What's Hot and What's Not
Article by Natalie Silva
Despite the rain, punk rock fans lined the streets of downtown Chicago on Saturday night to see Ben Quad, Spanish Love Songs, and Heart Attack Man open for Hot Mulligan in the final stretch of their Why Would I Watch tour. Filled with too many rolled beanies and flannel shirts to count, the House of Blues was packed with fans of all ages, united in their attire and love for emo music.
Security guards chatted about their crowd surfing concerns as experienced moshers flocked to the floor to secure their spots in the middle of the pit. Pre-concert anticipation built as fans sang along to “Death Cup” by Mom Jeans, letting out an audible “Awe man!” as the lights dimmed, cutting off the song, and beginning the concert. Within seconds the crowd was buzzing with excitement as the first band took the stage, kicking off the show.
Ben Quad, an emo band from Oklahoma, walked out to “The Reason” by Hoobastank and their glittery guitars immediately piqued the interest of the crowd. Filled with passion and angst, Ben Quad rocked out to their songs, my personal favorite being “We’re Gonna Be Here for a While.” Lead guitarist “Shredgar” showed off his skills as he modeled the tapping technique, playing some killer riffs that resulted in celebratory “sparkle fingers” from the audience.
Next up was Spanish Love Songs, a band whose preppy LA look doesn’t quite match their self-appointed “grouchrock” sound. Nonetheless, the band killed their set, playing hits like “Haunted” and “Clean-up Crew.” Their quirky transitions between songs were laced with a touch of nihilism and had fans laughing till the very end.
Continuing to build anticipation for the main event, Heart Attack Man seemed to generate the most energy with their amazing stage presence, sick dance moves, and upbeat punk rock songs. Lead singer Eric Egan dominated the performance and left the crowd begging for more when they finished playing “Freak of Nature.” Other hits were “Like a Kennedy,” “Clown School,” and my absolute favorite “Old Enough 2 Die.” Heart Attack Man is definitely one to remember, and I have no doubt that they will step into their much-deserved spotlight soon.
Last but not least, Hot Mulligan took to the stage to finish off the night. Hailing from Lansing, Michigan, Hot Mulligan is one of the most up-and-coming emo bands, gaining followers who are fans of hard-hitting lyrics disguised beneath the most unserious song titles you can imagine. Crowd favorites included “It’s a Family Movie She Hates Her Dad,” “How Do You Know It’s Not Armadillo Shells?,” “Gans Media Retro Games,” and of course my favorite “*Equip Sunglasses*.” With the tour coming to an end, and vocal chords begging for a break, lead singer Tades reminded the crowd that the point of emo isn’t to sound good, it’s to do it. Nonetheless the band sounded more than good, and the crowd was left satisfied (and sweaty)!
If you are a fan of bands like “Microwave,” “Joyce Manor,” and “Free Throw,” be sure to check out these bands and their classic punk rock sounds. If you want to catch Hot Mulligan live, they will be opening for Fallout Boy on the second half of their upcoming tour.
Check out Hot Mulligan on Instagram here and on Spotify below!