Concert Review: Inhaler in Spain, October 2023 (Gallery)
This Throwback Thursday we look back at inhaler playing in Madrid and Barcelona last October.
INDIEREVIEWSCONCERTSTHROWBACK
REYA CASAJUS
4/25/20241 min read
Last October, Barcelona was treated to an unforgettable night at Sala Apolo. Hailing from Dublin, indie-rock band Inhaler openly confronts the conversation surrounding nepotism, and it's clear they've been carrying the legacy from the beginning. Their debut album, "It Won’t Always Be Like This," released in 2021, soared to the top of the UK Album Charts, opening the doors to numerous gigs and festival appearances. Earlier in 2023 they released "Cuts & Bruises," adopting more of an indie-pop, sometimes experimental sound.
As the lights dimmed and the crowd grew restless with anticipation, Inhaler took to the stage. The band, consisting of lead vocalist and guitarist Elijah Hewson, bassist Robert Keating, guitarist Josh Jenkinson, and drummer Ryan McMahon, wasted no time in grabbing the audience's attention. "These Are The Days," set the tone, while "We Have To Move On" channelled a giddy urgency. It's no surprise that Inhaler exudes magnetic energy on stage, considering they've spent the last two years touring. Having seen them live from their very beginnings back in Dublin, I can confidently say they have learnt how to carry themselves, how to interact with their crowd, how to channel that rockstar vibe. My guess is that they took notes from those they toured with: Arctic Monkeys, Sam Fender; and the crowd eats it up.
Elijah Hewson's vocals are undeniably impressive. His voice has a raw quality to it, filled with emotion and intensity. Combined with the band's tight musicianship, each song came alive on stage, creating an immersive experience for everyone in attendance. The sprawling, snarling nostalgia of "Dublin In Ecstasy" made the night, while the country-like sounding "If You're Gonna Break My Heart" filled the room with cowboy hats that the fans had adorned for the occasion.
They closed the show with a dynamic "My Honest Face," their biggest hit, and as they exited the stage the general feeling was that they are, indeed, carving out their own path.
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