The Used Rattles Nostalgia on Night 2 in New Jersey

In case you missed it, The Used are doing something special to celebrate their 25th anniversary. They have been playing 3 nights at all of their stops, each night a different record from front to back. I was there the night prior for their self-titled,then back again at Starland to see The Used play In Love and Death in full for their second show.

Night 2 followed the first night’s format. This time, New Jersey’s own In Angles opened the show. Opening their set with “Melonhead,” the band has a bit of a math rock / pop punk, eclectic sound. Singer Tom Etts jumped around and ran back and forth for their whole 8 song set. He mentioned at one point growing up down the road from the iconic Starland Ballroom and how much it meant to the band to be playing there with The Used.

Shortly after they left the stage, the white curtain was back. When the videos started, it was similar to night 1, but changed for this album cycle. Somehow Starland felt even more packed and crowded than the first night, and you could feel an electricity over the crowd while they all watched the videos flashing across the screen.

If you have seen The Used play before, they probably opened the show with “Take it Away.” It always gets the crowd losing their minds immediately. Lucky for us, this is the opening track for their 2nd album, and the song got everyone losing their shit right away. Again, Starland Ballroom was packed to every corner and everyone was there to lose their voice. “I Caught Fire,” “All That I’ve Got” — these songs have been staples for The Used ever since they first came out. We got to hear them all, again, plus more.

Before these shows I have seen and photographed this band more times that I can count. After seeing them playing these 2 shows back to back, it felt like the band was truly just having the best time on stage. Trading smiles with each other and us, it was nice to watch them on stage connecting with everyone in the room — old fans and new. It felt like they were fully in their moment, enjoying this thing that they built over 25 years.

At one point during both shows Bert addressed the crowd saying, “We never broke up. We just needed a break. The Used has been a band for 25 fucking years!’” Damn right. By the time they finished their set with the elder emo anthem “I’m A Fake,” I don’t think anyone in that room had a voice left after screaming every word.

25 years and 10 studio albums later, The Used know who they are… and they know who their fans are. This trilogy tour they’re on is definitely one for the people. Getting to hear these albums front to back with thousands of people just as excited as you are — that energy is hard to describe. I am glad I was able to be there to share these moments with everyone else. There’s a reason these first 3 albums are as iconic as they are. There is a reason The Used have been able to connect with so many for so long — and I surely don’t see them slowing down anytime soon.