It was September 28, 2004 and emo music was in its hay day when The Used released their sophomore album In Love and Death. 

Twenty years to the day, the band played The Fillmore in Charlotte for a show that will likely never be forgotten by anyone who was there. The band has been on the road following the release of their latest album “MEDZ”, and doesn’t appear to be letting up on their touring with upcoming shows still on the way. I have seen them play before, but something about the intimate venue and excitement from everyone else packed into the venue told me this was going to be something special — it was.  

Hours before The Used took the stage, a line wrapped around the block with fans waiting to get into the venue, it was a sight to see. The excitement was palpable and the line to get into the show was just the first surprisingly-long line I found myself waiting in. As soon as doors opened fans flocked to the merch stand in the back of The Fillmore, it wrapped around the entire level below the floor where the tables were set up. 

Around 7:30 p.m. the opening band, RAUE took the stage — a band I would guess many people there were unfamiliar with, but that didn’t kill the vibes. The crowd was already packed against the barricade and despite not knowing all of the words fans were singing along and jumping along as the band laid down fast-paced and sometimes heavy riffs. Following their set the Plain White Tees slowed things down just a little bit, but still had the crowd singing along to their songs — once again proving my theory that emo fans are some of the best out there. 

Like a kid on Christmas Eve, it felt like hours after the openers finished their sets before the lights went out and The Used took the stage. When they did, the dull roar of background noise and singing to the intermission music turned into a cacophony of cheers, whistles, and applause. The band played an epic setlist that included hits off of several of their albums, with most coming from their first two albums — but also some newer songs. The pièce de résistance of the performance was when the band played Light with a Sharpened Edge, a song that singer Bert McCracken said they had not played in about 10 years. 

You’ll often hear bands tell the crowd on any given night, ‘This might be the best night of the tour so far,’ most people know they probably say that at every stop along the way, but based off the smiles and genuine happiness of the band on stage, two decades after their biggest album hit the shelves — it might just have been true. 

Review & pix by I’m Music Magazine Photographer/Writer Michael Praats