The Used and Taking Back Sunday hit OKC

The Used and Taking Back Sunday hit The Criterion in downtown Oklahoma City for a Wednesday night show for the first show on their co-headline tour. They brought along special guests Raue to get the crowd tuned up and ready to go.

In a night thick with distorted guitars and raw emotion, the crowd was primed for a sonic journey as Raue, the teenage duo from Woodward, Pennsylvania, took the stage. Paige Kalenian and Jax Huckle, barely out of high school, commanded the room with an energy that belied their youth. From the moment they hit their first chords, it was clear they weren’t just filling time—they were setting the tone for the night.

Their set was pure, unfiltered grunge, with fuzzy guitar riffs and guttural vocals that got everyone moving. But the high point? A killer cover of Radiohead’s “Creep.” The moment Paige mentioned they liked to throw in a cover to get the crowd singing along, the room erupted. It’s rare for a young band to get that kind of response, but these two made it look easy. Fans swarmed the merch booth after the set, proving that Raue has the kind of staying power that could see them headlining in the near future.

Then came the veterans—Taking Back Sunday. With over two decades in the game, they wasted no time hitting the crowd with their opener, “S’Old,” setting off a wave of head-banging and shout-along choruses. Most of the night was devoted to their latest album, 152, but they dipped into their deep catalog to give the crowd a taste of the past. Vocalist Adam Lazzara, always a charismatic presence, kept the banter to a minimum, letting the music do the talking. But he couldn’t help mentioning how much he loved Oklahoma City, sending a wave of hometown pride through the room.

The crowd reached peak frenzy when “Cute Without the ‘E'” dropped. It was a surreal moment—Lazzara barely needed to sing, as the entire venue took over the vocals. Closing with the massive anthem “Make Damn Sure,” the volume level in the room doubled. By the time they left the stage, the air was electric, setting the perfect tone for The Used to take over.

Just before The Used hit the stage, an announcement came over the speakers, jokingly claiming the show had been canceled. It only took a few boos to confirm that no one was falling for it, and seconds later, the curtain dropped to reveal the band launching into “Pretty Handsome Awkward.” From there, it was a non-stop barrage of hits that had the crowd in the palm of their hand.

I wasn’t super familiar with the band going in, but The Used made sure to quickly make me regret my choices. Even songs I didn’t know had me hooked, and judging by the girl a few feet ahead of me dancing her heart out, I wasn’t the only one fully consumed by the set. By the time Bert McCracken led the crowd through a middle-finger salute during “Fuck You,” it was clear the band had this audience right where they wanted them—angry, ecstatic, and ready to let it all out. And when McCracken called for a cartwheel contest mid-show, the crowd went wild. Fans were flipping all over the place, with one person nailing a flawless one-handed cartwheel. It was ridiculous and perfect, a moment that could only happen at a Used show.

In the end, it was a night of grunge glory, with Raue proving they’re a band to watch, and Taking Back Sunday and The Used reminding us why they’re still kings of the scene. If this tour hits your city, don’t sleep on it—get out there, because nights like this don’t come around often.