‘Chequeless Reckless’: The lyrics that took Grian Chatten up a level
To start a successful rock band, you need two things: a defiant attitude and something to say. These are the key attributes that have given us virtually every notable rock outfit, from The Who to Arctic Monkeys. However, during the 2010s, the landscape of independent rock music became clouded by soulless, corporate indie rock bands piggybacking off the success of groups from years prior while offering little for fans to hang on to. The saviour of this bleak scene, of course, came in the form of Dublin’s finest, Fontaines D.C.
Today, the Grian Chatten-fronted outfit could be considered a stalwart of the post-punk revival, playing festival stages and arenas worldwide, having successfully captured the hearts and minds of an entire generation. The level of intense and enduring success afforded to Fontaines D.C. is something of a rarity in the current climate, which rarely rewards abrasive, guitar-led rock and roll—at least, not to the extent that Fontaines have been rewarded. For those of us who have been there from the very beginning, their success should have come as no surprise.
‘Liberty Belle’ was the first single unleashed onto the world by Fontaines, and with it came the lyrical mastery of Grian Chatten. Within the very first stanza of that track, the songwriter managed to say more of substance than any indie or post-punk group of the previous decade. As more material emerged, Chatten’s stunning social commentary became more poised and ruthlessly accurate. It was with the fan-favourite song ‘Chequeless Reckless’, released in 2018, that Chatten and Fontaines confirmed the fact they would be around for years to come.
“A sellout is someone who becomes a hypocrite in the name of money,” or so goes the opening line of ‘Chequeless Reckless’. Again, that almost throwaway comment from Chatten denounced an entire scene of meaningless musical drivel, establishing Fontaines as the first band in a very long time to have something of substance and importance to say. The song itself could essentially be a manifesto for the group’s existence, with the iconic line “Charisma is exquisite manipulation, and money is the sandpit of the soul”, particularly befitting of their attitude towards the music industry.
There are no unnecessary frills when it comes to Fontaines D.C. What you see is what you get; the band are not out to fleece their audience of revenue, reach the top of the pop charts, or get lost in the all-encompassing world of arrogance.
Money is the sandpit of the soul, but it is also the downfall of most defiant young punk-adjacent groups like Fontaines. As soon as record executives, big cheques, and colossal appearance fees start getting involved, the music loses some of its integrity and virtually all of its relatability. Fontaines look, sound, and dress like their fans, there is virtually no barrier between performer and audience when it comes to the Dublin band.
With ‘Chequeless Reckless’, Chatten and the band established themselves as a lone voice within the vast, swampy fen that was the independent music scene of the 2010s. It provided something of a promise to listeners that has been reaffirmed repeatedly with every new Fontaines D.C. release. With their hectic tour schedule and the fatigue of having been together almost constantly for upwards of six years, it would be understandable if the band released a phoned-in effort of generic post-punk anger.
Thankfully, though, the group has not done that. Even today, as they gear up for the release of their fourth studio album, Romance, the band has once again reestablished their commitment to innovation, quality, and musical substance. The new look that the group have embraced – far from the understated appearance of their earlier performers – might reek of music industry pressures, but Chatten’s recent lyrics still bear the same individualistic personality and defiant attitude as tracks like ‘Chequeless Reckless’.
