For what was probably the hottest and sweatiest gig of 2023, USA emo rock band HOT MULLIGAN brought their Why Would I Watch tour to Bristol’s SWX, alongside friends Spanish Love Songs.
In 2020, on the day of the release of Brave Faces Everyone, SLS played at SWX, supporting The Menzingers. Now, with the release of their latest album, No Joy, they were back at the same venue, in an almost complete full circle.
SLS have to be one of my favourite bands out there at the moment, with front-man Dylan’s unique style and lyricism making songs that punch you right in the gut and are relatable at almost every level.
Spanish Love Songs are back in Bristol on the 24th January, at The Fleece. Tickets available here **
With the temperature continuing to rise and the anticipation growing, it wasn’t long before we were on to the main act of the night.
It had only been a few months since Hot Mulligan were last in Bristol, having sold out Exchange is a matter of minutes of the tickets going on sale, and tonight’s show was sold out too, really demonstrating peoples love for this band.
A band with, I think, only 1 song where the title matches the lyrics, it can sometimes be difficult to remember what the song is actually called, but opening with OG Blue Sky got the crowd started, before going into *Equip Sunglasses* really getting people moving. Immediately, people were singing along, the mosh pits started and the crowd surfers went up and over.
Tades had a brief pause to tell us how much he had “fucked my voice up” so far on the tour, but was that going to stop him putting in his full effort, not a chance!
The first of the night from the new album was It’s A Family Movie She Hates Her Dad, followed by And I Smoke, showing that the crowd had done their homework well, and were ready to sing along and enjoy the new songs just as much as the old ones. A few calls from the audience for Shaylee, Shanel were quickly shut down by Tades, because he didn’t like that song, hadn’t rehearsed it and it was his show and he could do what he wanted!
The heat was really getting to a lot of people, myself included, and I did find myself having to go up to the balcony for a bit of space from the sweaty mess that was the downstairs pit. A shoutout has to go to the audience, for getting the energy and keeping it high, despite how we all felt, and the show really couldn’t be what it was without them.
Not ones for lots of talking, the band rattled though the 18 song main set, with Happy Birthday sang for Chris after Featuring Mark Hoppus, before John “The Rock” Cena, to finish the main part of the set.
A quick off and on again, before closing off the night with Bckyrd, which I’m pretty sure is the only song title to vaguely make sense, before that was it for the night. Hot Mulligan have been to Bristol twice in the last 12 months, and judging by the amount of fun they appeared to be having, it hopefully won’t be too long before they are back again.
As always, a massive thank you to all involved in making this show what it was.
Review and photos by Ted Stargatt
TrueStyleMusic 