ANZAC Day at Brisbane's The Fortitude Music Hall felt less like a standard gig; by the end of the night, soaked in sweat and beer with the crowd walking out with no voice, myself included, it was clear this was exactly the kind of show Hot Mulligan thrives on.
Forests opened the night (25 April). They brought a lighter contrast to what would become an increasingly unhinged line-up.
Their set felt warm and easy, easing the crowd in without demanding too much too early.
There was a sincerity to it, the kind that quietly wins people over, and while the room was still filling, those who were in attendance leaned in.
It set a foundation that didn't try to compete with what followed, but instead complemented it.
Forests - image © KealiJoan Studios
Saturdays At Your Place took that energy and sharpened it. Their set felt more urgent, more restless, like the tipping point before everything spills over.
There was a noticeable shift in the crowd, more movement, more voices shouting back lyrics, more bodies pushing toward the barricade.
By this point, the room had settled into a rhythm that was loud, loose, and ready to explode.
Saturdays At Your Place - image © KealiJoan Studios
Then Hot Mulligan hit the stage, and whatever restraint the crowd had was left behind instantly. From the start, the band leaned into their signature blend of self-awareness and chaos.
Early in the set, a deadpan "we are going to continue with even harsher screaming in a moment" was met with exactly the reaction you'd expect – a roar of approval that only encouraged the band further.
That balance of humour and emotional intensity is what makes Hot Mulligan's live shows hit differently; they don't take themselves too seriously, but the music still lands with full force.
Between songs, the commentary was just as memorable as the set list. "Pretty embarrassing to be American right now," they joked, quickly followed by "it's so easy to recognise Australian people," throwing playful jabs that only made the crowd feel more involved.
Hot Mulligan - image © KealiJoan Studios
It blurred the line between performance and conversation, like you weren't just watching a band, you were in on it. The crowd, in true Australian fashion, held up their end of the bargain.
Shoeys made their inevitable appearance, because of course they did, and the pit never really stopped moving, but this time, the shoeys were being done in the crowd with those in the centre of the pit calling for beers to be passed in.
When vocalist Nathan 'Tades' Sanville casually asked: "Are you guys good if I go pee before the encore," the crowd didn't respond with the expected chants for one more song. Instead, in a moment that perfectly captured the night's energy, the entire room began chanting "piss your pants". It was stupid, loud, and completely unforgettable.
That's the thing about a Hot Mulligan show, it is honest. It's messy in a way that feels intentional, like everyone involved understands the best moments come from letting go a little.
It's hard to really capture the energy around a Hot Mulligan show, and it is not something that can truly be put into words. It's one of those shows you must experience to truly understand how good a performance and the atmosphere the band creates. It was the definition of group therapy.
