Friday night marked the start of the UK leg of Inhaler’s Open Wide World Tour. It had been just over a year since we last saw them, back at their 3Arena show in Dublin in November 2023, a fitting farewell to the Cuts & Bruises era. To say we were excited to see them again would be an understatement.
The night kicked off with the first support act, Manchester based indie rock band The Guest List. While we’d heard of them, given their similarities to other bands we love, we hadn’t properly listened to them before. That changed the moment they took the stage, they captured our attention instantly. Their performance was electric, and by the end of their set, we knew they’d be a regular feature on our playlists.
Next up was Dublin’s own Gurriers, a post-punk five-piece with a talent for stirring up chaos in the best possible way. If you need a band to get a crowd moving, these are your guys. Their energy was infectious, and from the moment they launched into their set, the atmosphere shifted, it wasn’t just about watching a gig anymore, it was about being part of it.
Then, at 9pm, Inhaler took the stage. The first surprise of the night? Their iconic walk out song, Lujon by Henry Mancini, was no more. That was just the beginning of the shake ups. Opening with My Honest Face, a song that had previously been their closer, was a bold move and it paid off. A pit opened up (the first of many), and the crowd erupted. If there was any doubt about the excitement in the room, it was gone within seconds.
Straight after came Eddie In The Darkness, from their brand new album Open Wide, which had dropped less than 24 hours before the show. But fans had clearly done their homework, despite the song being brand new, plenty of voices joined in. Eddie In The Darkness is, in our opinion, an instant classic. We wouldn’t be surprised if this is one that remains on the setlist for years to come, as it deserves to based on the crowd’s reaction.
One thing was immediately clear: Inhaler wanted to evolve between Cuts & Bruises and Open Wide. The new songs lean more into a synth driven, poppier sound, yet they’ve managed to retain that signature Inhaler feel. The shift in style didn’t dampen the energy in the slightest, the crowd was just as engaged with the fresh material as they were with the classics. And as for the band themselves? They’ve never sounded better. Eli’s vocals were fantastic, Josh’s guitar work as incredible as always, Ryan put in the work on the drums, and Bobby somehow made playing bass at near knee level look effortless.
The setlist balanced old favourites with new tracks, keeping things fresh while still delivering those familiar, beloved moments. We were especially happy to see When It Breaks make the cut, one of those songs that never fails to get the crowd jumping. From Open Wide, they played A Question of You, Little Things, X-Ray, Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah), Open Wide, and Your House, all of which were met with just as much enthusiasm as their older material. Despite the album being brand new, fans were already belting out the lyrics, proving just how much these songs had resonated.
If you’re loving Open Wide, you need to experience it live. Inhaler have taken things to the next level, and trust us, their new material hits even harder in person.