Inhaler are a band that, over the past few years, have taken the indie music scene by storm. From opening up for artists such as Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Kings of Leon, they have now secured a dedicated fan base and are selling out venues not only across the UK, but internationally.
Their concert at Manchester’s O2 Apollo was the second date of two sold out shows at the venue in support of their latest album, ‘Open Wide’ which was released on 7th February 2025.
The gig was originally supposed to be at the end of February but was unfortunately cancelled due to illness within the band. Upon walking into the venue, you could feel the excitement in the atmosphere building in readiness for the band to take the stage. The concert was definitely worth the added wait, and there was an amplified energy in the air as the crowd waited in anticipation for the show to start. The pre-show playlist that was selected was also perfect. Playing songs from Arctic Monkeys, Oasis and Sam Fender further hyped the buzzing crowd.
Inhaler had two support acts, local indie band Permanent (Joy) and Irish punk band Gurriers. Both acts charmed the crowd in preparation for Inhaler with their distinct offerings of their discographies.
Inhaler took to the stage promptly at 9pm and kicked off their setlist with the titular track of their most recent album, ‘Open Wide’. Despite having played back-to-back shows in the week before the concert, the band’s presence on stage could not be faulted. Inhaler’s concerts are infamous for highly active crowds, and this show was no exception. Even from my seat in the circle, everyone around me was stood up and dancing. At multiple points throughout the show, the band exclaimed that it was their “best f****** crowd ever”, which only added to the electricity in the venue.
Although the stage design first appeared to be quite simple, Inhaler utilised a diverse amount of lighting effects to accompany their songs. For ‘Dublin in Ecstasy’, a vertical tricolour of green, white, and orange glowed behind the band, representing their Irish roots. For frontman Elijah’s solo during ‘Who’s Your Money On? (Plastic House)’ the rest of the band disappeared into a blue fog as the spotlight turned just him, which created a very intimate moment between him and the crowd as they fell silent to listen. The experimental lighting throughout the show was the perfect addition that enhanced every song.
Manchester Apollo holds around 3,500 people, meaning it is still a relatively intimate venue. This meant that the band could interact with those that managed to get to the barricade. At one point in the show, Elijah jumped into the crowd and passed his microphone to a lucky fan. He asked, “How’s your singing voice” before letting her sing, or rather scream, the lyrics to ‘Dublin in Ecstasy’. The strong connection between the band and their fans in undeniable, with them even waving to some familiar faces in the crowd that they recognised from previous shows.
One thing that didn’t go unnoticed at the concert was the wide age demographic of the audience. If you look beyond the screaming girls at the barricade, you could see older groups and people with their parents. It is evident that their music shouts out to all ages with their Britpop-rock-inspirations that produces nostalgic sounding tracks. Although sometimes accused of following in his father’s footsteps (Bono, the lead singer of U2) Elijah and his bandmates bring a refreshing sound that utilises their raw self-written lyrics.
Despite the focus of the tour being Inhaler’s latest album, the band included hits from their previous two albums, ‘It Won’t always Be Like This’ and ‘Cuts and Bruises’. Their popular hits, ‘Cheer Up Baby’ and ‘My Honest Face’, were met with screams from the crowd and erupted into a strong current on the floor that got everyone moving. The sea of movement did not stop for the whole concert.
The show was rounded off by the band thanking the crowd once again, before playing another single from their latest album, ‘Your House’. Inhaler ended the gig by throwing their drumsticks and setlist into the crowd before walking off stage. The buzzing electricity of the gig followed fans onto the street of Manchester. It is undeniable that Inhaler not only have a vastly ranged discography that is even better live, but also an exceedingly perfected stage presence that leaves fans elated at the end of their show.
Words by Lydia Potter
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