Inhaler paid their third annual visit to the Twin Cities on Sunday, Oct. 27, graduating from First Ave’s 7th St. Entry Mainroom to The Fillmore Minneapolis. Their previous Minnesota shows, in March 2022 and March 2023 respectively, were for their previous records “It Won’t Always Be Like This” (2021) and “Cuts & Bruises” (2023). Embarking on their biggest U.S. tour yet, the Dublin band introduced two new songs from their forthcoming third studio album amongst a setlist pulling from their previously released music. In a nearly sold out show, fans began lining up at the venue as early as 4:00 a.m. to secure barricade spots, running to get a space the moment their tickets were scanned.
Inhaler’s show opened with the Southern Californian band Benches playing a seven song set that ended with their radio hit “Crash.” Benches’ sound took on the role of an angsty younger brother to Inhaler with catchy choruses and sliding vocals. In addition to their own headlining tour, Inhaler has joined Arctic Monkeys and Harry Styles on their tours both in the U.S. and Europe. This U.S. tour consists of new cities the band has never visited, as well as previously sold out venues, emphasizing Inhaler’s drive towards reaching a larger audience and connecting with as many fans as possible.
The show opened with the bold and glowing hit “These are the Days” with lead singer Elijah Hewson pointing at fans and declaring that “these are the days that kiss you on your broken nose.” The confident, youthful sound of the opener’s second album served as both a warm up for the band and a promise to fans for an amazing show, both in the optimistic lyricism and powerful strumming of the bridge: “We can do anything we want for a while, I think we’re gonna be okay,” Hewson sung.
“These are the Days” was immediately followed by “When it Breaks,” the surging, melodic fan favorite from their breakout album “It Won’t Always Be Like This.” Both opening songs are emblematic of the band’s signature sound that combines strong guitar, powerful key changes and nostalgic lyricism in similarly structured pieces. Inhaler’s bridges frequently break down the original chords from the song’s beginning while incorporating mini solos and riffs from guitarist Josh Jenkinson Tansia. As the show progressed, each member stood out under the red and blue streams of light. Fans lunged in every direction as picks were tossed into the crowd.
The Minnesota setlist was a whirlwind combination of full-bodied energizing hits and equally popular slow ballads, from “Totally” to “Just To Keep You Satisfied.” The show concluded with an encore performance of “My Honest Face” from their breakout album. The bridge was a declaration to the crowd with the lines “I wanna be up-up-up on TV,” sung back by fans as spotlights brushed through the crowd and up towards the stage into a maze of white dots. The lyrics are a callback to Inhaler’s early days as they emerged into the spotlight — their choice to conclude the show with the same wish echoed the yearning and thrill of the band as their records and touring success blossom.
Looking ahead, it wouldn’t be possible to talk about Inhaler’s Minneapolis show without mentioning their live performance of “Your House,” which they introduced as the forthcoming single from their new album. The song combined an almost restless and uncertain tone in the verses and lyricism with the uplifting and hopeful feel of the chorus, backed by a choir and a constant synth beat mimicking footsteps throughout. Inhaler had previously announced Oct. 29 as the release date for the single just two days following the concert. What fans didn’t know was that less than 72 hours after the show Inhaler would announce their third studio album, “Open Wide,” to be released on Feb. 7, 2025.
Luckily for fans, a new album means a new tour, and Inhaler is ready to push the momentum they’ve built on the road to the next level. Hardly a day after the announcement of their new album, @inhalerdublin on Instagram announced the first set of dates for their world tour, including 25 shows across Europe, the UK and Japan. Fans were shocked that Ireland, Inhaler’s country of origin, was not on the list of locations for tour, although many take this omission as a hint that the tour will not end after the May dates.
As a band primarily from Dublin, the members’ youths and memories heavily influence their lyricism and tone, most evident in their nostalgic hits “Dublin in Ecstacy” and “These Are The Days.” Inhaler’s background permeates their style throughout their releases, taking a distinct tone that incorporates many references to their memories, frequently using “we” and “our” in their storytelling. Their lyricism reverberates with promise for the future in homage to the places they’ve been, like in “Dublin in Ecstasy,” “I can see the city in the glass of your eye, when you take your shot I’ll be there this time, this time.” The lingering vocal riff in Hewson’s second “this time” blends directly into Jenkinson Tansia’s signature solo, the suspended lyric of “time” suggesting a return home and a promise of love to the city in their eyes.
Inhaler has built a reputation not only as a band closely tied to their roots but also a group that is committed to connecting with their fans. Whether through their nightly barricade visits allowing fans to sing into the mic or occasionally meeting lingering fans on their way to their tour bus after a show, each member is dedicated to showing fans their genuine appreciation of their reception. As an audience member near the barricade at the Minneapolis show, I decided to stay and wait post-show with a crowd of groupies and local fans. We dwindled down to five by 1 a.m. and after three hours of waiting, we were greeted twice by Hewson, followed by Jenkinson Tansia and drummer Ryan McMahon. Each member stood with us for several minutes, asking questions, giving hugs and getting to know the fans who had stayed, thanking us profusely for our support and emphasizing how much this tour meant to them.
As Inhaler grows more and more into stardom, I feel lucky to have seen them here now, on the cusp of releasing their third album and embarking on what is set to be their biggest tour yet. “Open Wide” promises a lot for fans and newcomers to the Inhaler fanbase, from their rock roots to new synth sounds as they experiment with where they want to take their music. As fans look ahead to February, the U.S./ Canada leg of their 2024 tour will continue on through the West Coast and Vancouver, cementing their identity as a global sensation and more-than-emerging force of rock. “We couldn’t be more proud of this song and the record that we’ve made,” their Instagram post announcing “Your House” read. “Next February it will be yours. It’s our best one yet.”
