Would it even be a The Chats gig if a paramedic wasn’t called before the music started? The atmosphere at Newcastle NX was unrelenting and electric; everything you’d expect from Australia’s punk rock champions of what they like to call ‘shed rock.’ The Chats, who take their name from the Australian slang for “something gross or bad,” have mastered the art of creating controlled chaos, and their second visit to NX was no exception.
Formed in 2016 by three teenagers in a music class, the band has always embraced their DIY ethos. They’ve refined their chaotic energy into something that still feels raw but undeniably effective. With two albums (High Risk Behaviour in 2020 and Get Fucked in 2022), The Chats have found a unique niche in punk rock.
The Chats entered onto the stage with Buzzcocks-style chaos, with frequent moments where they nearly do the splits in a Van Halen-esque leaps. Drenched in sweat by the second song, they deliver energy while looking like they could double as maths teachers, making their everyman vibe even more captivating.
From the moment the band stepped on stage to opener Nambored from their second EP, the crowd became a sweaty, chaotic mess. Mosh pits erupted and never once paused, with the absence of a slower song on the setlist to give anyone a break. The intensity was relentless, leaving security struggling to keep up; they are deserving of a pay rise after this gig. Crowd surfers were dragged over the barrier one after another, while others hurled themselves into the pit from atop their friends’ shoulders.
At one point, a pair of Adidas trainers became unlikely stars of the show. Held aloft in the crowd, one shoe was eventually handed to a bewildered girl, while the other made it to the stage, where bassist and frontman Eamon Sandwith wore it mid-set; it wasn’t a great fit. It remains a mystery to us whether the owner will ever be reunited with their Adidas again.
Despite the chaos, there was a sense of camaraderie in the crowd. Girlfriends were shielded from flying limbs by their partners, while others dove into the mosh pit only to retreat seconds later, overwhelmed by the intensity. And of course there was the man in the leather jacket, a warrior who braved the entire gig in his heat-trapping attire while everyone around him stood shirtless, dripping with sweat.
There were almost no phones in sight, an unheard-of phenomenon at gigs in 2024. At NX, the audience was fully immersed in the chaos, enjoying thrill of live music. Pints were thrown and the occasional elbow to the ribs was just part of the experience; bruises and the need to wash your hair are always signs of a good gig.
The impressive 26 song setlist was a whirlwind which blurred together in the best way possible. From Billy Backwash’s Day to 6L GTR—an early highlight in the setlist and the lead single from their latest album—the band delivered. They leaned into their self-aware humour, describing their songs as “different title, different lyrics, same chord progression.”
Tracks like The Kids Need Guns and The Price of Smokes showcased the band’s ability to inject humour and social commentary into their music without losing an ounce of punk energy.
The Chats are proud of their Queensland roots, and Sandwith made sure the crowd knew it. Between songs, he joked about their home state and dedicated Smoko to anyone with work, uni, or school the next morning, jokingly suggesting that anyone with the latter in the crowd should call CPS on their parents. Smoko, the quintessential Chats anthem, turned the room into a frenzied singalong, with the crowd screaming every word. Sandwith’s deadpan delivery only added to the charm, reminding everyone that even the most mundane experiences, like going to work or school; can be punk rock.
Closing with Pub Feed, the band encapsulated the night’s energy in one sweaty finale. The crowd’s domino-like collapse during the song forced a restart, but it only added to the chaotic fun.
What sets The Chats is their ability to create an atmosphere that feels both anarchic and communal. Their songs may be short, repetitive, and simple, but that’s their magic. They morph the essence of punk rock into pure adrenaline; their gigs are less about precision and more about energy.
For all their simplicity, The Chats have an undeniable knack for making every gig feel like a celebration. Whether it’s through their Queensland pride, their irreverent humor, or their ability to transform a room of strangers into a sweaty, unified mass, The Chats remind us of the power of punk rock.
Newcastle NX will likely need a deep clean after this one, but for the hundreds of fans who packed into the venue last night, it was a gig they won’t forget. From the flying shoes to the relentless mosh pits, The Chats delivered a night of chaos, camaraderie, and unforgettable fun.
Words by Amelia Thompson