In September 2024, American pop-punk band Hot Mulligan—from Lansing, Michigan, and known for their emotive emo-pop-punk sound on albums like Why Would I Watch (2023)—performed at Riot Fest, an annual Chicago festival launched in 2005 as a platform for punk, alternative rock, and metalcore among 40,000 attendees in Douglass Park. Their 45-minute main stage set, captured in high quality, embodied their American tour climax, where Telle Smith's aggressive guitar riffs merged with Chris Freeman's emotive vocals and Brandon Blake's drum power to spark collective ecstasy under Chicago skies. Featuring tracks like "BCKYRD", "How Do You Know It's Not Armadillo Shells?", and "Drink Milk and Run", this show highlighted their role as modern pop-punk leaders, turning the festival grounds into a realm of rebellion and unity.