American Football releases their beautiful Boys Don’t Cry cover
The emotional resonance of music often spans decades, but sometimes a modern take can hit with the force of a classic. American Football have delivered exactly this kind of moment with their newly released, stripped-back cover of The Cure’s iconic ‘Boys Don’t Cry.’
The release has garnered significant acclaim, particularly from fellow musicians. Robert Smith, frontman of The Cure, didn’t hold back his praise, calling the performance “one of the most heartfelt and beautiful Cure covers I have ever heard.”
This new collaboration is part of a broader exploration of their discography, marking the second time the alt-rock giants have revisited a classic piece in their 30-year history, following their 2021 spin on Mazzy Star’s ‘Fade Into You.’
Beyond the cover, the band also made other pieces available, including an acoustic rendition of their own track ‘Wake Her Up,’ adding another layer to their musical offering.
The deeper meaning behind the music is woven into the performance. Frontman Mike Kinsella reflected on the emotional core of the song, noting that the original track perfectly captured the feeling of melodically-driven, emotionally available men deconstructing and making their own. While they adjusted the instrumentation—replacing jangle with spindly guitars and adding a mournful trumpet solo—Kinsella insisted that the plain-spoken adolescent longing remained deeply resonant.
The success of this release coincides with the band kicking off the next leg of their global ‘No Feeling World Tour.’ Having already crisscrossed the US, UK, Europe, Asia, and Mexico throughout the summer, the tour now expands across North and South America, with dates starting in Chile and continuing through Brazil, Argentina, and Peru before concluding with eight shows across the United States.
The tour is already generating buzz, featuring surprise appearances from artists like Hayley Williams, Wisp, and Soccer Mommy, deepening the experience for fans worldwide. In a notable move, the tour is supported by a partnership with PLUS1, where one dollar from every ticket sold directly supports organizations protecting immigrant rights and supporting migrants and refugees.
The band’s creative journey continues, highlighted by their latest album, ‘LP4.’ The process behind this record involved taking a year away from extensive touring to allow for creative space, leading to the writing of new material virtually, which ultimately fostered the dynamic new sound the group developed.
American Football’s commitment to both raw emotion and global community continues to unfold as they move forward on their latest adventure.
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