The Used + Taking Back Sunday
UNSW Roundhouse, Sydney
Saturday August 22nd
Photos & review: Jess Ward
The crowd was abuzz and The Roundhouse filled up nicely in anticipation for the chaos that was about to ensue. When you think Taking Back Sunday and you think The Used, you immediately think ‘I’m about to have bloody good time’ and I believe that was the general mentality throughout the crowd. So, heading to the stage first were Taking Back Sunday, who were greeted by a eagerly screaming crowd; and with that, the energy was set for the rest of the night – it didn’t falter at all thereafter. TBS opened with a new track ‘Stood A Chance’, and the crowd had no problem singing along and their feedback grew even louder when the band followed up with one of their most successful songs ‘Liar (It Takes One To Know One’). Flirtatious lead singer, Adam Lazzara, worked the crowd with an impressive amount of energy throughout the entire set and continuously captivated the audience with his dance moves and great stage presence. The pinnacle of their set for the majority of the audience, as well as myself, was when the guys played ‘Cute Without The ‘E’’ and ‘Make Damn Sure’. The crowd went crazy as everyone sung and cheered along, leaving us wanting more and resulting in everyone growing even more excited for what The Used were going to bring next.
By the time The Used hit the stage, screaming fans were more than warmed up and ready for everything that was in store for them. Opening their set with ‘Cry’, the crowd was urged to clap along. The bands’ set was filled with all their best songs, which continuously produced an intense and crazy reaction from diehard fans. Lead singer Bert McCracken used the song changeover time to reflect on his past life experiences, which was appreciated by those that have stuck by the band throughout their many years of success. Continually stating how much he loved living in Sydney and the fact that he was able to go home to his own bed, drew a cheer from the audience, who were clearly more than happy to adopt him as a local resident. Fans obviously got what they came for when songs ‘I Caught Fire’, ‘All That I’ve Got’ and ‘The Taste Of Ink’ played, causing an eruption of voices singing along. The Roundhouse seemed like the perfect venue for the night, as the chorus of voices bounced off the round walls and made the big space feel small and intimate. Chaos erupted when McCracken encouraged everyone in the pit to split into two and run at each other, while his nephew was brought to the stage to properly take in the incredible night. The Used ended their set with a song that began with the into to ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ which then transformed into ‘A Box Full Of Sharp Objects’ and finally ended with a portion of Rage Against the Machine’s ‘Killing In The Name Of’. The audience watched on and gave it everything they had, fully absorbed in the energy of the past couple of hours.
Special mention has to go out to Breakaway and Corpus, who kicked off the night wonderfully. Both bands were awesome additions to the night’s lineup and definitely warmed the crowd up nicely in anticipation for Taking Back Sunday and The Used.
This was absolutely a night filled with nostalgia and it didn’t disappoint, not in the slightest. I felt like I was 15 years old again and I’m sure this was the same for many other committed fans. This was definitely a gig that I’m glad I can stay I attended, even with my ears still ringing a day later. The other cities are in for a real treat. You’ll surely be kicking yourself for a long time if you missed out on tickets.
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