The Used w/ the New Regime
Showbox SoDo, Seattle, WA
04.05.16 – Night 1
Fifteen years ago, a full-length album was a thing, a truly integral and omniscient moment in a band or artist’s music career. It’s telling then, why there are so many dedicated fans – many with VIP passes – in attendance for night one of The Used’s back-to-back show at Seattle’s Showbox SoDo. The band is running an entire tour based of the fifteenth anniversary of their self-titled debut record, playing it in its entirety on night one, and their sophomore record In Love and Death on night two. And this Seattle stop? It’s the first one in the states.
The crowd is thick and the stage is littered with mannequins, the self-titled album’s cover art hanging as a backdrop. There are flashing red lights, and amplified sirens, the ultimate warning signs, and The Used finally take the stage and immediately get things going with “Maybe Memories.” Their mics appeared muffled, or maybe completely off, but before the end of the song, they were in business. Between tracks, vocalist Bert McCracken has a lot to say, and while the album originally spawned four singles, it was clear that every single song held emotional resonance for not only the crowd, but the band.
As McCracken stated before “Bulimic” these two records “were very personal and this is very therapeutic.” They are all clearly having a ball on stage, and the crowd is singing along to every word, so much so that several times throughout the night McCracken goes quiet and lets everyone else sing for him. The emotional angst of the record, matched with their better-than-ever musicianship made for a visceral and highly-energetic night. But this has been the magic and the myth of The Used all along. This joy/pain emo-core balance. They have it.
For “Say Days Ago” McCracken encourages a massive circle pit, but he didn’t even need to ask. Already thrashing as one, bodies float and bump toward the stage. McCracken takes a moment to appreciate the security staff in the venue, as the constantly pull fans over the barricade, one after the next. He also takes a moment to acknowledge that tonight is also the anniversary of a local legend’s death, “I think Kurt Cobain is the last person in this earth who was a real rock star,” before breaking into the melodically heavy “Poetic Tragedy,” its controlled choruses and chamber music vibe holding strong.
For “A Box Full of Sharp Objects” the band is joined on stage by William Control, who matches electrically charged vocals with McCracken, bounding across the stage. The track is still a head-banger live, with some of the best scream and bass around. From there into “Blue and Yellow’s” beautiful statement, the band shows off their range. “I’m gonna try and say this without sounding too cliché… but these first two records really saved my life,” McCracken says, introducing torc ballad “On My Own.” Lighters and phones fill the room, arms raised in appreciation.
Before the last track McCracken asks “out of curiosity how many of you are coming tomorrow night,” and it seems like half the crowd is planning to, “I’m telling you, tomorrow night, bring your tissues.” And then they scorch the room with the hard-hitting rocker “Pieces Mended” before an encore of electro-punk goodness via “Choke Me,” one of the original hidden album tracks.
The entire night felt like a communion, a therapy session, a reverential friendship. To get in on the action, find a show near you.
The Used Set List
Maybe Memories
The Taste of Ink
Bulimic
Say Days Ago
Poetic Tragedy
Buried Myself Alive
A Box Full of Sharp Objects
Blue and Yellow
Green with the Scenery
Noise and Kisses
On My Own
Pieces Mended
Encore
Choke Me
Review by Stephanie Dore
Photos by David Endicott
The Used
