“The Rise of Hot Mulligan”
🔥 INTRO
“What’s up everyone, welcome back to the show. Today we’re diving into one of the biggest modern emo bands on the planet right now — Hot Mulligan. If you love Warped Tour energy, Midwest-emo guitar lines, and lyrics that punch you in the chest but make you laugh at the same time… you’re in the right place.”
“We’re talking how they started, how they blew up, their label moves, the albums that changed everything, who they’ve toured with, and what they’re doing RIGHT NOW that has the whole scene buzzing.”
“If you’re in the chat, let me know: what was the FIRST Hot Mulligan song you heard? Or if you haven’t heard them yet, I’ll tell you the perfect place to start.”
🎬 SEGMENT 1 — The Origin Story (2014–2016)
“Hot Mulligan started in 2014 in Lansing, Michigan — just a couple of guys making emo music in bedrooms, basements, and whatever small venues would let them in.”
- Nathan “Tades” Sanville (vocals)
- Chris Freeman (guitar/vocals)
- Formed from high school friendship and early songwriting sessions
- Played DIY/hometown shows in Michigan
- Released early EPs: ‘Fenton’ and ‘Honest & Cunning’ in 2015
“Classic emo come-up story — no big manager, no big label, just grinding shows and putting music online.”
Audience prompt:
“Anyone here ever see them back in the early days? Tell me your city in the chat.”
🎸 SEGMENT 2 — Signing to No Sleep & The First Breakthrough (2017–2018)
“In 2017 things changed. They signed to No Sleep Records — huge move at the time. No Sleep was THE emo label for a minute. If you were around during that revival era, you remember.”No Sleep Records was an American independent record label in Huntington Beach, California. They were founded by Chris Hansen in 2006 and have released records by artists including Balance and Composure, La Dispute, and The Wonder Years.
Key moment:
- No Sleep re-released their ‘Opportunities’ EP → gave them national reach
- Suddenly blogs, small festivals, and scene kids everywhere started discovering them
Then in 2018…
“They dropped Pilot, their first full-length album — and that album absolutely put them on the map.”
Talking points for Pilot:
- raw vocals
- Midwest emo riffs
- meme-y song titles (I hate the Gooey Disk) Whisper Thank you – Scream Mountain
- emotional yet funny tone
- great emo-kid scream-along energy
Audience prompt:
“Drop a 🔥 in the chat if Pilot was the album that made you a fan.”
💥 SEGMENT 3 — Growing Into a Scene Leader (2020–2023)
“Then came the album that really expanded their fanbase — You’ll Be Fine in 2020.”
Talking points:
- better production
- sharper writing
- songs blew up on streaming
- became a must-see live band
“This is when they started getting booked for bigger tours, festivals, and national slots.”
Touring partners you can mention:
- Free Throw
- Taking Back Sunday (fest appearances)
- The Wonder Years (scene overlap)
- Knuckle Puck
- Movements
- Spanish Love Songs
- Prince Daddy & The Hyena
- Tiny Moving Parts
(You can add bands you’ve personally seen them with — it adds authenticity.)
Then in 2023:
“They switched to Wax Bodega — a label that totally matches their vibe — and dropped Why Would I Watch… huge step up in songwriting and fanbase.”
📰 SEGMENT 4 — The NEW Hot Mulligan Era (2024–2026)
“Fast forward to right now — this is the biggest they’ve ever been.”
Talking points:
- Their 2025 album The Sound a Body Makes When It’s Still
- Lead single “And a Big Load”
- Skate-park & emo-nostalgia themes in the music video
- Streaming numbers exploding
- Massive 2025–2026 world tour
- Headlining arenas & large theaters
- UK/EU tour in 2026 with Delta Sleep
“This isn’t a niche emo band anymore — this is one of the leading voices in modern alternative music.”
Audience prompt:
“Where should they play on tour? Drop your city.”
❤️ SEGMENT 5 — Why They Blew Up
Use this as your commentary / analysis section:
1. Authenticity
They never tried to be radio-friendly emo — they stayed raw, emotional, and themselves.
2. Humor + Pain Combo
Funny song titles with emotionally heavy lyrics → instantly recognizable brand.
3. Midwest Emo + Pop-Punk Fusion
They appeal to:
- old emo fans
- Warped Tour fans
- new TikTok-age alt kids
- 90s/alt-rock listeners
4. Touring Work Ethic
They tour CONSTANTLY — and their live shows always hit.
5. Great label move
Switching to Wax Bodega gave them an indie brand that matches their identity perfectly.
🎤 SEGMENT 6 — Essential Songs to Mention
(Don’t play them live — just mention them.)
- “BCKYRD”
- “Shaylee, Shanel”
- “Equip Sunglasses”
- “Feal Like Crab”
- “Shouldn’t Have a Leg Hole But I Do”
- “And a Big Load” (2025 single)
You can ask your audience:
“What’s your #1 Hot Mulligan track of all time?”
📚 SEGMENT 7 — Quick Trivia for the Chat
You can toss these in mid-show:
- Tades’ vocals purposely avoid pitch correction — part of their identity.
- They wrote early songs in dorm rooms and basements.
- They’re known for chaotic stage energy and crowd participation.
- They’re huge on vinyl collectors’ charts — Wax Bodega sells out instantly.
🎬 OUTRO — Wrap-Up
“So that’s the story of Hot Mulligan — from Lansing house shows to becoming one of the biggest emo bands of the modern era.”
“If you want me to cover another band with a similar vibe — like Microwave, Movements, The Wonder Years, or KennyHoopla — drop it in the chat or in the comments after the stream.”
“Make sure to like the stream, subscribe, and share it with your emo-kid friends. Until next time… stay emo, stay loud, and stay real.”
