On Wednesday, February 12th, The Used played a sold out show at the Theater of Living Arts in Philly, with support from Dragged Under. The fans were buzzing with excitement before the doors opened, noting how quickly tickets had sold out, and how lucky they felt to be seeing them at a more intimate venue.
Dragged Under took the stage first, and had no trouble commanding the crowd’s attention. Being the only opener of the night, they were faced with the task of showing the audience exactly what the night had in store for them. They took on this challenge, and succeeded without a doubt. It isn’t every day that you see an opener whose energy is on-par with the headliner’s, but Dragged Under did just that.
The Used took the stage shortly after, and the excitement in the room was practically tangible. From fans who have been following the band for nearly twenty years, to newer, younger listeners, there was something on the setlist for everybody. The blend of newer tracks and classic The Used hits ensured that no matter when you started listening, there was something for your to sing along to.
The Used’s energy on stage is something that’s rare to find. No matter how long they’ve been playing these songs, it was clear that they still loved doing it, and the fans loved hearing it. A notable moment was when frontman Bert McCracken brought a younger fan on stage — a girl no older than seven — for “I Caught Fire.” They sang and danced together right before she went out to crowdsurf for the first time. It’s little moments like that, that allow for the fans to attach new memories to the older songs, and give new fans memories that will last a lifetime.
The Used are a classic band in the emo scene, and their tracks will always be staples in the genre’s discography. They’re making sure that with every new release, they keep up this legacy by producing albums better and more innovative than the last. It takes skill and effort to maintain your status as one of the most iconic acts in a genre, but this is something The Used have no trouble with. Between memorable, high-energy sold out shows, and new tracks that are always pushing the band to an even bigger potential, The Used aren’t going away anytime soon, and we can’t wait to see what they have in store for us next.
The Used and Dragged Under have a few more dates this month before their tour ends. You can grab tickets here — this is a show you don’t want to miss.
