THE USED CELEBRATE 25 YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN MELBOURNE
LIVE REVIEW | THE USED w/ Hevenshe | NORTHCOTE THEATRE, MELBOURNE by Kayleigh Nickson
After 2 years, The Used came back to Australia with a huge 21 date tour celebrating their 25th year anniversary as a band. Each city got at least 3 shows – each focusing on a different album. I was lucky enough to watch them at a sold out Northcote Theatre on the day they were performing their 2002 self-titled album in full which was the 11th date on tour.
This show was the change-over date for the support acts which means it was Hevenshe‘s first show with The Used and they did not disappoint. Hevenshe is an independent project from Tonight Alive’s Jenna McDougall which started during Tonight Alive’s hiatus. She was joined with RedHook’s drummer Alex Powys. I didn’t know any of their music but they had a great stage presence and got the crowd ready for night.
Hevenshe (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure) 
Hevenshe (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure) 
Hevenshe (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure) 
Hevenshe (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure) 
Hevenshe (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure) 
Hevenshe (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure) 
Hevenshe (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure) 
Hevenshe (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure)
The Used started their set with a screen covering the majority of the stage showing videos throughout their career including the self-titled CD and booklet being opened and looked at. When ‘Maybe Memories’ started, the sheet came down and revealed the stage set up for the night which included the ’25’ drum kit and the album art lit up in the back.
The Used (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure) 
The Used (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure) 
The Used (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure) 
The Used (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure) 
The Used (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure) 
The Used (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure) 
The Used (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure) 
The Used (Kayleigh Nickson/Northern Exposure)
The circle pits started early in the show and were encouraged by lead singer, Bert McCracken before playing ‘Say Days Ago’. The floors were shaking due to everyone dancing and jumping around, crowd surfers were constant – the atmosphere was incredible.
McCracken invited the crowd to mosh by saying “This is the song to mosh to if I’ve ever heard a song to fucking mosh to” before playing ‘On My Own’ which felt like the slowest song on their entire discography – it didn’t stop the audience from trying.
I admired the fact that they played the whole album in order, the way we all listened to it when it was first released on CD, it really helped with the nostalgia feeling that I imagine the whole millennial crowd felt. They finished their set with a treat, ‘Choke Me’ which is hidden in ‘Pieces Mended’ and a b-side from the self titled recording session and later on ended up as a song on their 2008 album ‘Shallow Believer’.
My only criticism is that I wish the night could’ve been longer as it felt like it ended very quickly, but I suppose that’s the one downside to a show dedicated to a 12 track album.
