The line of restless young adults snake in and out of the barricades as they wait for the doors of the Observatory in Santa Ana to open. At the strike of 7:00, the familiar beep of activated tickets echoes across the parking lot. Fans file in, beverages in hand as they grab the best places in the house to watch as The New Regime takes the stage.
Ilan Rubin is a multi-instrumental musician who created the band, The New Regime. Accompanied by a bassist and a drummer, Rubin graced the stage with his guitar. The band performed songs from their latest EP (“Exhibit B”); “Say What You Will,” “No Traces,” and “Daydream.” During “Say What You Will” Rubin became so engulfed by his passion for his music he broke a guitar string, laughing it off with the audience who eagerly requited his banter. Rubin and The New Regime excited every music lover in the house as they prepared to be blown away by The Used.
The smell of smoke, dimming red lights, and iconic mannequins decorated the stage; it must be time for The Used. Everyone anxiously awaits as Bert McCracken (vocals), Jeph Howard (bassist), Dan Whitesides (drums), and Justin Shekoski (guitar) take the stage ready to play their entire discography that put them on the map. The self titled album (“The Used”) has become recognized as a landmark album for emocore and screamo genres and was debuted June 25th, 2002, almost 15 years ago. Though the band members have changed a bit, their passion for music has not. Starting the night off with the siren wracked “Maybe Memories” every tattooed heart was going crazy. The Used brought back classics like “Taste of Ink,” “A Box Full of Sharp Objects,” and even slowed it down with “On My Own.” The Observatory was packed to capacity, people of all ages were transported back to 2002 where they’ll “savor every moment of this” where they’re “alive at last.”
Photos and reporting by Nicolette Cunningham.