News
14 October 2026 – American Football Reimagine The Cure's Boys Don't Cry With Delicate Guitars and a Mournful Trumpet
By Editorial Team - October 14, 2026
Summary
Midwest emo pioneers American Football release reflective acoustic session featuring a poignant cover of The Cure's Boys Don't Cry.
Key Facts
- Reinterprets The Cure's 1979 classic 'Boys Don't Cry' with slow tempos, intricate guitars, and trumpet solo.
- Recorded in Nashville during American Football's ongoing 'No Feeling Tour' for SiriusXM.
- Two-track release includes an intimate acoustic performance of their recent composition 'Wake Her Up'.
- Entities: American Football, The Cure, Boys Don't Cry, Mike Kinsella, Wake Her Up, LP4, SiriusXM, Robert Smith
- Tags: american-football, the-cure, boys-dont-cry, midwest-emo, mike-kinsella, indie-rock
Midwest-emo legends American Football have released a new two-track SiriusXM session featuring an exquisite reinterpretation of The Cure's iconic "Boys Don't Cry", paired with an intimate acoustic performance of their own track "Wake Her Up". The recordings were tracked in Nashville while travelling between tour stops on their No Feeling Tour.
Trading the post-punk bounce of the 1979 original for meditative guitar interplay and a sorrowful trumpet solo, American Football reframe Robert Smith's lyrics into an adult reflection on lingering heartbreak. Frontman Mike Kinsella has frequently cited The Cure as a pivotal influence on his melodic sensibilities.
The accompanying rendition of "Wake Her Up" offers a sparse, contemplative spin on material from American Football's recent studio LP, LP4.
By avoiding karaoke imitation and finding genuine emotional resonance in the song's underlying sadness, the band deliver an exemplary cover. Check out more emo and indie-rock highlights in our news archive.