The Used have been out of the spotlight for some time it seems, with their last
record, 2009's Artwork, making nowhere near the same kind of impact as their
earlier releases, which saw them emerge as one of the biggest bands in the
scene at the time.
They may have been away for a while, but it is clear that none of their rabid fan base have forgotten about them during a prolonged absence. They receive a reception nothing short of a heroes welcome here tonight, but before the Utah natives take to the stage, the baying throng are treated to two stellar performances from two of the most talked about up and coming bands in Britain.
They may have been away for a while, but it is clear that none of their rabid fan base have forgotten about them during a prolonged absence. They receive a reception nothing short of a heroes welcome here tonight, but before the Utah natives take to the stage, the baying throng are treated to two stellar performances from two of the most talked about up and coming bands in Britain.
Although something of a strange choice of support for a band
such as The Used (American support would have been the more obvious choice here
tonight), openers Marmozets put in a great effort, building on a stellar year
which has seen them show real promise time and time again. They first blew me
away supporting VersaEmerge around a year ago, and they have got better and
better since, really making a name for themselves with the diminutive
powerhouse Becca McIntyre leading an ever impressive line. Their sound is
perplexing, utterly mind-blowing, and devilishly heavy as their math-rock
ambience twists and turns, and takes the listener on a real journey throughout.
Taking the best of tech, prog, math and straight up screamo influences, they
are a force to be reckoned with, and as the band’s guitarists respectively end
the set tangled amongst the crowd in the middle of the floor, they prove a
worthy appetizer for the night’s events.
Don Broco follow, and are becoming something of a powerhouse
on the bubbling Brit scene, as they ready themselves for the release of their
debut album Priorities later in the year. Solid pop rock, with bags of
charisma, and an enigmatic frontman in Rob Damiani, they have a bright future in
front of them, their big hooks and choruses getting the crowd more than warmed
up for the headliners. Their inspired “walking man” routine is not to be missed
either, and makes an expected appearance in their set; the material is getting
there too, and as the year progresses, they will be ever on the rise.
Although two great opening slots from up and coming Brit
bands open the evening, it is the night’s main attraction that the devoted
hardcore are here to see tonight, as The Used make a much heralded and long
awaited return to our shores.
They don’t disappoint . . .
Ever present set opener Take It Away, as always, explodes to life, and the set starts as it means to go on; the floor erupting, and the crowd losing their mind for the first of many times during the set, as they sing every word back at Bert McCracken whilst he stalks the stage like the seasoned pro he is. Fan favourite The Bird and The Worm follows quickly, before an enormous Listening threatens to envelop the crowd early on, in a ravenous outing for a band clearly energized and feeding off every drip of sweat and enthusiasm the crowd gifts back to them.
Bert is in a jovial and upbeat mood, ever baiting the crowd,
and inciting sheer mayhem from those stood before him at the drop of a hat (particularly
from the female contingent in attendance). It’s not just about a pretty boy
lead singer though; it’s about the hits, and The Used have them in abundance.
Newer material such as Kiss It Goodbye and I Come Alive
merge seamlessly with anthems of years gone by, as I Caught Fire, and a blistering
The Taste Of Ink see the band in the form of their lives. Every time a crowd
take home the “4 o’clock in the fucking morning” refrain from that track, it
gets louder and louder, cementing its legacy along with the impact it has had
on all in attendance; it has not diminished one bit, nor lost any of its bite
with age.
All That I’ve Got follows, and Buried Myself Alive is simply
massive, that guitar riff sounding better than ever here tonight amidst the
ballroom stylings of the HMV Ritz, before the main set closes with a riotous
Paralyzed.
As the band leave and return for their encore, they
encourage an intense circle pit, punctuate the opening of their final farewell
with Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit, before ripping into a huge send off of
Pretty Handsome Awkward (complete with THAT juggernaut riff) and a breathtaking
A Box Full of Sharp Objects.
It’s sweaty stuff; if anyone forgot who The Used were before
tonight, then they just got reminded in stunning fashion just how great a band
they were, and, most importantly, are.
The Used are back – they ain’t going anywhere.
Setlist - Take It Away / The Bird and the Worm / Listening / Kiss It Goodbye / I Come Alive / I Caught Fire / Hospital / The Taste of Ink / All That I've Got / Buried Myself Alive / Blue and Yellow / Give Me Love / Put Me Out / The Best of Me / Paralyzed /
Blood on My Hands / Pretty Handsome Awkward / A Box Full of Sharp Objects
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