Cover Story: Inhaler’s ‘That’s Entertainment’ Brings Back the Original’s European Rock Idiosyncrasies
Taking iconic European classics and adding their own alt-rock twist, the fresh Dublin band — shows the world that rock never dies.
Written by Jencie Tomasek
Photos courtesy of Neal Preston Corbis and Lewis Evans
When you think of pioneers of ’70s and ’80s punk rock, your mind might not come up of bands hailing from across the pond. Following the United Kingdom music boom in the ’60s, the ’70s variations of rock — blues rock, folk rock, and psychedelic rock — was formative for music that followed, including new-wave rock. The short-lived punk phase eventually subsided, and many mainstream bands disbanded or moved on to different genres. The Jam was among the group of bands looking to keep punk rock alive, which meant experimenting with their sound to keep up with the ever-changing tastes of the mainstream while forging their own unique place in rock.
The Jam was known for its outlook as the “angry, young man” and for lyrics centered on themes of working-class life as a means of social protest and authenticity to match the times and climb the charts. With melodic pop songs, obvious English wit, and a refreshing mod image similar to U.K. rock from the ’60s, The Jam revived the old rock sounds in Europe.
One such song that perfectly encapsulates The Jam’s overall sound and messaging is “That’s Entertainment.” A number one hit and one of their most beloved songs, the easygoing rhythm and soft pop melodies appeal to fans of both classic rock and mainstream pop. The lyrics resonate with the European middle-class as well as those who are constantly working, surrounded by dead-end streets, train tracks, abandoned houses, and factories, providing a taste of everyday working-class life.
While some feel the song is overly wordy, the simple melody and steady tone of lead singer and songwriter Paul Weller creates an intensity that builds throughout. It’s a song of frustration that is sung and produced with a certain grittiness and power that remains sensitive and relatable. It’s almost entirely acoustic, with very light percussion. It feels like something played to a small pub of patrons instead of a stadium — and The Jam makes it work.
Right off the bat, you’re transported to a simpler, slice-of-life time that many working-class Brits and Americans remember: “A police car and a screaming siren / Pneumatic drill and ripped-up concrete / A baby wailing, stray dog howling / The screech of brakes and lamp light blinking.” The iconic refrain of: “That's entertainment / That's entertainment” reminds you of the mundanity of everyday life being amusing to those who don’t understand or share these life experiences with other class factions. Weller used it to raise awareness of how working-class families and their children had to find entertainment in menial events of everyday life. The constant repetition of this line throughout emphasizes the repetitive nature of life for those who see themselves in this song. Weller has a heavy accent and talks through his singing, making his delivery slightly choppy and stilted. He often sings as if he is reading off a list of dreary middle-class experiences.
On the flip side, Inhaler takes the iconic song and transforms it from a stripped-down acoustic ballad. Heavy instruments, bass, drums, and synth all come to shine. It feels more in your face, angrier and filled with despair. With a strong Irish accent that slips through on certain words, lead vocalist Elijah Hewson’s lyrical delivery enjoins each new train of thought and better matches the quick tempo of the guitar and bass. Hewson emphasizes the ending of certain words, drawing them out and playing with them on his tongue before spitting them back out: “…Lights going out and / a kick in the balls… A freezing flat / with damp on the / walls.” Inhaler’s version is similar to the pop rock and alternative rock that is popular with Generation Z. Drummer Ryan McMahon adds an extra layer to the guitar and tambourine with controlled and steady aggression, making Inhaler’s version more grounded and solid. Overall, it’s an edgier, fresher, and succinctly put together take on The Jam’s classic.
Inhaler is reviving European-based rock while crossing overseas to America, whereas The Jam only topped charts in the U.K. While The Jam was part of the punk-mod revival, the mainstream popularity of the subgenre was short in favor of an ever changing music scene favoring pop and American tunes. Inhaler, respectively, rose to fame in 2020, about two years after establishing their four-man band with no plans of stopping. Inhaler’s birth was one of the most anticipated music acts from Ireland to get popular and in an interview with Billboard, among others, they’ve stated they wanted to help bring back classic rock back as Ireland hasn’t seen prominent rock acts since U2. The addition of heavier instruments and passion with each word shows that “That’s Entertainment” remains as relatable today as it was in the ‘80s. The cycle of rock bands being influenced by bands before their time continues well into the future, and Inhaler reminds everyone that rock never truly dies.