15 March 13-19, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | Contents | Letters | news | night+Day | CuLture | Cafe | Music | Reskin says. The store’s online presence be- came crucial when in-person sales came to a halt. Sweat had a coffee shop inside the store for years, which sadly closed during the pandemic. The store also faced the diffi- cult decision of laying off all but one em- ployee to stay afloat. Grants from organizations like the Miami Foundation provided some financial relief, helping Sweat weather the storm. Musician and businessman Jimmy Buffett, a longtime customer, generously wrote the store a check to help cover the rent in the summer of 2020. As conditions gradually improved, Sweat cautiously reopened its doors, implementing social distancing measures to ensure cus- tomer safety. Slowly, the store adapted to the new normal, reaffirming its commitment to serving Miami’s music lovers. Expanding the Vision Looking ahead, Sweat is doubling down on its goal to foster music discovery, support lo- cal artists, and keep independent music cul- ture alive. With a growing emphasis on world music, the store now boasts one of the most comprehensive international vinyl selections in Florida. Customers can walk in and find vinyl records from all over the world, includ- ing rare and obscure releases. Sweat’s staff spans generations, reinforc- ing its commitment to keeping music knowl- edge alive and offering customers an invaluable intergenerational perspective on music. “My employees have great recom- mendations,” Reskin says. “Flipping through a bin and scrolling through an algorithm are just two completely different acts, and there’s nothing that takes the place of being in front of everything and being able, if you want it, to take it home that minute.” Its efforts to create memorable experi- ences for its customers have certainly paid off, and last year marked its best sales year for the third consecutive year. The milestone re- flects not only the store’s enduring relevance but also the unwavering support of Miami’s music community. Sweat has become essen- tial to Miami’s cultural landscape by continu- ously evolving, curating a diverse music selection, and fostering a space for music lov- ers to connect. As one of Miami’s longest-running inde- pendent record stores, Sweat remains com- mitted to fostering music discovery, community engagement, and cultural preser- vation. Its team is passionate about ensuring Miami’s music lovers have a space to gather, listen, and celebrate their shared love of vinyl. With two decades under its belt, Sweat Records continues to be a testament to the power of independent businesses and the resilience of Miami’s music scene. As they look to the future, Reskin and her team remain committed to making Sweat a space where music lovers can discover new sounds, connect with their community, and celebrate the art of vinyl. Sweat Records 20th Anniversary Party. With Adrian Quesada, ANR, Ale & Mle, Lolo, DJ Hottpants, and others. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at ZeyZey, 353 NE 61st St., Miami; zeyzeymiami.com. Tickets cost $30 to $40 via eventbrite.com. [email protected] Breathe Deep Irish indie rockers Inhaler make their South Florida debut. BY ISABEL WILDER D ublin-based indie-alternative band Inhaler will visit South Florida as part of the North American leg of its Open Wide Tour. Released on February 7, the group’s third album, Open Wide, has topped the charts in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Since 2012, Inhaler, comprised of vocalist and guitarist Elijah Hewson (the son of U2 frontman Bono), bassist Robert Keating, lead guitarist Josh Jenkinson, and drummer Ryan McMahon, has found its footing, with sold-out shows to prove it. Ahead of the band’s show at Revolution Live on Friday, March 14, Hewson and Keating spoke with New Times about their current tour and the success of Open Wide. “I think it just felt like there was a lot of firsts, which excited us a lot,” Keating says. “Our first two albums were with the same producer and someone who’s a dear friend of ours now. But producer Kid Harpoon has a really good skill for identifying things that he loves in songs and finding out what the song’s core is. We ended up sticking with a lot of the original demo stuff that we would have recorded ourselves before meet- ing Kid Harpoon at all and then putting them in the songs. And I think that approach he has — you hear it on Harry Styles’s music — like little sound bites and little moments that you can tell have been there since maybe the start; that felt new for us, which we liked.” British music producer Kid Harpoon (AKA Tom Hull) is best known for his work on the Grammy award-winning album Harry’s House, as well as crafting hit songs like Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” and Florence and the Machine’s “Shake It Out.” While Hull can be credited with producing Open Wide, Inhaler’s versatility de- fines its sound. “We’ve always explored things very heavily because we do have quite an eclectic music taste as a band. We all listen to very different stuff,” Hewson says. “I also think in music, it doesn’t feel like there’s any rules anymore. And we’ve never felt like we wanted any genre walls or anything like that. We just let the song become what it is, and then it becomes ‘Inhaler’ by us playing it over and over again. That’s always been part of our DNA.” Beginning with the fast-paced, alternative- rock ballad “Eddie in the Darkness,” Open Wide pulls from art rock, postpunk, and glam-pop. Tracks like “Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah)” and “A Ques- tion of You” feature indie-pop stylings character- ized by bouncy guitar riffs and danceability. Conversely, the modern rock songs “Again” and “Still Young” round out the record’s themes of self-reflection and optimism. The seminal title track “Open Wide” is the heart of this explora- tion of music and self. As a young group performing worldwide alongside seasoned artists like Harry Styles, Arc- tic Monkeys, Pearl Jam, and Kings of Leon, In- haler has learned to prioritize longevity when creating hits. For Keating, playing an old crowd favorite for years and reliving a previous music era is akin to “wearing one of your haircuts from when you were 15,” which, depending on the person, could go either way. “Someone in the Arctic Monkeys was talking to us when we were on tour with them, and they basically said that one of the songs they didn’t like playing it that much, but they played it most nights,” Keating says. “It wasn’t like advice; they were just kind of like joking around, saying, ‘Oh, that song’s a drag to play’ or whatever. But I took it as advice because I think naturally, when you’re in a band, and you make music, there are some songs that you fall in and out of love with. I think it’s important to still value the art.” Part of Open Wide’s timeless sound can be attributed to the band’s return to its hometown roots. Except for the pandemic, Inhaler has had little opportunity to be home since supporting Oasis’ Noel Gallagher in 2018 and its first head- lining tour in 2019. After years of touring, living at home on their off time allows these child- hood friends to maximize their time with their loved ones and focus on what’s important: making music. “We kind of went back to a space closer to where we used to rehearse when we were teen- agers. So, we were closer to the sea this time. And I think that definitely brought back a lot of nostalgia and a sense of just being carefree again and a bit younger. We all still haven’t moved out. There’s no point in us getting places when we’re just on the road all the time,” Hewson shares. “I think being at home, being back with my parents and stuff, was actually really good for the music because there was a sense of no responsibility. Everyone was just excited to play music and go home and have dinner with their family or what- ever. It felt very normal, which was exciting, to have a bit of routine for once.” After a period of recharging, Inhaler looks forward to continuing its North American tour and visiting Florida for the first time. While South Florida’s trademark humidity might remind these Dubliners of home, the warm sunshine is a bright spot after touring in Canada this winter. Travel destinations aside, this growing number of stops on the Open Wide Tour provides an excit- ing opportunity to further connect with the band’s American fanbase like never before. Inhaler. With Benches. 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 14, at Revolution Live, 100 SW Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954-449-1025; jointherevolu- tion.net. Tickets cost $31.50 via ticketmaster.com. [email protected] Irish band Inhaler stops at Revolution Live on March 14. Photo by Lewis Evans | CROSSFADE | ▼ Music Miami Sound Machine from p14
