The Used - 25th Anniversary Tour - Brisbane (16/08/25)

Brisbane’s Tivoli was alive with energy on Saturday night as a sold-out crowd packed in for the final Queensland stop of The Used’s 25 Year Anniversary Tour. With the next leg taking them to Sydney, anticipation was sky-high for a special set, a full performance of their 2007 album 'Lies for the Liars'. Fans were shoulder to shoulder, singing along to the pre-show playlist, ready for a night that promised both nostalgia and chaos. But first, it was Hands Like Houses who set the tone.

Hands Like Houses opened with 'Wildfire' from their 2025 album 'Atmospherics'. The punchy new material landed well, with heads nodding and hands in the air from the first chorus. The band’s tight musicianship and energy quickly warmed up the room, setting a strong pace for the night ahead.

The set balanced fresh cuts with fan favourites, 'Division Symbols' getting one of the biggest cheers of their slot. The surprise highlight came with a cover of 'Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game', reworked into a soaring rock ballad without losing its haunting edge. New lead singer Josh Raven, who joined in 2024, proved himself more than up to the task hitting every note cleanly and owning the stage like he’d been fronting the band for years.

Crowd banter flowed easily, with Raven winning hearts early on. Midway through the set, he even pulled off a classic Aussie gig moment downing a shoey to loud cheers from the floor and balcony. They closed out with 'Iam' and 'Heaven', both delivered with enough power to feel like main set finales in their own right. By the end, HLH had clearly done more than just warm the crowd; they’d earned plenty of new fans.

When The Used emerged, the room erupted. The lights dropped, the first notes rang out, and the crowd surged forward. From the opening bars of ‘The Ripper’, it was clear the band were here to give ‘Lies for the Liars’ the celebration it deserved. Every track was played with a mix of precision and raw emotion the kind of performance that only comes from living with these songs for 18 years.

Midway through the set came one of the night’s most touching moments. Bert McCracken paused between songs to share that he had recently received his Australian citizenship. The announcement was met with thunderous applause and an immediate chant of “Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi,” which Bert joined in with a grin. It was a rare moment of genuine connection between band and crowd that felt personal as well as celebratory.

The set had its share of surprises, 'Pain', a rare B-side, made the cut and had long-time fans grinning at the deep-cut nod. Later, during 'Paralyzed', Bert hand-picked several lucky fans from the front rows and invited them to dance on stage, turning the song into a chaotic, joy-filled party that perfectly matched its energy.

The hits kept coming 'Liar Liar (Burn in Hell)' had the floor shaking, 'The Bird and the Worm' became a full-venue singalong, and 'Hospital' was delivered with such intensity that it felt as sharp as the day it was first released.

By the time the final chords rang out, The Tivoli was a sweaty, smiling mess of voices hoarse from singing and ears ringing from the volume. For The Used, it was the perfect Queensland send-off before they take the tour further down the east coast. For Brisbane fans, it was a night where nostalgia and celebration collided a reminder of why these songs still hit so hard, even 18 years after their release.

Thanks to the The Used, Hands Like Houses, Destroy All Lines, Dallas Does PR and The Tivoli for having us along.

Review by Jack Carruthers for Music Kingdom Australia