Hot Mulligan

Born in the mid-2010s out of Michigan’s DIY scene, Hot Mulligan moves between emo, pop punk and melodic post-hardcore, driven by Tades Sanville’s contrasting voice and Chris Freeman’s guitars. Formed around high-school friends near Lansing, the band first drew attention with the EPs Fenton (2015) and Opportunities (2016), which established a direct emotional register: fast tempos, dynamic breaks and lyrics focused on relationships, mental health and coming of age. The first full-length, Pilot (2018), confirmed this songwriting approach—catchy melodies, screams, clean singing and often ironically titled tracks—while you’ll be fine (2020) honed the balance between pop-punk energy and a more melodic emo sensibility. With the EP I Won’t Reach Out to You (2021), Hot Mulligan explored slightly more complex structures while remaining close to their early aesthetic, before releasing Why Would I Watch in 2023, noted for denser arrangements and a greater emphasis on atmosphere. On stage, Hot Mulligan became part of the North American and later European emo/pop-punk touring circuits, moving through clubs and mid-size venues and building a set that alternates fast songs, slower passages and communal singalong choruses.