The Chats are a true celebration of Australian garage rock.

The Chats have had a huge 2019. The Australian trio have shot to ‘pub rock’ stardom, garnering the attention of Dave Grohl, Josh Homme, Alex Turner and Matt Helders. Closing out their mammoth year, the boys stopped into O2 Forum Kentish Town for their last show on the European tour.

Walking onto stage to Queen track, We Are The Champions, the headlining trio were greeted to a warm welcome from revellers. Everything about The Chats is a celebration of classic Australian garage rock. From the red mullet rocked by frontman Eamon, the flannel adorned by drummer Matt, or the simple painted material stage backing complete with their names, roles and caricature.

Taking then a very different direction from Queen, The Chats dove into opening track Mum Stole My Darts. From there, the show was a blur of swearing, sweaty mayhem. Those in the crowd who braved the mosh knew exactly what they were there for, and The Chats gave it to them. Continuing to hit top tracks such as Do What I Want and Bus Money, there was no slowing down the night, crowd surfers included.

The show of course reached its peak level when Eamon humorously announced, “This is a new one, you haven’t heard it ya c****”, and the intro to Smoko blasted through the speakers. As one the crowd would scream back to Eamon, “I’m on Smoko, so leave me alone”.

With the end in sight, the band was not ready to let go. A handful of the support acts made their way back onto stage before diving headfirst (literally) into a cover of AC/DC’s Highway To Hell, including a stage dive from drummer Matt.

For a bunch of young Aussies, The Chats had the London crowd eating out of their hand. They know their audience, they know their sound, and they sure as hell don’t care if you’re not into it. Because as their sold out O2 Forum show proves, there are plenty of people who definitely do.

Photos: Lauren Clarke