The co-headline Taking Back Sunday and the Used tour—AKA the stuff of emo dreams—came to Tulsa Theater for an evening of both classic hits, new music, and even cartwheel contests.
Two-piece grunge and rock outfit Raue (pronounced Roo-ay) provided support for the show. The Santa Cruz-based band is relatively new to the scene, solidifying their lineup at the tailend of 2021. Then only 16 and 15 years old, Paige Kalenian and Jax Huckle began releasing music and touring together. Three years later, and now they’re opening for The Used and Taking Back Sunday.
Almost immediately the audience was cheering for the duo, whose energy rivaled that of a five-piece band. Ferocious and raucous, the two blasted through their set with hardly a pause between songs except to thank everyone for coming out early to see them. Their short setlist left the audience clamoring for more.
Next, Taking Back Sunday took the stage, a giant “152” sign glowing and blinking at the back of the stage. Opening with “S’old” from their newest record, 152, singer Adam Lazzara danced around the stage, haphazardly—yet in a controlled chaos type of way—swinging around his microphone and doing dazzling tricks with it. If you’ve had the pleasure of seeing TBS live before, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Still touring in support of their newest record, the band treated fans to four other songs from 152, including “The One,” “Keep Going,” “Lightbringer,” and “Amphetamine Smiles.” TBS also played a smattering of fan favorites like “A Decade Under the Influence,” “Liar,” “You’re So Last Summer,” “Tidal Wave,” “Cute Without the ‘E’ (Cut From the Team),” and, of course, “MakeDamnSure.” The well-curated 17-song setlist had something for new fans and diehard fans alike.
Next, it was time for the Used to take the stage, the crowd roaring with each shake of the curtain covering the stage. Ever the jokesters, an announcement came over the speakers that unfortunately the concert had been canceled, and refunds would be given at point of purchase. Groans and “You’ve got to be kidding me’s” rang throughout the venue, but the tension didn’t last too long because the partition dropped to the ground with the band launching into “Pretty Handsome Awkward” to the extreme delight of fans.
Without missing a single beat, the formidable group transitioned into their next song, “Say Days Ago,” not giving fans a single second to rest. Their comparably long setlist—to TBS—featured a heavy amount of songs from In Love and Death, like “I Caught Fire,” “Let it Bleed,” “I’m a Fake,” “Listening,” “Take It Away,” and “Sound Effects and Overdramatics.” It seems as if the band is gearing themselves up for When We Were Young Fest, where they will play In Love and Death in its entirety.
One of the highlights of the set saw McCracken ask for a circle to be opened in the crowd … but not for a mosh pit. He surprised fans by telling them he was about to have a cartwheel contest, and the winner would receive a free shirt. Around 20 people decided to take a turn cart-wheeling in the circle—some more elegant than others. The winner was a man who did a cartwheel and then went into a handstand, kicking his legs up and down. McCracken joined in on the fun, cart-wheeling across the stage.
Another high point of the evening saw McCracken climb his way up to the balcony seats, walking the entire distance of the semi-circle and back again, high-fiving fans while singing “I Caught Fire.”
The beautiful evening came to an end with the “best song ever written,” McCracken said, before the band descended into “A Box Full of Sharp Objects,” whose outro was replaced with Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” The crowd went absolutely insane, clapping along before the vocals started once they realized what song the Used was about to play.
The Used has been a band for 24 years and has never broken up–a fact McCracken likes to repeat during shows–and it’s easy to see why that’s true. The band has such a unique connection with its fans—casual and superfan alike. It’s a testament to both their musicianship and what the band stands for at its core.
The Used
Taking Back Sunday
Raue
