(Exclusive INTERVIEW) HOT MULLIGAN
Hot Mulligan. Photo Credit: CHARIS LYDIA BAGIOKI
Known for their impossibly long and amusing song titles, if not a little deadpan, it’s an unmistakable reflection of the offbeat sense of humour from the guys of Hot Mulligan. If you’re missing that early 2000s emo-pop-punk fusion of angst, emotional chaos, and inner turmoil, then this is the band for you. Over the past few years they’ve surged in popularity, thanks in large part to their distinctive sound.
We caught up with Chris, Ryan, and Jonah shortly before their stage performance over on Main Stage West. To which their humour, alongside their talent, was a highlight. They mentioned earlier in our interview how they continue to take inspiration from pop-punk giants Blink-182 for their stage presence and, importantly, humour. Of course they emulated that wonderfully later on the main stage with the frontman Tade remaking how “Coming up with banter is hard!” Guitarist Chris replied, “As to which am I.” It doesn’t get much more Blink-182 than that.
SpinVybe: So, kicking off, you’ve hit the Slam Dunk stage before. How would you describe your connection with the festival?
Chris: It's always a good time. We’ve got a lot of friends here. This is actually our second time playing here. The first time was a great introduction. It kind of feels like what I imagined playing Warped Tour back in the day would have felt like, though we never got the chance to play it ourselves (laughs.) But yeah, Slam Dunk has that same energy we love.
SpinVybe: How do you try to approach keeping each performance fresh, especially since you’ve played here before? What do you have in store for today?
Chris: We’ve got some new songs in the set. Last time we were here, we only had two or three records out, but since then we’ve released the Warmer Weather EP. So you’ll hear a bit of that sprinkled in. Hopefully now, we’ve built a larger fan base behind us; the energy will be more exciting all around.
SpinVybe: How many songs are you performing?
Chris: Hmmm, let’s say around 14?
SpinVybe: And in your opinion, what’s the best song to really get the crowd going?
Jonah: Probably Drink Milk and Run, or Armadillo Shells. We usually start off with Armadillo Shells, as that's just one of our more popular tracks, and most people know it, so it’s a good strong opener.
Ryan: I’d go with And I Smoke, just because it’s fast and really gets the energy up.
Chris: I mean, those are the best answers (laughs). But I definitely feel that And I Smoke definitely gets people moving. Armadillo Shells, too — that one always hits.
Photo Credit: CHARIS LYDIA BAGIOKI
SpinVybe: For those seeing you for the first time today, what can they expect from your set?
Chris: Screaming, screeching energy. (laughs)
Ryan: Yeah, a lot of jumping around, maybe even an “Open this up!” moment. I sometimes refer to our live show as “the ship” — it’s wild and chaotic in the best way.
Chris: It’s sh*It is raw punk. No frills. Just pure energy.
SpinVybe: And even though the U.S. is home base, what’s it like playing to UK crowds?
Chris: It is kind of refreshing. Because, you know, the states are home and where we have our best crowds. But coming here and having great crowds, it’s always like a little reminder of how far we have come. The energy and love – we do feel that.
Jonah: Yeah, I feel like the UK is pretty matched with the energy we get back in the US, to be honest (laughs).
Ryan: Yeah, like Jonah was just saying yesterday, it is always refreshing. While the US is our home and the biggest crowds gather, I find that the UK definitely gets down with our riffs. That’s something that I’ve noticed you guys love. (laughs)
Chris: But it’s always like a little reminder of why we do this. There’s a different kind of pressure and experience, a different kind of energy too, but that’s what keeps things exciting.
SpinVybe: For someone seeing you for the first time today, who walks away a new fan, how would you describe the band, the vibe, and what you're all about?
Chris: I’d say we’re somewhere in the realm of emo — maybe post-emo. There’s definitely a raw, emotional edge to what we do.
SpinVybe: Both the song titles and lyrics feel poetic, tinged with that emo vibe. Do you feel vulnerable putting that out there?
Chris: Honestly, most of us didn’t write the lyrics — that’s more Tade’s department. (laughs) But we all have some songs that we connect with. These days, I don’t feel as awkward about it. I just try to ride the wave and let the emotion come however it comes, you know.
SpinVybe: And how does it feel playing a stage this big — especially the main stage? Do you still get nervous?
Chris: It’s wild, honestly. Playing in front of a crowd that size is something you dream about. There’s always a bit of pressure, but mostly it just feels like an opportunity to really connect on a bigger level. It’s surreal in the best way.
Ryan: There's always a few pre-show jitters, but by now we've played enough festivals that I feel like we're a lot more comfortable with it. It’s become more natural and a little bit more accustomed to it.
SpinVybe: Do you have any pre-show rituals before you head out?
Chris: We put our hands in a circle and we chant, “Play dubstep real loud, and don't trap the bass.” (laughs.) Which kind of eases all our nerves because basically what it means is to have a good time anyway. So, even if the crowds are not super into it, we have fun. It's just like a giant band practice where it turns into a party. It’s all about just having a fun time on stage.
SpinVybe: How do you go about putting together setlists? Do you lean towards picking the fan favourites or songs you prefer to play?
Chris: Today we picked some fan favourites, and we sprinkled a couple of our own picks too. But as we’re up on the main stage for the festival this year, we figured we'd play the biggest songs that get a crowd going.
SpinVybe: Having played a lot of festivals over the years, what's the wildest story that's happened over the years?
Chris: Well, there’s a skate park in Germany at Rock for People. They had this skate park with a mini ramp inside the festival grounds. That was pretty cool... not exactly wild (laughs.)
Jonah: We don’t sound very rock and roll, do we? (laughs)
SpinVybe: To be honest, you guys do come across very chill (laughs).
SpinVybe: We’re halfway through the year; what does the second half have in store for you all?
Jonah: Yeah, we have some tours just stacked up. We’re doing an Underplay tour in the US, hitting up Bonnaroo. And then we’re coming back this way in the world later this year touring with Pierce The Veil.
SpinVybe: Would you say that is one of your dream artists to tour with? Who else would you love to perform with?
Jonah: Well, honestly for me, that dream is kind of being accomplished this year. As I love Pierce the Veil.
Ryan: I think, like many musicians, Blink-182 had a big impact on us.
Chris: I’m an emo, so I’m also Blink for sure.
SpinVybe: Would you say they had a hand in inspiring you to get started in music? Gave you a push into this path?
Jonah: Definitely, one of the earliest bands that influenced me. Because I had older siblings who were super into the whole early 2000s pop-punk thing.
Ryan: Oh, for sure, early 2000s pop-punk inspired me.
Chris: For me, I really respect their stage banter; there are a lot of jokes in there where it’s not all serious all the time.
SpinVybe: And it feels like everyone’s in on the jokes too, right? The crowd knows what to expect, and that creates a great connection.
Chris: Oh for sure, and that definitely happens, and we take inspiration from that on to our stages (laughs.)
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Interview by Kirsty Bright. Photo by CHARIS LYDIA BAGIOKI
