THE USED
11/5/25 – The Rave – Milwaukee, WI
©Justin Nuoffer/NuofferMedia.com
A Wednesday evening in the bustling city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was the place to be. Outside the historic and famed Rave/Eagles Ballroom, a line started to build quickly. Despite the cold air blowing in from Lake Michigan, fans arrived in bunches and waited patiently. Once the doors on the side of the building opened, the line moved quickly through the security check downstairs and then up into the box office and foyer. From there, you walked straight through the ticket scanning area and into one of three places. To the right was the Rave Barroom, to the left the Craft Beer Lounge, and straight ahead through the side doors was the main Rave Hall.
Above, the VIP area encircles the entire upper deck and features a private bar and restrooms. In the back hallway on the main floor, a massive scrim stands for fans to take their photos with. The spirits of The Rave were alive as well. Every corner of the venue was covered in haunted Christmas decorations, and the history of the facility seemed to seep from the walls.
Looking to add their names to the lore were The Used, who have played The Rave at least a dozen times. But first, Archers took to the freshly carpeted stage. The room was packed from front to back and side to side. Archers came down from Madison to deliver their blend of metalcore and pop. For thirty-five minutes, they performed almost straight through. Frontman Nathan Pulley’s voice soared and resonated throughout the venue. His sound was strong and precise.
The Wisconsin natives knew their audience well and performed with high energy and confidence. They ripped through songs from both albums and even threw in a Linkin Park cover for good measure. Relentless touring hasn’t slowed them down but has helped craft their stage show into something tight and commanding.
The anticipation built inside The Rave. It was night one of The Used performing their album in full. A large white curtain hung in front of the stage as fans chanted “Used.” When the lights went down, a projector displayed a video of the band’s history and touring. Then the curtain dropped, and The Used launched into “Maybe Memories.” The band’s energy was already at full power, but nothing connected like “The Taste of Ink.” The radio single and fan favorite had The Rave singing its heart out. The importance of the song in the band’s history was clear. The smiles that spread across The Used were a welcome sight. Frontman Bert McCracken delivered note after note in full control, urging the crowd to sing louder.
Above the chaos of the floor, drummer Dan Whitesides smashed his kit with precision. Every kick pedal hit boomed, and the “25” on his bass drum seemed to pulse in and out. Despite a brief stop for fan unruliness, he was a key part of the driving sound on “Bulimic” and “Say Days Ago.” To his left, bassist Jepha Howard rattled the walls and shook the floor. His energy was unmatched as he whipped his bass around and sang backing vocals. Often, he threw a foot up on the metal grate in front of him while his fingers danced across the strings.
The band powered through the album song by song. “A Box Full of Sharp Objects” kept the Milwaukee crowd in a frenzy as a small pit opened up. They blended in Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” and as soon as the first notes hit, the energy exploded. The song, a clear inspiration for the band, hit home with the crowd and added to the nostalgia of the night. As the show moved toward the final stretch, “Blue and Yellow” and “Greener With the Scenery” flowed together beautifully, creating an emotional back-and-forth. McCracken’s vocals soared over the audience, his movements infectious as he bounced around the stage. To his right, guitarist Joey Bradford headbanged and shredded riff after riff. His vocals complemented McCracken’s perfectly.
With only a few songs left, they slowed things down for “Noise and Kisses” and the softer “On My Own,” which had fans singing together in unison. Just as it felt like The Used were hitting their stride, the final song “Pieces Mended” arrived, but there was one more surprise. They played the secret track “Choke.” The crowd went wild. That little addition sent everyone over the edge, and just like that, the night was over. With waves and thank-yous, The Used exited the stage.
Check out The Used concert photo gallery below:
For a brief moment, it felt like the year 2000 again. That carefree energy and youthful spirit that concerts used to have was alive in the room. The mix of fans, from longtime followers to new kids, showed how strong The Used’s staying power remains. A classic album from the Warped Tour and MTV years came back to life, and this was only night one. The idea of performing an album a night over three nights was brilliant. Whether you needed aspirin the next morning or just wanted to release some old teenage angst, The Used made it all worth it, and The Rave handled it perfectly.
