It happens every year. Milwaukee Record posts a well-thought and painstakingly organized list of some of our favorite local music that was released so far that particular calendar year, then an area artist comes along days—or sometimes even hours—later and quickly threatens its merit by daring to ALSO release an excellent piece of music. It’s an occupational issue we’re happy to face, and we’ll be damned if it didn’t just happened again—this time less than 24 hours removed from this year’s “favorite Milwaukee music (so far)” article being published.
This year’s culprit is Hot Mess, an up-and-coming Milwaukee pop-rock quintet that formed in 2025 and wasted little time putting out an array of impressive singles between performances throughout Milwaukee and beyond. Thursday, the young band’s catalog increased in both quantity and overall quality with the release of yet another new song (and an accompanying Griffin Larson-directed music video for said track).
“Take Me Home” is the heaviest Hot Mess song yet, as distorted bass, persistently pounding drums, and Reid Stevenson’s anthemic vocals drive the energetic offering for its entire sub-three-minute trip. Amid all that uptempo instrumentation, swirling—at times almost siren-like—guitars, and an indisputably catchy hook, we very well might have another song to include on our “favorite Milwaukee music of 2026” list when the end of the year rolls around.
In the meantime, watch the “Take Me Home” video below and check out Hot Mess at X-Ray Arcade on Friday, July 10 in support of Felicity and as part of the Les Paul Battle Of The Bands at Vivarium on Saturday, July 11.