House of Blues Dallas, was buzzing with anticipation. Fans ranged from longtime scene-kids who first grabbed the record in 2004, to younger fans discovering the band’s legacy in real time. The Used dedicated this evening to performing (one of) their landmark albums in full, “In Love and Death” as part of their “25 Year Anniversary” tour.
The house lights dropped. A hush fell over the crowd. A video played on the curtain hanging in front of the stage…And then, from first note to last, the album that defined so many high-school bedrooms and echoing emo basements was brought fully to life.
“In Love and Death” in full
Right out the gate, the band launched into the opening track of In Love and Death, Take It Away. The fidelity of the live sound gave the material a rawness that enhanced the emotional weight of the songs. Each song was treated with reverence — as though the band and the room were both aware that this album still matters.
The crowd, for their part, sang along with ferocity. When the chorus of a track like “I Caught Fire” rolled around, the venue pulsated with voices and raised fists. There was a sense not just of nostalgia, but of communal catharsis: here was a group of people united by the same record, the same formative years.
On stage, frontman Bert McCracken delivered a vocal performance full of grit and emotion — the rough-edges intact, the passionate inflection still very much present. The guitar riffs and drums carried the punch they always did, but tonight they felt sharpened by memory and context. The band didn’t just play the album — they lived it again, and brought the audience into the moment.
Visually, the lighting and staging were effective without being over-the-top: moody washes of red and blue during the heavier songs, warmer light for the more melodic ones, and moments of darkness to allow the crowd’s voices to rise. A particularly memorable moment came during the penultimate song of the album: the lights went to full white for the chorus, and the entire venue joined in as one.
Special Moments
What struck me most was how multi-generational the crowd felt. Parents, teens, long-time fans, newer converts — together, united by songs written two decades earlier. At one point, Bert paused between songs and gestured broadly: “You guys know this one — let’s scream it out.” And indeed, the room screamed it out. During “Let It Bleed” Bert had 2 young fans come on stage and rock with them during the song.
Between songs, the banter was minimal but effective: enough to keep the pace, enough to let the music shine. You could feel the band’s respect for the material as well — this wasn’t just a greatest-hits set, it was a celebration.
The acoustics of House of Blues served the show well; the band sounded clear and powerful, the crowd responses were loud but not overwhelming, and the general-admission layout allowed for both intimate connection and full-room energy.
Reflection & takeaways
For a band celebrating 25 years, there’s always a risk of nostalgia-overload or a show that merely “goes through the motions.” But what The Used delivered on October 23rd felt sincere, powerful, and relevant. Playing In Love and Death in full was not just a trip through memory lane — it was reaffirmation that the album still resonates, that the emotions still hit, and that the band still has something to say.
If you were there, you likely walked out with bruised voice from singing, maybe a bit hoarse from the pit, but definitely feeling something — connection, catharsis, community. If you weren’t, this review hopefully conveys a little of what the night held: one of those concerts that remind you why you fell in love with the music in the first place.
