MANCHESTER WELCOMES INHALER WITH THEIR ‘ARMS OUT OPEN WIDE’
LIVE REVIEW | INHALER @ O2 APOLLO, MANCHESTER 09/02/2025 By Keira Knox
A venue of such grandeur deserves a band of equally impressive status. Saturday night saw Manchester’s O2 Apollo welcome Dublin band Inhaler, with their ‘arms out open wide’. Just a day after the release of the critically acclaimed third album, ‘Open Wide’, Inhaler brought tracks of old and new to the stage, its clear that within 48 hours of release fans had spent every waking moment learning the lyrics.
Consisting of Elijah Hewson, bassist Robert Keating, guitarist Josh Jenkinson and drummer Ryan McMahon, Inhaler are one of a multitude of enthralling acts coming out of Ireland, with the release of their latest album they’re mixing 70s chic with indie riffs to create truly uplifting tracks.
The Guest List
Manchester’s own, The Guest List made a lasting impression on the Apollo audience. From the offset the Manchester rockers put guitar music at the forefront, making them the ideal openers for Inhaler. The fast paced guitar riffs waving from the stage had the audience spellbound, attentive to every chord.
The bands performance is a testament to their unwavering work ethic. Track after track laced with some of the most poignant song writing around. The Guest List are one of the most promising artists emerging from Manchester’s renowned music scene.
Gurriers
Like Inhaler, Gurriers are stepping outside of Ireland’s boundaries to leave their mark on the world stage. They use the exciting and exuberant clamour of psych punk to convey the bottled-up annoyance of the time we live in.
Their unique live presence brings an energy to the stage that we’re likely to never see again. Heavy bass lines, pulsating drum beats and vocals that radiate an unwavering passion, Gurriers are set to dominate the upcoming music scene.
Inhaler
The glittering lights above the elaborately decorated stage captivated the excited crowd below, before submerging the venue once more into the utter darkness. As the adrenaline fuelled ‘My Honest Face’ catapulted their newest endeavour into touch, the Dublin rockers’ highly fashionable set came into view, in a matter of seconds they had the Manchester audience at their mercy.
From there, the mood was set for an unforgettable evening honouring the finest in up-and-coming rock. A set free from illustrious graphics and stage design; just four extraordinarily gifted players allowing their music speak to take the spotlight, the crowd relating to every lyric and it worked flawlessly.
As anticipated, the set included many of Inhaler’s most recent songs from ‘Open Wide,’ including ‘A Question of You,’ which showcased frontman Elijah Hewson’s impressive vocal ability while providing the audience ample opportunity to jump and dance to the infectious beat; sweeping vocal harmonisation and a guitar-driven creativity break out in ‘Eddie In The Darkness.’
Hewson declares “This one’s for One Direction,” before the band burst into ‘Little Things’, a track that sees their grunge influences shine through. Turning back the time to their debut with tracks like ‘When It Breaks’ and ‘Who’s Your Money On? (Plastic House)’, each member is given a chance to shine and take centre stage to demonstrate their unmistakable skill. The vibrant drum patterns of Ryan McMahon, the synth sound of Josh Jenkinson’s outstanding guitar riffs, and Hewson’s strong vocals are all complemented by Robert Keating’s stunning bass lines.
The band’s experimentation with 80s synths and melodies is highlighted in ‘Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah),’ which is a definite fan favourite as the Apollo burst into a mass sing-along. Jenkinson’s guitar chords had the opportunity to take centre stage in ‘Love Will Get You There.’ Elijah Hewson stepped down into the audience during the grunge-infused track ‘Dublin In Ecstasy,’ letting a fan take to the mic, demonstrating how crowd involvement is what makes Inhaler so popular. You could sense the sense of excitement and ecstasy oozing from the audience; if there’s one thing you can count on, it’s Inhaler making their performances so joyful.
On ‘Cheer Up Baby,’ Hewson’s stunning vocal range takes the forefront, accompanied by a lively bass line, lightning-fast drums and robust guitar riffs, an unwavering amount of passion permeates through the lyrics. The first half of the set ends with ‘Just To Keep You Satisfied,’ which serves as a subtle reminder of their progress in the brief period since the publication of their sophomore album, ‘Cuts & Bruises.’
The encore closes out what has been a night of celebration of a band at their peak. ‘Open Wide’ proves that studio recordings may not always convey the energy these tracks were destined to; whether it’s the catchy energy or alluring melodies, there’s something about Inhaler’s live performances that takes their songs to a new level. Jenkinson takes the stage for an exciting solo in ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This,’ that has the crowd begging for more. ‘Your House’ elegantly ends the evening, bringing the focus back around to their latest album.
Inhaler are trailblazers in this new era of rock music; they’re bring 70s glam to a contemporary audience, reviving the fun and uplifting aspect of the modern music scene. The Irish outfit is deserving of their reputation as the band that defines an era and revives rock music.
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