Live Review: Hot Mulligan – UK/EUR Spring Tour 2023 – The Joiners, Southampton

Hot Mulligan have been blowing up in the midwest emo and pop punk scene and after supporting Knuckle Puck on their UK tour last year, fans were begging for them to return for their own headline show. It is safe to say they delivered to the highest possible standard, and supported by up and coming Canadian band ‘Arm’s Length’ they put on a show to remember.

Arm’s Length opened the show with a high energy, emotive set. Playing some very clear fan favourites such as ‘Overture’ and ‘Tough Love’. The band had great chemistry when playing and in between songs the jokes were flowing. They were very humble and grateful to be in the UK for the first time which gave their set a very authentic tone.

The excitement could be felt throughout The Joiners as the crowd waited for Hot Mulligan to begin. Opening with ‘Drink Milk and Run’, Hot Mulligan had the audience singing, jumping and crowd surfing to every beat. The twinkly riffs paired with front man, Tades Danville’s raw vocals was exactly what you’d expect from a midwest emo show and the fans brought the energy to match. Playing their two latest tracks ‘Shhhh! Golf Is On’ and ‘Gans Media Retro Games’ proved how devoted the fans were as they were screaming every single last word.

Towards the end of the set they slowed the pace to play one of their older songs and a fan favourite ‘I Fell In Love With Princess Peach’, a beautifully written song with all the emotion you could squeeze into 2 and a half minutes. The bridge had the crowd in their feels for sure. This was followed by ‘Losing Days’ which led straight into ‘Featuring Mark Hoppus’ the way it does on the EP ‘I Won’t Reach Out To You’, giving the audience 6 straight minutes to go all out wild for this No.1 Hot New Band.

All in all this was a show that will not be forgotten and probably one of the most active shows The Joiners has seen for a while.