Dublin based band, Inhaler pulled into Philadelphia bringing the Irish spirit just before St. Patrick’s Day. Fronted by Elijah Hewson, they are one of the newest up and coming bands out of Ireland. 

This is the second time Inhaler has played the Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia, and this time around the show was sold out! As I arrived to the show, lines wrapped around each side of the venue. It was a true full house with little to no standing room. I’d say, the full capacity adds so much more to the experience. The opening band took the stage and screams rang out through the venue, traveling like a riptide from the barricade and rolling into the halls of the lobby. I was struck with confusion, since I haven’t heard such an energetic crowd at the TLA before. I entered the bustling venue and caught the opener, Sun Room, a surf rock band straight out of California. Their set was very upbeat and definitely grabbed my attention. In the middle of their set, the openers did a cover of “Get Off Of My Cloud” by The Rolling Stones, and dedicated it to Inhaler. The lead singer of Sun Room said, “We love those boys very very very very much, and this next song is dedicated to their beautiful faces.” After their set was done, the crowd began to grow as they anticipated Inhaler’s arrival.

Suddenly a remix of “Lujon” from the Mr. Lucky Goes Latin soundtrack by Henry Mancini began to play as the band took the stage, leaving a unique sense of euphoria amongst the room. Screams overcame the track as the music began to reverb and fade away. The band suddenly entered the stage and the drummer started to count off, leading the guitarist into his first riff of “These Are The Days,” illuminating the room with sound. The crowd began to jump up and down as the true main act drew in all of the presence in the theatre. The excitement remained prominent throughout the first half of the set. The lead singer, Hewson began to interact with the crowd, recognizing faces from previous shows. “Good to see you. I feel like recognize every single one of you,” he exclaimed. He was happy to see an ever growing fanbase in Philadelphia. Flowing through the setlist, eventually the group landed on “Dublin in Ecstasy,” and one of my favorite tracks off of their latest album, “Cuts & Bruises.” Though the song may be new on the album, it tracks back to the band’s early days. I read a quote a few weeks back stating that they used to play this song when they were 17 or 18 years old. Their fans in early years of the band gravitated towards it live. It all made sense to me because of the fullness that the track carries. It seems like the type of song you’d like to hear live at a music festival. I picture someone running closer and closer towards the music as it echoes throughout the festival grounds. The same feeling emitted throughout the small concert venue, and it left an impression on me I’d like to look back on fondly through time. 

After the tour debut of “In My Sleep,” two songs remained before the encore, “Who’s Your Money On? (Plastic House)” And “Cheer Up Baby”.  The setlist had a fair blend of tracks from both of the band’s debut and sophomore album. The band left the stage and returned shortly after for their encore. Warming the crowd back up with “If You’re Gonna Break My Heart,” the band brought out some soul with the American influenced track. “Thank you, all the way at the back there,” Hewson pointed to the balcony seats, “Yea yea, we see you! Let’s do this one more time. Just one more time. Alright. 1, 2, 3 yea!” Hewson counted in the band, and they finished powerfully with “It Won’t Always Be Like This.” 

Once the show was over, fans rushed to the merchandise table to collect what remained and patiently waited outside to meet the band. I stuck around for a bit, but left after I saw how large the crowd outside was. The next day I saw a fan post on Instagram of the band heading out and thanking the fans outside politely. It’s no surprise to see such passion in a young fan's eyes when the talent definitely lives up to the hype. I’m looking forward to seeing the band grow as the years follow, and hope to see them again on their next stroll through America. Overall, I’d recommend this band to almost anyone. Their music is excellent as is, and the energy they bring to the stage is just as impressive, if not more. Until next time, Inhaler.