The air inside the Theater of Living Arts (TLA) on Monday, November 10th, was thick with history and anticipation. Celebrating their mind-blowing 25th anniversary, screamo’s enduring gods, The Used, kicked off the first of a three-night Philadelphia residency, each dedicated to performing a different seminal album in its entirety. Night one belonged to their caustic 2002 self-titled debut, and the faithful packed the storied South Street venue, ready to be transported back to a golden age of angst.
From the curtain drop and the second the opening riff of "Maybe Memories" shined through, the room hit a fever pitch that frontman Bert McCracken has been expertly fueling for a quarter century. McCracken, a whirlwind of energy and trademark stage banter, leaned into the catharsis that defined their breakthrough. The crowd became a single, throbbing organism during the anthemic high points: a thousand voices screaming "What is it you fear?" during "The Taste of Ink," followed by the punishing, raw nerve of "Bulimic."
The genius of this residency is its focus. Hearing deep cuts like the frenetic "Greener With the Scenery" and the slow-burn intensity of "Blue and Yellow" reaffirmed the debut’s power it wasn’t just a collection of hits, but a visceral statement. The band guitarist Joey Bradford, bassist Jeph Howard, and drummer Dan Whitesides were locked in, delivering the blistering performance with modern technicality while preserving the original’s youthful fury.
The main set climaxed with the unforgettable breakdown of "A Box Full of Sharp Objects," before the band returned for a killer encore that included a faithful, grunge-soaked cover of Nirvana’s "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and the deep-cut favorite "Polly."
For a band navigating their silver anniversary, The Used proved that their music hasn't aged a day. It still hits with the force of a wrecking ball and the sincerity of a diary entry. With two more nights promising full album performances, Philadelphia is in for a beautiful, broken, and unforgettable week.
SETLIST
Maybe Memories
The Taste of Ink
Bulimic
Say Days Ago
Poetic Tragedy
Buried Myself Alive
A Box Full of Sharp Objects
Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover)
Blue and Yellow
Greener With the Scenery
Noise and Kisses
On My Own
Pieces Mended
Polly
Choke Me
Next Tour Stops:
11/11 Night 2 Philadelphia
11/13 Night 3 Philadelphia
11/25 Vancouver CA
11/26 Kelowna CA
11/28 Calgary CA
11/29 Edmonton CA