Tonight will be an experience, simple as that. Tonight at the Sydney Opera House The Used are giving us this one night only event and there kinds of shows are just next level and I have to say, what a privilege to be here to witness it.
As the orchestra tunes up and Sarah Grace Williams our conductor comes out the show can begin. The band take the stage to thunderous applause and into ‘The Bird and The Worm’ and just wow. What a way to start the show. Unbelievable. They are not messing around tonight and if that was indication of how the rest of the night will go then we are in for a massive treat. Into ‘Take It Away’ and with everyone yelling it back to the stage you can just see the joy radiating from the band. You know when you get the feeling that this show tonight is not only for us but you can tell it’s going to be one of the best experiences of their career and I’m so proud to be a part of it. ‘Buried Myself Alive’ is absolutely epic and just became my favourite version of any song by The Used ever. This was made for tonight.
Addressing the crowd the joy is overwhelming in here ‘All That I’ve Got’ and yeah I’m so sorry this willing a gushing review I can’t help it, this is magic. As the choir take this one out the best part was watching the band watch them and just be mesmerised. “How incredible is this, this is a dream come true” Bert exclaims through a smile ten miles wide. ‘I Caught Fire’ is made for this version. I’m so beyond impressed. ‘Yesterday’s Feelings’ slows things down immensely before some amazing poetry from Bert and then as the orchestra starts the next one we stay slower with ‘Poetic Tragedy’ and it was awesome. We all stand for ‘Blood on My Hands’ and this gets things much heavier. Wow. Oh holy shit my unexpected but most wanted song of the night is up with ‘Pretty Handsome Awkward’ and I wondered how they’d do this and here we are, my god this is next level. That owns the night. That riff, a guitar solo, the choir. Wow. I could leave happy right now but as the band walk off instead even they know how good that was as we head into intermission. What a first act. I am actually blown away.
The Opera House is buzzing! The orchestra are back in their seats and I can’t wait to see what act two holds. Let’s get heavy to start act 2 ‘Say Days Ago’ and this band only performance is massive. What I love is you can just see the orchestra watching them as they await their return which is classic. Into “some punk rock shit” with ‘Bulimic’ and there was plenty of love for that. As Dan kicks in the next one ‘Sound Effects and Overdramatics’ this band only part of the set is great. Taking a second to soak it all in and accepting the kudos they deserve we stay punk rock as the guitar riffs in ‘Let It Bleed’ and what a catchy track this is.
The choir and our conductor return to the stage and ‘On My Own’ is up next as Dan and Jepha leave the stage and Bert and Joey deliver, and that was beautiful. Another soliloquy, this one from Hamlet before an amazing introduction to ‘Blue and Yellow’ and that was absolutely marvelous. That song is one of my favourites of their catalogue and tonight it was taken to many new heights. In my favourite game tonight of guess the orchestral intro I couldn’t figure this next one out until ‘The Taste of Ink’ kicked in and didn’t it what. We all stood as this absolute banger sounded absolutely perfect tonight and as everyone yelled these lyrics back to the stage you can tell how much they mean to them and how much this song helped shape this band.
Bert stays on stage for ‘Smother Me’ solo and it was truly special, then as we know this is the last one and it’s ‘A Box Full of Sharp Objects’ and they gave it their all then as Joey hits that very familiar guitar riff we are treated to an outro of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ and one word, simply is wow. A well-deserved standing ovation for an unbelievable evening, and my hands are sore from clapping, it just kept going and was so well deserved. Tonight, hard to put into words other than the 800 or so above, but witnessing a band do what they truly love and having a moment they will never forget is really something special. I’m hoping we see or hear some footage from this show again so I can relive one of the best concert experiences I’ve had in a long while. My only true worry now is how can I ever listen to these songs again without this kind of orchestral / choir backing?! How?!
Thank you, Bert, Jepha, Dan, and Joey. I hope you loved tonight as much as everyone here did.
Superb.
Essential Information
Venue: Sydney Opera House
Date: March 29, 2026
Presented by: Destroy All Lines
Website: https://www.theused.net
Set List:
The Bird and the Worm
Take It Away
Buried Myself Alive
All That I’ve Got
I Caught Fire
Yesterday’s Feelings
Poetic Tragedy
Blood on My Hands
Pretty Handsome Awkward
Say Days Ago
Bulimic
Sound Effects and Overdramatics
Let It Bleed
On My Own
Blue and Yellow
The Taste of Ink
Smother Me
A Box Full of Sharp Objects
