Fox Theater (Oakland, CA)
10/10/23
On October 10th, emo legends The Used took the stage of Fox Theater in Oakland, California for their fall tour, supported by Sleeping With Sirens and Dead American. After Dead American opened the show and Sleeping With Sirens finished their set, a decorated sheet reading “Up Next The Used” veiled the stage, and the anticipation to see one of the most influential bands in the 2000s scene rose. The sheet dropped to reveal a visually stunning set covered in pink roses reminiscent of the album cover of their ninth album, Toxic Positivity, released earlier in May of this year. The band opened with “Pretty Handsome Awkward” from their 2007 album, Lies for the Liars, a mainstay in their setlist and a standout in their discography.
They played hits like “Buried Myself Alive” from their 2004 self-titled debut album and “All That I’ve Got” from their 2004 sophomore album, In Love and Death, as well as newer releases like “The Worst I’ve Ever Been” from the newest album. With over 20 years of music and 9 full-length albums, The Used have an extensive discography, of which they had to pick out 15 songs for the show. Balancing the songs loved by their fans for years with their newer music, they delivered a mix of beloved classics and recently released tracks. Their audience, mostly composed of “elder emos,” held on to every second of the show, transported back to their teenage days.
The Used’s dedication to their craft was evident in every aspect of the show – from the meticulously crafted set design to the flawless execution of their music. Frontman Bert McCracken commanded the stage with a pink wired mic and mic stand covered in flowers. The chemistry among the band members was undeniable, with Jeph Howard on the bass, Dan Whiteside on drums, and Joey Bradford on guitar combined to create a sonic force that reverberated throughout the venue. Their tight musicianship and seamless cohesion were a testament to their years of experience – like they said during the show, they’ve been an emo band for 23 years and have “been here the whole time,” no breaks or anything.
Towards the end of the pre-encore set, “I Caught Fire,” off of In Love and Death, was accompanied by heart-shaped confetti that rained down on the floor. Their most-streamed song, “The Taste of Ink,” closed out their pre-encore set with overflowing energy that had nowhere to go but into the final three songs of the night during the encore. “A Box Full of Sharp Objects” closed as the final song of the night, and Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens came back out to help end the show. The fact that Sleeping With Sirens, a band who was inspired by The Used, is now playing shows with The Used and themselves have been around for over a decade, speaks to The Used’s longevity as a band who have continued putting music out and touring the world. Playing shows with still the same energy and still drawing such a crowd goes to show that they’re still at the top of their game and will continue being icons of their genre.
