Episode 19: Ben Simpson – Chavez Cartel

Chavez Cartel. Image: Justin Ma

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If you’ve been paying attention to artists coming out of the Gold Coast over the last six years, then you might have come across Chavez Cartel. 

A five-piece alternative rock band, Chavez Cartel wasted almost no time in making a name for themselves on a local scale. Releasing a handful of singles in their debut year, the band shared both the Lucky, Lucky and Confidence Is All I’m Taking Home EPs in 2019. 

Alongside a long list of live shows and festival slots, their profile continued to rise, with a COVID-inspired silence being ended by the Man’s Best Friend EP in 2023, and their Red Flag Blues EP this year.

But along the way, they kept on kicking goals, with a UK record label signing them in 2022, massive support from big names on the local touring circuit, and even support from the BBC since 2018. Put simply, while they’ve been flying under the radar on a mainstream level, Chavez Cartel have been putting in the hard yards behind the scenes.

Fresh off the back of some shows in the US and the UK, and the release of their ‘Unfamiliar Boy’ single, the wonderful Ben Simpson was kind enough to join the podcast this week. If you’ve never listened to Chavez Cartel before, I reckon the magnetic Ben Simpson will be enough to convince you.

Anyway, I implore you to check out Chavez Cartel’s Red Flag Blues EP and their ‘Unfamiliar Boy’ single, and once you’re done giving that a spin, have a listen to my chat with Ben, and I’ll see you at the end of the episode for some general housekeeping.

Ben Simpson's Trusty Chords

Ben’s One Influential Artist

1. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Ben’s Three Impactful Albums

1. Oasis – Definitely Maybe (1984)

2. The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

3. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Baby 81 (2007)

Ben’s Five Trusty Songs

1. The Velvet Underground – 'Venus In Furs' (1967)

2. Oasis – 'Champagne Supernova' (1994)

3. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – 'Fault Line' (2005)

4. The Beatles – 'Here Comes The Sun' (1969)

5. The Doors – 'Riders On The Storm' (1971)