plant; the industrial architecture and mesmerizing design echoes throughout the hall.

This welcoming event gave a sense of overwhelming hospitality; not just to the crowds who came but to the musicians who performed, as well. Ian Sweet, the opening band, was a relatively smaller group who were given the amazing opportunity to perform in front of such a lovely, appreciative crowd. Which already showcased that the crowd was the experimental welcoming type. The audience that crowded into this venue had a noticeable perceptiveness, which could be felt no matter where you stood amidst them. They were actually listening, not just joining mosh pits or using their energy physically, but mentally, and truly listening to it. They paid attention to every lyric sung and every note played, thoroughly and completely enjoying it.

This group was undoubtedly filled with dedicated fans, who came out with a true and genuine love for this music.

The band themselves had decorative lights meticulously coordinated to every moment in their show; making the experience feel like a methodical collaboration between the performers and the technicians. Especially since their songs were lengthy, but never seemed to drag on; the crowds yearning for their experience to never end. The event’s pacing was planned thoughtfully and beautifully, with a natural progression that maintained anticipation and buzzing excitement.

The ultimate standout moment that proves how much this group cared was one stand-out moment had the lights dim to a point where the only thing you could see was a single fan filming on his phone, intensely invested in the music. But even he only had his phone out for a moment, joining the rest of the crowd in experiencing the fullness of the concert with their own eyes and ears. In a modern media-driven culture where every moment gets recorded, the fact that this group of people had their ears turned toward the music and not their cameras was a beautiful sight to see. Truly a highlight moment from this intensely special night.

Photos by Tristan Reiser