Review
The Used at Bamboozle 2009
- Author:
- Review Date:
- 4/08/09
As soon as I snaked my way into the massive crowd standing impatiently chanting for the Used, I was suddenly flooded with memories from two years ago: I was at the Grove in Anaheim, suffocating against the barrier when the band made their way onstage. It was a great show because of the small crowd and the inside venue. Back to the present, I realized I could no longer get through the people packed like sardines and stood, a little put off that I would have to settle being so far away. Nonetheless, I cheered when the band came out. As soon as Bert McCracken put the mic to his lips and shouted, “What the fuck’s up Bamboozle,” the music started.
The first song the band played was the crowd favorite, “Take It Away”. It was hard for me to see the other members of the band. The only one I could see even remotely well was McCracken because, unfortunately, a large moshpit ended up forming right in front of me so I had to be careful not to get hit by the flying fists. I noticed during this first song that something seemed off about the Used. I attributed it to the bad acoustics first (outdoor shows never sound as good as they would indoors) then quickly realized that it was more than that. The band seemed to be off by a couple beats and McCracken seemed to force his voice out. The singer seemed tired and out of breath during the whole set. Not to mention he didn’t look too good from where I was standing, like he’d boozed one too many nights. The third song played, “The Bird and The Worm” is another crowd favorite. Jeph Howard, the Used’s bass player, really caught my eye during this song, even from far away. He not only plays his instrument exceptionally well, but he is just as entertaining to watch as McCracken. Howard is one of those performers that simply exist in their own little bubble. To him, no crowd is watching, and he shuts his eyes as if to shut out the hundreds of people he’s playing for and get back to his own reality: his bass guitar, his music. Watching a performer get swept away by his music is always a fascinating experience.
The rest of the band played well throughout the set, though I couldn’t see them very well from my standing point. At one point during the set, McCracken shouted, “So, we have to get off the stage early because 50 Cent [the Bamboozle headliner] wants more stage time.” The crowd boos. Later on, McCracken confronts the crowd again, with an impish grin, and says, “50 Cent just told me in my earpiece that we’re allowed to play one more song.” The crowd cheered and the Used played their hit single “Pretty Handsome Awkward” to close the set. The band did come back on for an encore with Saosin singer Will Francis, but I was long gone by that point.
To be honest, I felt the Used played a much better show when I saw them at the Grove a couple years back. The energy at this show seemed extremely low, and I attribute it to McCracken’s lack of liveliness.
Hopefully, the next time I see the Used play, I come home feeling a little more satisfied.
The first song the band played was the crowd favorite, “Take It Away”. It was hard for me to see the other members of the band. The only one I could see even remotely well was McCracken because, unfortunately, a large moshpit ended up forming right in front of me so I had to be careful not to get hit by the flying fists. I noticed during this first song that something seemed off about the Used. I attributed it to the bad acoustics first (outdoor shows never sound as good as they would indoors) then quickly realized that it was more than that. The band seemed to be off by a couple beats and McCracken seemed to force his voice out. The singer seemed tired and out of breath during the whole set. Not to mention he didn’t look too good from where I was standing, like he’d boozed one too many nights. The third song played, “The Bird and The Worm” is another crowd favorite. Jeph Howard, the Used’s bass player, really caught my eye during this song, even from far away. He not only plays his instrument exceptionally well, but he is just as entertaining to watch as McCracken. Howard is one of those performers that simply exist in their own little bubble. To him, no crowd is watching, and he shuts his eyes as if to shut out the hundreds of people he’s playing for and get back to his own reality: his bass guitar, his music. Watching a performer get swept away by his music is always a fascinating experience.
The rest of the band played well throughout the set, though I couldn’t see them very well from my standing point. At one point during the set, McCracken shouted, “So, we have to get off the stage early because 50 Cent [the Bamboozle headliner] wants more stage time.” The crowd boos. Later on, McCracken confronts the crowd again, with an impish grin, and says, “50 Cent just told me in my earpiece that we’re allowed to play one more song.” The crowd cheered and the Used played their hit single “Pretty Handsome Awkward” to close the set. The band did come back on for an encore with Saosin singer Will Francis, but I was long gone by that point.
To be honest, I felt the Used played a much better show when I saw them at the Grove a couple years back. The energy at this show seemed extremely low, and I attribute it to McCracken’s lack of liveliness.
Hopefully, the next time I see the Used play, I come home feeling a little more satisfied.