Photos by Lewis Evans
I had the honor of attending the opening night of Inhaler’s North American tour following their recent release of sophomore album Cuts & Bruises, and it’s certainly a show I won’t be forgetting. The North American tour started off with a nearly sold out show in Austin’s iconic venue Emo’s, which just so happened to be Inhaler’s first time in Texas frontman Elijah Hewson announced to the impressive Monday night crowd.
Local Austin band Dress Warm was enlisted to support Inhaler’s opening night, which is a sure-fire way to win the hearts of music-loving Austinites. The crowd welcomed the indie bedroom pop band with open arms as enthusiastic cheers and applause erupted from the barricade between each song. They kicked off their set with their track ‘Afraid’ off their recent EP Cowboy on Ice, and it was clear that this wasn’t the band’s first rodeo. They were able to power through a couple of technical difficulties, showcase their creative chemistry with one another, and invited the crowd to dance along with them, which was all the more impressive when they announced to the crowd that they were added to the bill just that morning. They ended the set with an energetic bop, which set the perfect tone for Inhaler’s performance.
Inhaler hit the stage with ‘These Are the Days’ from their latest release Cuts & Bruises. It was obvious that Texas fans had long awaited the chance to see the group’s first performance in the state; you couldn’t help but get wrapped up in the crowd’s infectious energy as they threw up their hands for the band’s smash hit ‘My Honest Face.’ Between bassist Robert Keating’s irresistible bass lines, guitarist Josh Jenkinson’s electrifying guitar riffs, and drummer Ryan McMahon’s rhythmic taps that you could feel pounding under your feet, it was nearly impossible to not dance along to Inhaler’s lively performance. With lighting and impressive acoustics that created beautiful stage moments and Hewson’s encouragement to keep the crowd engrossed in every song, it was no surprise that the audience begged for an encore as soon as the group stepped off the stage. The night ended with ‘If You’re Gonna Break My Heart’ and ‘It Won’t Always be Like This’ before they said their final goodbye, leaving fans buzzing with their friends about the performance they’d just seen.
If Inhaler’s opening night is an indication of how the rest of their North American shows will be, then this tour definitely isn’t one to miss. This was my introduction to the band, and I am certain I will be seeing them again the next time they join us Stateside. As evident by the crowd I attended with, the group has a devoted American audience that will always be happy to have them. In the meantime, I’ll be keeping Cuts & Bruises on repeat.
