This
one seemed a bit of a puzzler beforehand… young Irish post-punk bucks Inhaler
had announced a Spring 2025 tour in support of new, 3rd album “Open Wide”, unfortunately
venturing nowhere near the ‘don, but then blue-tacked a trio of “Album Shows” on,
post-tour, one being at Bristol O2 Academy, scene of the last “proper” Inhaler
Brizzle gig a couple of years ago (gig 1,264)! Given the size of the venue,
then, this was never going to be a Rough Trade-style “meet and greet” do
(shame!), but tix (which predictably flew out) were very competitively
priced (about a tenner less than usual O2 gigs) and included a copy of
the new album, posted out beforehand! Nice! But what does this mean for the
show itself? An unsupported short set? “Open Wide” new album only set-list? Stripped-back
and acoustic, even? Who the fuck knows?
“Open Wide” itself is another set of big, brain-hugging crescendo-led oven-ready stadium anthemic tuneage and soaring choral infectiousness, delivered in vocalist Elijah’s predictably naggingly familiar yearning vocal style. Them apples continuing to fall close to the tree then, in more ways than one, but repeated plays also revealing hints of an introspective maturity; again, unsurprisingly, given that at their age (all mid-20’s now, the Inhaler boys), Eli’s dad’s lot delivered their more contemplative 4th album “The Unforgettable Fire”, and stepped up to stadium level with their “Longest Day” 1985 Milton Keynes Bowl headlining slot (gig 29!).
Anyhoops, a frustrating work day saw me and Logan turn around quickly for a 5.15 getaway, hoping to arrive well before doors; however, Easter getaway traffic forced us off the M4 at J18 (good thing too, as 18-19 was at a standstill!), tooling along country lanes behind Polzeath boy on his way to surf in Cornwall, and parking up at 6.30 door-time. Both queues (normal and O2 priority) were utterly ma-hoosive but luckily moved quickly, and we grabbed a spot half a dozen rows back, house right on the floor, surrounded by the Inhaler massive of (again) very excitable young females. An uncomfortable wait, then, before support act (yes, there was one!) Permanent Joy, on at 8. Opener “Save My Life” had an upbeat 90’s pseudo-countrified Gin Blossoms vibe with some nice 2-part harmonies but very understated, almost polite vocals, and the set thereafter delved into an introspective melancholy that occasionally sounded a bit bored. A band that clearly have never met a major chord in their lives, I quite liked the morose musical sandbox they were playing in; it just sounded like they themselves weren’t having much fun playing in it…! “Josephine” (no, not that one, much to Logan’s chagrin) was a warbly stadium weepie, but at least they picked it up for set closer “I Wanna Go Home”, an urgent U2-like rocker with some duelling guitar work. Verdict? Not sure, but not bad…
Logan was getting hyped up for a mosh, eyeing up potential routes in, as anticipation grew; then the lights smashed to black at 9 prompt to screams from the jam-packed crowd and Inhaler took the stage, Eli giving a soft, “hello,” before the dubby backbeat opening to a dramatic, building “Open Wide”. The soaring chimes of 2nd album “oldie” “Dublin In Ecstasy” followed up in short order, initiating a jumpalong moshpit that practically filled the whole floor. So no, not a stripped-back, low-key acoustic set then, this…!
Nope,
this ultimately turned out a slightly shorter set than the tour, focussing
majorly on the new album (10 of its’ 13 tracks getting an airing tonight in
this 12-song set!), and just tipping the hour mark overall. So, pretty much
like last time then… and the time before…! What it lacked slightly in length,
however, it made up in passion, conviction and inclusivity, much of the new
material gaining extra depth and power “live”. “Little Things” was a regimented
Strokes-like jaunt; “Concrete” was a hyped-up superfast Smiths-esque “Charming
Man” jangle; and “All I Got Is You” (“we’ve not done this before – go easy on
us!” pleaded an otherwise taciturn Eli beforehand) was my favourite of the new
stuff, a robust yet contemplative rocker.
The brooding widescreen build of “Still Young” gave an obvious nod to Eli’s dad’s lot’s “With Or Without You”, and “Eddie In The Darkness”’ understated verse burst into life with a very 80’s, almost goth-tinged off kilter hook; however closer, oldie “Your Honest Face” was predictably tonight’s highlight, a full-on moshpit catnip euphoric and soaring air-puncher, bringing the hour up and the set to a slightly abrupt end, much of this young crowd hoping for (and expecting) more. Patience and politeness was rewarded with a list, a couple of girls taking pix and enquiring about my list technique; then Logan bade adieu to Grace, an old school friend he’d bumped into, before we hit the road for 11 home. So, shame we missed the tour, but at least we were treated to an entertaining Inhaler vignette tonight, Eli and co. continuing their upwards trajectory!
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