Narc. Magazine Online
Reliably informed
Susie Burgess enjoys a night of raucous sounds from the Dublin band
Image by Lewis Evans
A tidal wave of electricity, Inhaler crashed into Newcastle’s O2 City Hall with enough energy to heat the bitter February chill. Opener Heidi Curtis stoked the excitable crowd, offering a contemporary blend of Alanis Morissette and Joan Jett-style sounds. Continuing to invigorate the packed hall, Gurriers bounded out with a punky, shouty sound fitting for fans of Sprints and Deadletter.
Already enlivened, Inhaler met a ravenous crowd which only evolved throughout their magnetising performance. Opening with My Honest Face, fans were instantly moving, almost overpowering Eli Hewson’s arresting vocal as it cut through the hall. Restless and keen, the devout audience gorged every guitar riff and relentless vocal offered from the altar of Inhaler’s feet.
The 16-song set balanced tracks from all three albums, with Open Wide, released only twelve days prior, a particular highlight. Ebbing through a natural flow, Inhaler made an exhilarating performance seem effortless; simply staged before a visual of their latest release, the Open Wide backdrop fell partway through the set to reveal the Dublin band backlit by an Irish flag.
With an encore of Open Wide, It Won’t Always Be Like This, and Your House, Inhaler left the stage to raucous applause. A must see for fans of Wunderhorse, Fontaines D.C., and Blossoms, Inhaler manoeuvred both music and crowd with admirable authority and talent.
