This
one represented a real “make or break” gig for highly promising newcomers
Inhaler; having delivered a splendid and varied indie-rock debut set in 2021’s
“It Won’t Always Be Like This” and a couple of promising if not fully realised
sets last year, we were expecting a step up from young Eli Hewson and his
cohorts, with their sophomore album “Cuts And Bruises” and particularly the
subsequent (and quickly sold-out) tour. Initial listens to the album revealed
no such progression, however; more of the same mix of catchy Killers-esque
indie-pop, arena-friendly hooks and guitar riffery, and occasionally blissed
out grooves, albeit polished up to a more commercial sheen. Too early in this
nascent band’s career to lose faith? Surely not, but it was however notable
that it took a little persuading for Logan to join us for this one, and I
myself was hoping for a big performance to make sense of the new material
(which to be honest, often happens “live”)…
An
early departure saw us hit Bristol at 5.30 for an intended drink in the Hatchet
with old friend Martin; however they wouldn’t serve Logan (not even a
cola!) so we hit a Park Street coffee shop instead, for an entertaining catch
up and reminisce about our 80’s goth days! Joined the largest O2 Priority queue
evah (eat your heart out, Cavetown) at 6.30, which nonetheless started moving
about ¼ to 7 and pitched us up a couple of rows from the barriers, house right.
Chatted with some folks (mums and daughters, mainly; Inhaler truly have a
generational – and overwhelmingly female! – audience) before openers Overpass
took the stage at an early 7.15. Easing in with a couple of Summery if gossamer
Britpoppy numbers, initially calling to mind the likes of Supernaturals or
Dodgy, their 3rd number “Take It Or Leave It” cranked it up a notch
with a roaring rocky beat and hooky chorus not dissimilar to tonight’s
headliners. The robust guitar work and slightly drawling vocal of “3 A.M.”, and
the darker, harder-edged closer “Other Side Of Midnight” were other notable
numbers in a promising opening set. Certainly better than main support Feet,
who kicked off at 8 with a couple of okayish if tinny sounding, herky-jerky 70’s
NYC new wave numbers, but then descended into a morass of angular bluesy
nonsense and Happy Mondays-ish sneery languidness. Again, not my cup of tea,
and their frontman once again was clearly his own biggest fan, which irked me
somewhat…
By
this time, however, the place was proper old school rammed, and for the second
weekend in succession, I found myself awkwardly adrift in a sea of excitable
young females. In fact Logan (who’d dumped his diabetes bag with me by then,
declaring his intention to hit the mosh), was drifting away from me in said
sea, like Wilson the basketball in “Castaway”… Inhaler themselves kept us
waiting until just after 9, but took the stage to a rapturous reception, Eli
suited and booted for the occasion and clearly meaning business. The final date
on their tour, this, and it clearly seemed that they’d saved the best for last,
as opener “These Are The Days” was absolutely superb, the ascending opening
riff and quite irresistible soaring hook a feature of easily their best new
number, then the subsequent “My Honest Face” was skyscraping, strafing and
utterly incendiary. Doubts blown away instantly; that’s how to start a gig!
Thankfully,
performance levels were maintained tonight, as Inhaler delivered comfortably
the best performance I’d seen from them, looking now much more like the proper
finished product than a work-in-progress. Ironic then that this showing was the
one which reminded me most of Eli’s old man’s band; “So Far So Good” was prime
combative “War”-era U2 with an impassioned vocal from Eli, and “Just To Keep
You Satisfied” nodded towards “The Joshua Tree”’s stretched, widescreen
Americana. No matter, “Valentine”’s insistent, potent beat and plaintive hook recalled
Death Cab For Cutie’s “We Laugh Indoors”, “Dublin In Ecstacy”’s occasional
leaden pall on record turned into a widescreen and epic elegy, and “Love Will Get
You There” was irresistible and almost Motown girl group groovy, the otherwise
fairly taciturn Eli remarking of its’ reception, “Bristol, you know how to
party”! Plenty of oldies as highlights as well, such as the ringing chimes of
“When It Breaks” and the lustily sung-along sneery hook of “My King Will Be
Kind”, before the first-pumping “Cheer Up Baby” brought another hour-long set
to a close. Yes, again a short one, but in this instance I’ll take an hour at
this performance level, over a longer and more variable set anytime!
A
couple of encores concluded with a tremendous “It Won’t Always Be Like This”,
before some heartfelt thanks from Eli on departure. Superb stuff, capped with a
list from a friendly roadie, before a breather outside and drive home via the
kebab van for a couple of tired yet happy and vindicated Inhaler fans. If this
was indeed “make or break”, then Inhaler well and truly made it tonight, no
doubt!
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