Not only has the "pub-punk shed-rock" band from Queensland been announced as the support for The Strokes on their 2022 Australian tour, they have been busy writing and recording an album and have multiple festival dates already booked for summer and beyond.

Oh, and they are touring the US.

The band - whose members describe themselves as "dropkick drongos" - write blunt and proudly bogan lyrics about smokos and schnitzels and they appear to have struck a chord with many music-loving Americans.

Guitarist, vocalist and relative newcomer to the band, Josh Hardy, admits he's a little surprised The Chats have so many fans overseas.

"The US tour is pretty amazing. I feel like we're seen as exotic over there," he said, laughing.

"It's almost like they see us as the stereotypical Aussies, 'shrimp on the barbie' and all that.

"I also feel like some areas over there can relate to us too, though. Similar but different, you know? They've got Budweiser and we've got VB and XXXX Gold."

Hardy joined Eamon Sandwith and Matt Boggis as a member of The Chats in December 2020 following the departure of guitarist Josh Price. The band had already released two EPs - The Chats and Get This in Ya!! - and debut studio album High Risk Behaviour.

The band's second EP, Get This In Ya, sat online for six months until the band had a viral hit with the music video for their song Smoko, which racked up millions of views on YouTube in a couple of days. Dave Grohl loved it so much he sent it to Josh Homme, who immediately booked the band to support Queens Of The Stone Age in Australia.

The song celebrates the great Aussie tradition of the cigarette break, an allotted smoking time protected by union law, and is accompanied by a lo-fi video shot for no budget on a building site.

Hardy made his debut with the band in the music video for the single AC/DC CD but says he has known them for years.

"We all grew up in Coolum on the Sunshine Coast and we've been mates since school," he said.

"There weren't even bands up there when we were growing up - you'd be flat out trying to get a gig at your mate's party and everyone would be waiting for the DJ to go on.

"I was working as a Colorbond roofer for seven years and playing around the country in my other band, The Unknowns, when I got the call to join The Chats."

The Chats have a knack for documenting the simple things in life in a humorous way. Take, for example, Pub Feed: "Hanging out, having a punt/Cause my rent's due at the end of the month/Gettin' hungry, I'm fangin' a feed/Something greasy, gravy and meat". That trend is set to continue on their sophomore studio album, which they recorded at Hunting Ground Studios in Brisbane with producer Cody McWaters.

"We've got some good stuff coming soon. I can't say too much, it's top secret, but it's definitely in the works. You won't have to wait too much longer," Hardy said.

"We got onto Cody because he recorded Eamon's other band, Headlice, and he seemed really good. We've chucked everything live and got it done. We've got the classic sound going on."

IN THE NEWS:

So, this won't be a concept album featuring, perhaps, woodwind instruments from the Andes, or a full orchestra?

Hardy laughs.

"I feel that if we ever did that it would be more like a collaboration between Guns n Roses and Buckethead.

"We just play the music that we've grown up with and we like to hear. We try to do the best we can to get it all off our chests.

"Eamon is now part of my other band, The Unknowns, and we've started another band called Rick & The Sickos, so we're keeping busy. We live to write songs and play."

They haven't given up their day jobs just yet though. Hardy says he doing some labouring work at Brisbane venue The Zoo, which is being renovated, and Sandwith "is packing boxes at the Universal clothes factory out at the Port of Brisbane".

As for Boggis, he's "just chilling".

"He's the best with his money. He's got a Troopy and he's been exploring every crack and crevice of North Queensland," Hardy said.

"It's good to keep working a normal job - it's nice to get to the end of the day and crack a beer and feel like you've deserved it.

"It keeps your brain going too. If you're sitting around all day doing nothing it's a lot harder to write stuff. If you've been out working all day you see some funny shit. There's more things to talk and write about, more things to say."