Still Screaming: The Used 25th Anniversary Tour Hits Hard in San Diego

May 16

House of Blues, San Diego – Night 2 of 3 | May 2025

Two and a half decades after its release, In Love and Death remains one of the most emotionally raw and influential albums to emerge from the post-hardcore scene of the early 2000s. On night two of their three-night stand at the House of Blues San Diego, The Used delivered a scorching, full-album performance that proved the record has lost none of its urgency…or its bite. 

Frontman Bert McCracken wasted no time tapping into the emotional heart and soul of the album. Bert’s vocals, still as powerful and unfiltered as ever, ranged from gut-wrenching screams to vulnerable and beautiful falsettos, delivering that manic, magnetic charisma. 

The band played In Love and Death front to back, honoring the original sequencing with precision and heart. Fan favorites like “I Caught Fire” and “All That I’ve Got” landed like emotional uppercuts, while deeper cuts such as “Light with a Sharpened Edge” and “Lunacy Fringe” showcased the band’s dynamic range and enduring cohesion. Guitarist Joey Bradford brought modern edge and clarity to the arrangements, while bassist Jeph Howard and drummer Dan Whitesides held the foundation down with tight, urgent rhythms that kept the energy at a boiling point. 

There was a collective release happening inside the House of Blues, a tangible catharsis shared between band and fans. The closing track, “I’m a Fake,” turned the room into a full-throated choir, with McCracken basking in the moment as hundreds screamed the iconic final lines back at him. 

If night one set the tone and night three will close it out, night two was lightning in a bottle: impassioned, precise, and utterly unforgettable. The Used aren’t simply reliving their past—they’re proving just how vital it still is.

The Used 25th Anniversary Tour ends tonight in San Diego, with the band performing their third album Lies For The Liars.  For more information on The Used, please visit: www.TheUsed.net