The Used + Jody Has A Hitlist - live
@ the Button Factory, Dublin, 22/04/12
(review & photos © Joe Donnelly)
I had my reservations about this show before-hand, and even though I liked what I'd heard so far I really didn't know that many of The Used's songs.
But more importantly for me was the fact that I knew the band's hardcore fanbase was made up mostly of young teenagers, so I had to prepare myself mentally that there was a very good chance that I was possibly going to end up looking like the oldest hipster in town, ulp!.
Thankfully that wasn't the case, as on the night as there was a few other chaperoning fossils from the land that time forgot dotted around the venue.
Rated Belfast / Dublin band 'Jody Has A Hitlist' kicked off the proceedings & started very strongly, the first song and a half was sounding great. But, it was just temporary as it wasn't long before they reverted to type and started to sound to me like all the other identical 'Kerrang' channel poppunkyrock fodder out there. Apart from a few fans they had a hard time getting the crowd interested, they were as generic as their floppy fringe haircuts suggested. Then again they'll not give a toss what I think as its not designed to appeal to my generation. So its mission accomplished as it didn't.
Just like me, Utah punky post hardcore outfit 'The Used' are probably a bit of an unknown quantity to most people reading this review, though 'Bert McCracken' the bands frontman might be a familiar unwashed face to some of you. He appeared in a few episodes of 'The Osbournes' during its satellite TV glory days as he was 'Kelly Osbournes' very scruffy main squeeze at the time, and the current 'Rancid' drummer 'Branden Steineckert' was also a 'Used' member for a number of years.
You'll be glad to know over the years nothings changed in Bert's male grooming regime, but don't judge this book by its shabby cover because the guy sure knows how to work a crowd and they loved him, dishevelled or not!
It has been six years since the bands last irish gig, and even though this tour is to promote their new album 'Vulnerable', the setlist was a real fan friendly affair containing a fair smattering of new songs aswell as 'Used' showstoppers such as 'Taste of Ink, 'I caught Fire' and a song I heard numerous times blasting from the front bedroom when Steven covered it during his 'VX' days - 'Pretty Handsome Awkward'.
The crowd were cranked up from the get-go and even though they were warned not to crowd surf there was a line of stage divers mid set lead by my daredevil son Steven who was first up during 'I come Alive', it eventually got to epidemic proportions and the bands roadies were roughly pushing the kids off the stage which was uncalled for & definitely not cool. Then the club security goons joined in and started breaking up the band-encouraged circle pits and walls of death before throwing some kids out for the capital crime of enjoying themselves.
The show ended on a real high with a manic rendition of 'A Box full of Sharp Objects' complete with a 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' intro which had the audience of teenage tearaways really going for it one last time. As an elder outsider, I was knackered just watching the kids in action - their energy levels were stratospheric!. This was the point when reality kicked in and I had my moment of doubt as I thought about the retro punk gigs I still attend occasionally and how a young outsider would view the coffin dodging audience members attempting to jump around like its their punky prime and trying not to throw out a hip while playing russian roulette with a potential heart attack. 'Angina in the UK' is not a pretty sight lol.
The show was over but 'The Used' finished the gig in style when the drummer 'Dan Whitesides' kicked over his drumkit then began throwing various parts into the audience for souvenirs. The ear splitting feedback screaming from the amps was a fitting soundtrack as the band exited the stage leaving a hyper audience and a scene of destruction behind them.
Surprisingly & against the odds I really enjoyed this show, I thought this was a cracking gig.
Joe Donnelly Belfast . 23.4.12.
I had my reservations about this show before-hand, and even though I liked what I'd heard so far I really didn't know that many of The Used's songs.
But more importantly for me was the fact that I knew the band's hardcore fanbase was made up mostly of young teenagers, so I had to prepare myself mentally that there was a very good chance that I was possibly going to end up looking like the oldest hipster in town, ulp!.
Thankfully that wasn't the case, as on the night as there was a few other chaperoning fossils from the land that time forgot dotted around the venue.
Rated Belfast / Dublin band 'Jody Has A Hitlist' kicked off the proceedings & started very strongly, the first song and a half was sounding great. But, it was just temporary as it wasn't long before they reverted to type and started to sound to me like all the other identical 'Kerrang' channel poppunkyrock fodder out there. Apart from a few fans they had a hard time getting the crowd interested, they were as generic as their floppy fringe haircuts suggested. Then again they'll not give a toss what I think as its not designed to appeal to my generation. So its mission accomplished as it didn't.
Just like me, Utah punky post hardcore outfit 'The Used' are probably a bit of an unknown quantity to most people reading this review, though 'Bert McCracken' the bands frontman might be a familiar unwashed face to some of you. He appeared in a few episodes of 'The Osbournes' during its satellite TV glory days as he was 'Kelly Osbournes' very scruffy main squeeze at the time, and the current 'Rancid' drummer 'Branden Steineckert' was also a 'Used' member for a number of years.
You'll be glad to know over the years nothings changed in Bert's male grooming regime, but don't judge this book by its shabby cover because the guy sure knows how to work a crowd and they loved him, dishevelled or not!
It has been six years since the bands last irish gig, and even though this tour is to promote their new album 'Vulnerable', the setlist was a real fan friendly affair containing a fair smattering of new songs aswell as 'Used' showstoppers such as 'Taste of Ink, 'I caught Fire' and a song I heard numerous times blasting from the front bedroom when Steven covered it during his 'VX' days - 'Pretty Handsome Awkward'.
The crowd were cranked up from the get-go and even though they were warned not to crowd surf there was a line of stage divers mid set lead by my daredevil son Steven who was first up during 'I come Alive', it eventually got to epidemic proportions and the bands roadies were roughly pushing the kids off the stage which was uncalled for & definitely not cool. Then the club security goons joined in and started breaking up the band-encouraged circle pits and walls of death before throwing some kids out for the capital crime of enjoying themselves.
The show ended on a real high with a manic rendition of 'A Box full of Sharp Objects' complete with a 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' intro which had the audience of teenage tearaways really going for it one last time. As an elder outsider, I was knackered just watching the kids in action - their energy levels were stratospheric!. This was the point when reality kicked in and I had my moment of doubt as I thought about the retro punk gigs I still attend occasionally and how a young outsider would view the coffin dodging audience members attempting to jump around like its their punky prime and trying not to throw out a hip while playing russian roulette with a potential heart attack. 'Angina in the UK' is not a pretty sight lol.
The show was over but 'The Used' finished the gig in style when the drummer 'Dan Whitesides' kicked over his drumkit then began throwing various parts into the audience for souvenirs. The ear splitting feedback screaming from the amps was a fitting soundtrack as the band exited the stage leaving a hyper audience and a scene of destruction behind them.
Surprisingly & against the odds I really enjoyed this show, I thought this was a cracking gig.
Joe Donnelly Belfast . 23.4.12.
'The Used' setlist
Take It Away The Bird and the Worm I Caught Fire Listening I Come Alive Hospital The Taste of Ink All That I've Got Kiss It Goodbye Buried Myself Alive Blue and Yellow Give Me Love Put Me Out The Best of Me Paralyzed Encore: Pretty Handsome Awkward A Box Full of Sharp Objects [With "Smells Like Teen Spirit" intro] |