The Chats have the cops to thank for the title of their debut album, High Risk Behaviour.
If they didn’t keep hassling drummer Matt Boggis about skating in places he shouldn’t – and giving him tickets listing that as the offence – who knows what idiotic title the self-proclaimed “dropkick drongos from the Sunshine Coast of Australia” would have come up with.
And yet it’s the perfect name for an album that does not fuck around. An album that sounds like Aussie greats the Cosmic Psychos downing beers with The Saints before doing shots with the Buzzcocks and then spewing it all up behind the kebab van. An album that’s over in 28 blistering, funny, sweaty, unforgettable minutes, with half of its 14 songs failing to reach the two-minute mark.
Since forming in their mate’s bong shed in 2016 while still at high school, that attitude has taken The Chats from the sleepy coastal village of Coolum to venues around the world. Their fanbase includes Dave Grohl, who loved the video for “Smoko” so much he showed it to Josh Homme, who then asked the trio to support Queens of the Stone Age on their 2018 Australian tour. Iggy Pop is also a card-carrying member of The Chats’ fanclub, requesting that they support him in Australia in early 2019 and peppering them with questions like, “What’s a smoko?” and “What’s a dart?”
Despite being the subject of a record label bidding war, The Chats are releasing High Risk Behaviour on their own label, Bargain Bin Records. It’s indicative of a band that have embraced DIY culture since day one, to the point where Sandwith used to spend his days at the post office sending out merch orders.
“We thought, if we just do it ourselves we don’t have to worry about getting swindled,” says Sandwith. “We’ve always done it our way.”
Their determination to do things “our way” extends to their music, which is why High Risk Behaviour delivers everything you’ve come to love from The Chats – only more of it – and confirms their status as Queensland’s greatest ever export (apart from Bundy Rum).
Tune in to PBS all week for your chance to win a copy (members only). Not a member? Join up today.
Cover shot by Luke Henery.
TOP TRACK'S WE'RE LOVING
RVG - 'Christian Neurosurgeon'
Dr Sure's Unusual Practice - 'Super Speedy Zippy Whipper'
Claire Birchall - 'Running In Slow Motion'
Laneous - 'Elsewhere'
UTE ROOT - 'Alan'
Sweet Whirl - 'Sweetness'
Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange - 'STILL SWAG ft JITWAM'
The Drones - 'You Really Don't Care (live PBSfm Radio Melbourne 2004)'
suki - 'disconnect'
