Guitar chords, screaming voices, and kick drums reverberated around The Tabernacle as emo band Hot Mulligan played a sold-out concert on November 11th, drawing a crowd of mostly teens and young adults to the historic venue.

What started as a hobby for bored high school friends has turned into a nationwide tour. The band's music features loud, evocative, screamo-style vocals mixed with melodious guitars, crashing drums, and distinct bass solos. Their lyrics talk about the problems of young adulthood, from heartbreak to drug addiction. This explosive mix of high-energy tones and relatable themes has garnered them a loyal fan base of young people across the country and especially in metro Atlanta. The show began with a flurry of opening acts at 8 P.M.—first local band Anxious, followed by two fellow touring groups, Drug Church and Arm's Length.

Hot Mulligan was scheduled to take the stage at 10 P.M., much to the excitement of one college-aged attendee, Tanner Jackson, who had never seen the band live. "Dude, I can't tell you how long I've been waiting for this. I heard them for the first time when I was like 16 and now they're in front of me," he said.

His cheerfulness was shared by every concertgoer in the area. Since the doors opened at 7 P.M., the energy within The Tabernacle had been building to a fever pitch. The opening bands did little to calm the crowd's excitement, and waves of nervous waiting fluttered through the room. "I honestly am getting a little shaky," said one attendee as the sound crew tuned the headliner's instruments.

The Tabernacle, a converted church, evoked a feeling of worship and community. With fans from around the area making the pilgrimage to downtown Atlanta, and a building that first opened its doors in 1911, the stage was set for a night grounded in community and acceptance of shared struggles.

A few minutes past the advertised start time, Hot Mulligan made their way into spotlights emanating from the high ceilings. The band arrived to a chorus of praise from the audience packed like cargo in front of the stage. Above and around them in the orchestra section, fans leaned over the rails and clapped their hands rhythmically. Without much warning or fanfare, the band played the opening chords to their hit "Equip Sunglasses" and the night officially began. "Yeah! This one is my favorite," said Andrew Gandia, a longtime fan. The group went on to play all of their hits and three songs from an upcoming record over the course of two hours, culminating in not one but two encore songs at the end of the night.

Hot Mulligan exited the stage to more praise from the fans, and scores of people politely made their way toward the exits, covered in sweat and speaking with hoarse voices. "Show of the year!" exclaimed a teenage girl, immediately met with approval from the crowd beside her. Outside the venue, people lit cigarettes, called Ubers, and planned where they were going to meet up for dinner. In the cool air, the constant hum of happy people having conversations with old and new friends sounded just like the ringing in everyone's ears.