When a band can count Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and Iggy Pop among their fans, it's certainly a promising sign.
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Indeed, that's the case for Queensland punk rockers and online sensations The Chats, who are barely out of their teens.
"Dave was pretty cool; a really cool dude, really nice," drummer Matt Boggis said.
"He just told us to stay humble. Because he's one of the biggest people ever in music, and he's still really humble and really cool.
"It makes you a little nervous (to see someone like Grohl in the crowd at their gigs). But then you realise it's just a normal person, and really cool."
The three members of The Chats grew up together and were in the same grade at school.
Although they had loose plans to be in a band together, Boggis said they "never really expected it would actually happen".
It did a few years ago though, and The Chats recently released a new single Identity Theft, accompanied by its popular video.
The group's eye-catching videos have been a key part of their appeal.
"We just want to keep making videos, because it's really fun," Boggis, 20, said.
While the clip for their track Pub Feed was also an online hit, the trio is best known for their song Smoko; the hilarious video for which became a viral hit upon its release in 2017.
The drummer, in his unassuming manner, said the success of the Smoko video had been life-changing.
"We didn't have any idea how successful it would be," he told the Mercury.
"We just thought it was funny between our friends and stuff like that.
"Each week, it was like, 'it's had 200 views this week', and the next week it was like, '300 views, no way'.
"And then all of a sudden it just had way more. We were like, 'this is weird, people actually like us'."
Why does Boggis believe the video and song caught on in such a manner?
"I don't know, I guess it just resembles a bit of Australian culture, and people back it," he said. "And people overseas back it too."
Previously, The Chats threw their shorts, thongs, cheap sunnies and gallows humour into a duffel bag for a jaunt around the US.
Following their Australian tour - which will kick off in Wollongong - they also have plans for further shows in the US and Europe.
They also have an album due for release early next year.
"That should be a lot of fun," Boggis of the international touring.
"Just chilling in the van, lots of drinking, and shows every night."
-The Chats will perform at UOW Unibar, Wollongong on Wednesday, September 25.
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
