REVIEW: Inhaler - Boston, MA (10/19/24)
The Dublin rock outfit, Inhaler, made their way back Boston on Saturday night, for the first time since last Spring. This US tour kicked off in Nashville only a few weeks ago & has already garnered so much praise from fans that they seem to be attending more than one date to get their fix. Roadrunner, the largest standing room only venue on the East Coast, hosted these Irish lads for one unforgettable night. With a queue of people wrapping all the way around the venue & down several blocks right before doors— high anticipation was evident.
Photo by Lewis Evans (@lewsvans)
Right before Inhaler’s appearance, we were graced with the talents of San Diego indie rock group, benches. They did a killer job warming up the crowd with their beach rock rhythms & infectious melodies. Fans at the barricade especially, made the band feel welcome as they danced along to every track regardless if they knew it or not.
At 9:10pm on the dot, the venue is in complete darkness & shrill screams for Inhaler erupt. After the dramatic entrance, the boys kick off the set with their electric single, “These Are The Days” followed by the merry tune “Love Will Get You There.” Their stage energy was contagious as they had everyone in the building grooving along to each track. While the band has been hinting at releasing new music through ambiguous social media posts, they confessed on stage for fans to anticipate a whole new record for next year. So, it was only fair that they tease new material. They performed two unreleased songs, “Your House” & “Eddie In The Darkness;” some fans even knowing all of the words already somehow.
Halfway into the set, fan-favorite “Who’s Your Money On? (Plastic House)” is performed with audience members at the barricade synchronously tossing (hopefully not real) dollar bills into the air in celebration as the chorus kicks in. While they played a good amount from their latest record from last year, Cuts & Bruises, they still definitely paid homage to their debut LP, It Won’t Always Be Like This, by incorporating plenty of adored tracks such as “My King Will Be Kind” & “Cheer Up Baby.” Frontman, Elijah Hewson, even hopped off the the stage to be eye-level with the crowd; serenading them & eventually borrowing a fan’s cowboy hat.
The boys saved the most energy-packed tracks for the encore, “Just To Keep You Satisfied” & “My Honest Face,” to which not a single person in the building could remain standing still. Sweaty & breathless, the crowd was most definitely satisfied with the band’s entire performance; only criticism wishing it went on longer. I mean, Boston’s known for its Irish influence, so the adoration of the Irish quartet was inevitable. This tour in particular is one you’ll regret if you miss.
WHERE TO FIND INHALER
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