The Chats on isolation, ’bogan’ rock and Iggy Pop

April should have been a whirlwind month for bogan rockband The Chats with a Coachella debut a world tour featuring months of rock ’n’ roll mayhem.

Coast band The Chats featuring band members Josh Price, Matt Boggis and Eamon Sandwith, should be in midst of a whirlwind world tour. Photo: Patrick Woods.

APRIL should have been a whirlwind month for bogan rockband The Chats with a Coachella debut a world tour featuring months of rock ’n’ roll mayhem.

Instead the Coolum trio are in separate houses with isolation from the global pandemic forcing them apart indefinitely.

Lead singer Eamon Sandwith, a little lost without his fellow members Josh Price and Matt Biggis, said, with a twinge of sadness, that they don’t really feel like a band.

The trio’s debut record High Risk Behaviour which dropped in March, has earned rave reviews and led to millions of downloads on Spotify.

It’s also won them fans in Dave Grohl, Iggy Pop and more.

Eamon Sandwith is still getting used to the fame that’s attached.

The album celebrates Queensland “bogan” culture, Coolum’s 4753 postcode and even waiting in line for the pubs to open.

“I think it’s been really well received, partly because everyone is stuck inside and they’re ripping it,” Mr Sandwith said.

“I hope pubs open soon though.

“Call our style what you want – pub, shed, bogan rock.

“I’m just writing songs to pass the time.

“I think the next one I write about will be Schapelle Corby, she’s a legend.”

Mr Sandwith said he still hasn’t gotten used to the fame given the rapid rise to stardom over the past two years and still “pinches” himself.

“People come up while you’re doing the groceries and say ‘you’re that guy from that band, sick’,” he said.

“The biggest difference for me is that I don’t work at Coles anymore. I do this for a living.

“It’s just really cool getting to see the world and being able to play to people all around the world who love you’re stuff.”

Originally published as