Bert McCracken of The Used proclaimed, “I’m bringing emo back!” during their recent show in Raleigh, North Carolina at the Red Hat Amphitheater. I’m not sure if it’s a personal quest of he adn the band, but based on how they sounded at this show, we are all for it! The band is currently out on the road as support on Rise Against’s Nowhere Generation Tour along with Senses Fail. McCracken certainly knows how to engage a crowd and he had this one eating out of the palm of his hand. He wanted everyone to let out all of their frustrations and to boo instead of cheer. They were hanging on his every word, which proved to make the evening even that much more entertaining. The setlist drew heavily from the band’s first two albums, their self-titled debut in 2002 and from 2004’s In Love and Death. Shortly into their set, McCracken looked out and spotted Jesus Christ in the crowd and had a little fun with him. McCracken definitely has a quick wit and his sense of humor was on display all throughout their set. The band sounded awesome and everyone that we talked to afterwards were thoroughly entertained by them.
Review and pictures by I’m Music Magazine Owner/Editor Johnny Price