Review: The Used – The Used

Adam Grundy Jun 23, 2022

I’m not quite sure when my fondness for a band called The Used started. I seem to remember hearing about a hyped band, from an article in Alternative Press, where producer and Goldfinger founder John Feldman was gushing over this band that he helped get signed to a major label. The Used were comprised of lead singer Bert McCracken, bassist Jeph Howard, drummer Branden Steineckert and guitarist Quinn Allman, and their incredible band chemistry was able to capture early and inescapable magic on their self-titled debut. The first track that I ever heard from The Used was “A Box Full of Sharp Objects” from a Warped Tour compilation, and it became increasingly evident to me that this band demanded to be taken seriously. The lead single from their debut LP was an abrasive, wall of sound effort that captured a punk rock spirit paired with screamo vocals that many other bands would emulate later in our scene. The Used would go on to sell over a million copies in the United States and cement the band’s legacy as one of the emo/punk scene’s primary front-runners.

Jason Tate Jun 1, 2022

The Used have canceled their upcoming festival shows:

I have always been open about my struggle with mental health and have recently found myself facing new and overwhelming challenges. For this reason, I won’t be able to play the upcoming shows at Slam Dunk. I am so sorry but needed to make this decision to focus on professional treatment and self-care. Performing live for The Used fans is one of my greatest joys, and I can’t imagine doing anything else. We have the best fans in the world, thank you for your undying support.
With Love, Robbie and The Used

Rise Against Announce New Tour Dates

Jason Tate Feb 28, 2022

Rise Against have announced a new tour with The Used and Senses Fail.

Jason Tate Sep 14, 2021

Coheed and Cambria and The Used will be livestreaming their September 19th show via Veeps.

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3OH!3 – “Vampire’s Diet”

Jason Tate Jun 28, 2021

3OH!3 has shared the new song “Vampire’s Diet” featuring Burt McCracken of The Used.

Jason Tate Oct 14, 2020

Bert McCracken talks with Alt. Press about what The Used are up to and when we may see new music:

We had so many tracks from the recording sessions we did last year, almost a full record worth of songs. So, I think the Used fans can maybe expect to hear a few new tracks this year. We’re just trying to stay as busy as we can, and hopefully we’ll be back playing shows before 2025. Jeez, get us back on the road… But hopefully in the next little while, we’ll hear some new tracks from the Used. There [are] also some more features coming up. I’ve been lending my voice out as much as I can while I’m at home. Actually, [there’s] something coming up in the next couple of weeks, so it should be really exciting.

Machine Gun Kelly Releases Deluxe Album

Jason Tate Sep 30, 2020

Machine Gun Kelly has released a deluxe version of Tickets to My Downfall to all streaming platforms. It features six new songs, including “Body Bag” featuring Yungblud and Bert from The Used. The song was inspired by Fall Out Boy’s “Dance, Dance” and the band approved the clearance.

Sidenote: I think what’s been interesting about this album is to see the homages, or some may say pop-punk clichés, being repurposed in a modern way. To my ears there’s a whole lot in this album that I’ve heard before, from Good Charlotte, to Blink, to Fall Out Boy, but it finds just enough of a way to feel new. I don’t think any of the aforementioned bands could have gotten away with it. There’s no expectations. When Blink-182 releases a new album everyone has an idea of what they want it to sound like, but this is free of those and therefore allowed to stand on its own. I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find that it works far more than it doesn’t. “Forget Me Too” is a hit.

Jason Tate Aug 3, 2020

Blink-182 will headline and The Used, State Champs, Mayday Parade, Four Year Strong, The Ataris, Hit The Lights, and more have been announced for the Four Chord Festival. It’s planned for July 21st, 2021 at Wild Things Park in Pittsburgh, PA.

Jason Tate May 18, 2020

The Used have shared a new video for “The Lighthouse.”

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Review: The Used – Heartwork

Adam Grundy May 4, 2020

There were a lot of moving parts that came together to make Heartwork, the eighth full-length studio album from The Used. For starters, the band made the conscious effort to reconnect with their longtime collaborator/producer John Feldman. The Used also welcomed a new guitarist, Joey Bradford, into the fold for this album as a permanent band member. Lastly, the band decided to use some outside collaborations, including Travis Barker, Mark Hoppus, Jason Butler, and Caleb Shomo, to enhance their sound on this album further. All of these efforts paid off as The Used have created one of their strongest and most cohesive albums in years.

Bert McCracken Talks New Album With Alt Press

Jason Tate Apr 22, 2020

Bert from The Used talked with Alt Press about their upcoming album:

We make music because we love to write songs. It’s not only fun for us, but we’ve been doing it for so long, we feel like we’re pretty good at it. Then we get to have even more fun taking it out on the road and seeing how the songs translate live. All of the other stuff can be a distraction and get in the way. But we’re not a brand-new band, so we get to avoid all the perils and traps of social media because we already have an established place in the music industry. It’s nice [that] we don’t really have to concern ourselves with so much of the horribly depressing parts of what’s really special. Good music will always shine through all of the horrible things that surround the music industry. Punk rock has always been for those who take a chance. Punk rock is meant to be the alternative to what is popular. I think everybody should take their lives back and quit billionaire social media programs. But that’s just me.