Travel Back To The Year 2000 With Hot Mulligan

By Izzy Hollyhead 

Hot Mulligan may have just released the song of the summer, with the perfect blend of whiney midwest emo vocals and screams. You already know this song will be great live! The single, titled ‘And A Big Load’, is the leading track off their recently announced, upcoming EP The Sound a Body Makes When It's Still, which releases on August 22nd.

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The catchy chorus and great guitar hooks make for a perfect lead single to start off this new EP cycle. With the fun and exciting sound the band have created it leaves fans anticipating an EP full of Post-Emo hits just in time for the peak of summer. When reflecting on their previous work the themes of loneliness and memory are weaved throughout and there's no doubt this will be apparent again - however the band are now looking at listening to themselves and are taking on this new direction of self discovery that fans are able to look forward to.

After labelling themselves the ‘inventors of Post-Emo’ it's clear they take inspiration from the classic emo/pop punk scene from the early 2000s, particularly regarding song titles. Bands like Panic! At the Disco and Fall Out Boy are very well known for their out-there, wacky song titles and looking at Hot Mulligan's track record this is also something they love doing.

​Taking references from Sum 41, Blink 182 and Good Charlotte makes the band look like they just walked straight out of a Hot Topic - repping vans, studded belts and skateboards. The graffiti art and skating makes the video entertaining and even inspiring, making you want to pick up a skateboard yourself and start living the summer you should’ve 20 years ago.

Fans have appreciated this nostalgia hit expressing their excitement at the references to so many bands that shaped their childhood and teenage years as well as making jokes surrounding how accurate they believe the bands representation of this time is, commenting things like ‘Can’t believe it’s already been 24 years since this dropped.’ On an Instagram post showcasing clips of the new music video, fans are adamant that this is a sign that the summer of 2025 will be a ‘hot mully summer’ and I'm all here for it!

​In another post showcasing the EP cover art and how it was made, the creator seems very against the use of AI which is refreshing to hear in an age where society relies so heavily on access to tools like that. It's also great to see a band still show so much passion and creativity for what they do by continuing to show fans hard work and provide them with good quality art.

About the artist
​Hot Mulligan formed in Lansing, Michigan, and are known for blending emotionally raw, self-aware lyrics with catchy, energetic melodies and a distinctly Midwestern emo sound. They’ve built a passionate fanbase thanks to their relatable themes—everything from growing pains to mental health struggles—and their clever, often tongue-in-cheek song titles. Their music sits somewhere between classic emo, pop-punk, and indie rock, often compared to bands like The Wonder Years or Modern Baseball.

They’ve released acclaimed albums like Pilot (2018), you’ll be fine (2020), and Why Would I Watch (2023), which solidified their reputation for honest songwriting and chaotic, heartfelt live shows. They’re known for bringing humor and humility to the genre while delivering songs that hit hard emotionally.