RAT BOY have been destroying stages in the UK for a number of years now but the US is just being introduced to them and you better believe they’re causing chaos. This year, RAT BOY have released their second album Internationally Unknown but it sounds like they may be starting to change that title. They have just hopped off a huge tour of the US and also took to the stage for their debut Coachella appearance.
The album was produced by Tim Armstrong of punk/hip-hop group The Transplants and legendary punks Rancid, a band that RAT BOY found through his father’s record collection. Together, they have made RAT BOY’s most obnoxious record yet. It’s anxious, restless and furious, mixing punk with British hip-hop hints.
We caught up with RAT BOY and the band at their debut Coachella appearance to talk about what sort of trouble they’ve been getting themselves into on their US tour.
How did last weekend compare to this weekend?
Last weekend was a 9, this weekend was a 10...out of a hundred.
Ok, what’s a festival that has come close to 100?
Reading and Leeds I think. We enjoy that festival.
Coachella is a different kind of festival to the UK?
Yeah, crazier. Everyone is a bit nuts in the UK. Definitely nicer though Coachella, like the sky is nice.
How is touring in the US though?
We’ve just finished our first tour here supporting The Interrupters. So that’s been like a month, it’s pretty crazy. We’ve stayed in some weird places and family run hotels that definitely didn’t like us.
What’s the strangest experience been?
We put a banger down the toilet that was quite funny. We didn’t think it was going to light but it did. That was pretty fucking loud.
What was the reaction?
We don’t know. We fixed it but you can still see the dent. Hotels just don’t like us. It was a different hotel and we got a late charge for leaving like 5 minutes late and then another couple came down later than us and they got off.
But then you can’t let off a firework in a toilet and that’s fine?
Yeah. Different hotels. Hotels have been fun though. We saw snow in Canada. We found $400 in a carpark in Canada.
What was the ambition with the album? It’s called Internationally Unknown. Did you want to change that?
Maybe, it’s our first US release and no one knows who the fuck we are so that was a funny title.
Is it fun to play to people who have no fucking idea who you are?
Yeah it is fun, it’s exciting. It feels like starting again. It’s like it’s 2015. Trying to win over audiences again is quite fun.
What’s next for you guys? Are you heading home?
We’re doing Europe, then China. We’ve never done China before.
Is this year all about touring?
We’ve just started tracking a new album. We’re staying out here for another week to try and get stuff done.
Do you feel like what you’re writing in the US sounds different to what you’re doing in the UK?
Yeah I think the lyrics are different. You see loads of things and then you jot down things.
Ok, Rat Boy in a year where are you going to be?
Coachella!
