American Football with Rob Mahoney

Bandsplain

The Ringer

Music

4.4 • 582 Ratings

🗓️ 5 February 2026

⏱️ 135 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Yasi is joined by Ringer renaissance man Rob Mahoney to tell the unlikely story of American Football, whose widespread recognition grew in the decade following their debut (and immediate breakup). They talk through the band’s Midwestern roots, the alternate tunings and jazz-inspired drumming that influenced a generation, and how time and online canonization turned 'LP1' into a cultural touchstone and the American Football House into an Airbnb destination. Episode PlaylistListen to the American Football playlist here. CREDITS:Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalekGuest: Rob Mahoney @robmahoneyProducer: Rob SundermannEditor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	What's with this band anyway?
0:07.0	I don't get it, can you please explain?
0:12.0	Wait, like bands played?
0:16.0	Never heard this band in my life.
0:20.0	Oh, you haven't? I love that. Really? Why?
0:23.6	Yeah, I love this song. Oh, I don't know that one.
0:27.6	Bansplain, Bansplain, Bansplain.
0:30.6	I really hate this band!
0:32.6	Whatever, I'm their biggest fan.
0:34.6	Bansplain, Bansplain, Bansplain, Band Splane, VanSplaine, VanSplaine, VanSplaine.
0:45.5	Hello and welcome to Bandsplane.
0:47.2	I am your host, Yossi Salik.
0:48.5	This is a show where I invite an expert guest on to help me explain a cult band or iconic artist.
0:52.8	Today's episode is about American football.
0:56.3	This is the ringer. So you might think we're talking sports, babe, we're not talking sports.
1:01.0	We're talking Midwestern emo. My guest today, you guys, esteemed, celebrated. Robert Mahoney
1:09.5	the third. Welcome to the podcast. Thanks for having me. I just threw that on. Are there other, surely there are other Robert Mahoney's in your family line? No, unfortunately not. But I'll take the third. It makes me feel more distinguished. It feels like you should have some sort of like title. Esquire. Yeah, exactly. I think we can brainstorm. You didn't go to law school. You're a podcast show.
1:27.6	Not yet.
1:28.2	Not yet. You're not dead yet, babe. That's my second or third act. Fourth act, I don't know. Who's counting? Fourth act, I'm going to haunt people that leave mean comments in the various channels of Bansplain. They wouldn't dare. You'd be surprised.
1:53.6	Rob, before we dive in to the band American football, can you tell me a little bit about your personal connection and journey with this band?
1:54.3	I would love to.
1:55.6	I'm a late adopter.
	...

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