The Detroit Fillmore was a buzz with excitement. Outside the building as you walked through the crowd you could hear laughter, singing and bits and pieces of The Used‘s music being played from cell phones. Everyone was eager to start their evening. Inside, the merch line wrapped up the stairs and around the corner.
As everyone made their way to the stage the first band started. The Eeries, a band from LA set the tone. A band who sounded like a new age Nirvana. Next up, Marmozets, from the UK. It’s becoming more and more common to see a female front “man”. The crowd was mesmerized by her vocals and the motions of her body. Every Time I Die came to the stage determined to get the crowd moving. Between running all over the stage and jumping into the crowd, instruments in tow, the crowd was really showing them a lot of love. But finally what we had all been waiting for.
The stage went dark and the crowd was surging. In unison you could hear the chant, “USED, USED, USED”. Suddenly you could see dark figures moving across the stage, and at that moment the crowd grew steadily louder. Then all at once, the lights came on and there is The Used, opening their set with ‘Maybe Memories’, from their first self-titiled album. The energy in the room was none like I have ever felt before. Not one song went by that the crowd didn’t sing along word for word. Half way through, frontman, Bert McCracken, stopped the show to speak to the crowd. He spoke of “Revolution”, and what it means to him, as well as the meaning that went into their last album, “Imaginary Enemy”. His passion filled the room. Every person in the building could feel this passion and was supporting and giving right back to him. This was when Bert took a moment to play, “On My Own”, acoustic with new guitar player, Justin Shekoski. It was an intimate moment between the crowd and the band. A moment that almost left McCracken emotional. As the set continued the passion and energy stayed present in the room. No one want to see the night end but knew it had to. The Used closed their set with a Rage Against the Machine/ Nirvana cover that lead into their encore song, “Boxful of Sharp Objects”. For the last time that night the crowd went insane and showed The Used how much they love them.
As the band left the stage one by one people started leaving the crowd. They were sweaty, happy and still singing along. The Used left a huge impression that night one that I’m sure left everyone thinking. I don’t think one person left that venue in a sour mood that night.
Words and Photography – Taylor Conley
