American Football

American Football was an indie rock band from Urbana, Illinois from 1997 to 2000. The band was formed by guitarist/bassist and singer Mike Kinsella (formerly of Cap'n Jazz an

American Football was an indie rock band from Urbana, Illinois from 1997 to 2000. The band was formed by guitarist/bassist and singer Mike Kinsella (formerly of Cap'n Jazz and Joan of Arc and currently of Owen) and drummer Steve Lamos (formerly of The One Up Downstairs and currently of The Geese and DMS), and also included guitar player Steve Holmes (also of The Geese).

Kinsella and Lamos began playing together with David Johnson (guitar) and Allen Johnson (bass) under the name The One Up Downstairs. Kinsella was exclusively a vocalist with this group. Three songs were recorded under this name, with the intention of releasing them as a 7" record on Polyvinyl Records. However, the band splintered before the record could be pressed, so the songs were shelved. David Johnson and Allen Johnson went on to form the band Very Secretary (and later Favorite Saints), while Kinsella and Lamos began working with Steve Holmes on a new project called American Football. The three tracks recorded by The One Up Downstairs would finally be released in 2006 as a digital download EP by Polyvinyl.