Inhaler by Lewis Evans
Some bands hit the ground running, based on luck, charisma, artistry, or connections, or they happen to be in the right place at the right time. Inhaler certainly had a connection, but as constituted in 2012 took a few years to really become the group they are today. In early years they called themselves Collapsible Chairs, with the members — lads from Dublin, Ireland, all 12 or 13 years old — bonding over a love of Nirvana and Arctic Monkeys, who they would later tour with.
When the original singer stepped down, guitarist Elijah Hewson (more on him in a moment) assumed vocal duties full-time, with bassist Robert Keating, guitarist Josh Bartholomew Jenkinson, and drummer Ryan McMahon solidifying the sound and initially adopting the name The Inhalers, in honor of Hewson’s asthma medicine. Still in their teens, they honed their craft by audibly imbibing Stone Roses, New Order, Joy Division, Happy Mondays, Depeche Mode, Echo & the Bunnymen, Talking Heads, Oasis and Thee Strokes. The band listened for nuance, finding the tones and crafting the tunes that would help them stand out among other bands from the Emerald Isle and the UK.
Inhaler released several singles that helped elevate their sound and bring them the attention that every fledgling band needs to launch. It worked; they spent 2019 opening for Noel Gallagher’s High-Flying Birds and recorded a self-titled debut EP that notched several charting singles. They have since released three albums: It Won’t Always Be Like This in 2021, Cuts & Bruises in 2023, and the brand new Open Wide.
It doesn’t hurt that Hewson is the son of Bono, famous for his love of righteous causes (and for singing for Irish rock group U2). However, it should be noted that U2’s first two records, Boy and October, originally premiered on the UK Album charts at number 52 and number 11. Inhaler stormed the charts in 2021 at number 1 and 2023 at number 2. With Open Wide garnering praise ahead of an international tour, perhaps we should refer to Bono as Elijah Hewson’s dad in the future.
Inhaler and the Benches play 6:30pm Friday, March 14 at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale. inhaler.band ~ Tim Moffatt
