The Used Celebrate 25 Years of Chaos
- shutterhubmediaca
- May 16
- 2 min read
Updated: May 21
Featuring:
Photos by: Samantha Madnick
Words by: Rudy Flores
The Used Celebrate 25 Years of Chaos, Catharsis, and Connection at House of Blues San Diego:
Twenty years ago, the House of Blues San Diego flung open its doors on 5th Avenue, and The Wailers were the first to christen the stage. Since then, that stage has seen thousands of artists pass through—sweaty, roaring, soul-baring performances that have soundtracked two decades of memories. And what better way to celebrate this legendary venue’s big 2-0 than by bringing in bands that helped build its legacy?
Enter The Used.
Right in the middle of their 25th anniversary tour, the emo/post-hardcore icons kicked off the first of a sold-out, three-night takeover on May 13th —and let me tell you, they’re not just playing shows… they’re throwing full-blown nostalgia-drenched emotional revivals. Each night is dedicated to one of their biggest records, and tonight was all about 2007’s Lies for the Liars.
Before The Used tore into their set, the night opened with Speed of Light, a family trio from Santa Monica that immediately made you wonder why the hell they’re not headlining their own tour already. Cameron on guitar, Tyler on drums, and Riley—front and center on bass and vocals—blasted out a genre-hopping blend of garage grit, punk attitude, and progressive polish. Tracks like “Séance” lit the room up with raw power and conviction, earning them a roomful of new fans. Bookmark that name. They're on a fast track to bigger stages.
Now, back to The Used.
Night three of their San Diego stint felt like a time machine dialed to 2007. From the moment they hit the stage with “The Ripper,” it was clear this wasn’t just another stop on tour—it was a full-on celebration of a record that defined an era for many in the crowd. The energy? Nuclear. The fans? Unhinged in the best way.
Bert McCracken—part frontman, part ringmaster, part emotional exorcist—commanded the stage like only he can. His voice hit every scream, croon, and whisper with precision, and his connection to the crowd? Deep. When he sang, we screamed. When he talked, we listened. When he invited fans onstage during “Paralyzed,” the venue transformed into a sea of flailing limbs, tears, and euphoria. It felt like we were all part of something bigger than ourselves.
The visuals were just as powerful. “Chadam”—that creepy little mascot from the Lies for the Liars cover—made a surreal appearance, bringing the album’s chaotic aesthetic to life. It was weird. It was theatrical. It was perfect.
Highlights? Too many to count. “Pretty Handsome Awkward” was a full-blown riot. “The Bird and the Worm” hit with a strange beauty that’s only grown more haunting with time. And “Smother Me,” rarely played live, made its long-awaited return to the setlist, closing the night with a gut-punch of cathartic tenderness.
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