The USed

“Night three with the used is about to begin” read the curtain, before The Used took the stage. Behind it, a faded polaroid of “25” projected, labeled “best band in the world” handwritten on tape. 

The Used threw the crowd straight back to 2007 with their closing night of their 25 Year Anniversary Tour, playing the entirety of Lies for the Liars front to back, with one fan favorite addition. A red velvet carpet, “Lies for the Liars” platform, and The Used’s mascot, Chatham, on the cover of the album projected to the back wall were perfect visuals for the band, emulating their signature aesthetic. 

The tour covered six U.S. cities, every stop containing three nights, each one dedicated to their three original records in order: The Used’s self-titled debut, In Love and Death, and Lies for the Liars. Finishing out their tour in Philadelphia on November 13th at The Theatre of Living Arts, the band had a (showstopping) finale. 

The curtain drops, and the crowd starts screaming. “The Ripper” sends everyone into an uproar, nostalgia and excitement rushing through their bodies, as frontman Bert McCracken (vocalist) shows us just what they've been waiting for. The whole band brought the electricity and the talent, Jeph Howard (bassist) on his impressive 5-string bass, Joey Bradford (guitarist) had incredible backup vocals, and Dan Whitesides (drummer) pounded out rhythms you could feel in your chest. 

Following with their hit songs, “Pretty Handsome Awkward” and “The Bird and the Worm” was a surreal experience for fans, getting a chance to hear emo anthems live. Even 20 years later, McCracken has the mesmerizing ability to demand the room, keeping all eyes locked on him from start to finish. 

“Paralyzed” was a highly anticipated moment of the evening, as McCracken invited fans on stage via crowdsurf to join him for the track. As 10 lucky fans made their way to the stage being carried overhead, they waved to their families and friends before dancing with the band. 

The next two tracks had an interesting contrast in fan experience, as the band started a sea of handwaving in unison for “Wake the Dead”, as if the whole audience was entranced in the moment. McCracken immediately followed the song up with, “For this next one, I want to see everyone make out” as “Find a Way” began. 

Before closing out the show with the last track on Lies for the Liars, McCracken said he had one last song for the diehard fans. “Pain”, a bonus track on Shallow Believer that has since become an insider classic as it was pulled off the album at the time, was a flawless gift to the original fans, resulting in an eruption of cheers. 

“I don’t want it to be over, I want to stay up here all night long! How about we play every record front to back?” McCracken exclaimed before playing “Smother Me” to finish the show, offering a cathartic close out to the night.

Photos and Review by Bek Allegretti