Black tie events at the Sydney Opera House are always a treat but The Used’s Midsummer Night Symphony show was a black tie event like no other, with over 2000 punk rock fans donning their best dinner suits for a special show of the band, complete with the Metropolitan Orchestra and Choir. As the band walked on stage to the orchestral introduction, one audience member screamed, “oh my god,” which very much reflected the feeling in the room, with the audience entranced by the idea of seeing their favourite band and how they meshed with the orchestra. 

Having seen quite a few of these types of shows, they are often quite hit or miss, with the orchestra and the band often not quite clicking, leading to an awkward performance. But from the moment that Bert McCracken and his band took to the stage, it was clear that this was going to be a superb concert. The orchestra and choir were amplified and powerful, adding a resonance and a force to The Used’s sound, which was immediately evident in the first song of the night, “The Bird and the Worm.” In this track, the orchestra not only enhanced the vocals of McCracken, but added a counterpoint of melodic ideas, creating a very dramatic effect. For many in the audience, it was chill-inducing as the orchestra, the band and the choir fed off each other symbiotically, leading to a really cohesive product. With the night starting off with a bang, it became quite clear that this was going to be a very special show.

“Welcome to the most magical musical experience of our lifetime,” said McCracken to cheers from the audience. “How incredible is this, this is a dream come true ladies and gentlemen.”

The Used are one of the more theatrical bands going around but the addition of an orchestra and choir just took everything to the next level, adding richness and depth, which meant that the night immediately felt very special. The front half of the set was loaded with some of the band’s biggest hits, with “Take It Away” and “Buried Myself Alive” following the opener, before the slower track “All That I’ve Got” allowed McCracken to show off his vocals and work more closely with the choir, which was really nice. For some of these types of shows, it can seem like the orchestra is not really engaged, but in this show it was particularly pleasing to see the choir having the absolute best time rocking out with the band, which meant that the audience fed off the energy in the room and this really elevated the performance.

“I like to see this as one big happy family singalong,” said McCracken, which very much encapsulated the vibe in the room, before adding, “I can’t f***ing believe they let us play here.”

After an acoustic version of “Yesterday’s Feelings,” McCracken recited some poetry to the audience before moving into “Poetic Tragedy” and “Blood on My Hands,” with a vibe that very much resembled that of a James Bond soundtrack. In this regard, Jesse Haugen’s orchestrations were absolutely fantastic and on point, meticulously bringing out all of the ideas in The Used’s work and embellishing where appropriate to create a cohesive and full sound that didn’t feel cluttered at all. This meant that the band could do their thing, with orchestra enhancing rather than dominating the performance (but also feeling like something more than accompaniment). Led by chief conductor Sarah-Grace Williams, this really was a symbiosis and it was very well received throughout the night, with the first act closing out with “Pretty Handsome Awkward,” which had the crowd in a frenzy before a brief intermission.

When the audience returned, the band played a few songs without the orchestra and choir, which was a slightly odd choice, as it meant that the songs felt quite sparse compared to the richness of the orchestral accompaniment. Of course, in a rock venue this wouldn’t matter but when there was something to compare it to it felt a little confusing. Thankfully, this didn’t last too long, with the orchestra and choir returning for “On My Own”, which delighted the audience. 

McCracken then shared some more poetry, this time from Hamlet, before the band launched into their biggest hit, “The Taste of Ink,” with the entire crowd ignoring the warning on the ticket that this was a seated event and losing themselves in the magic. The orchestra added significantly to the track, while the choir layered an ethereal element over the top, clearly reflecting the effort that had gone into the arrangement. After a beautiful solo performance of “Smother Me,” the band closed out the night with “A Box Full of Sharp Objects,” as more than one member shed a tear on stage (which had certainly been coming all night) as the night drew to a close. The band received a lengthy standing ovation and it was richly deserved.

Overall, this was a night that felt like a dream for the audience and, frankly, a dream for the band too. In a combination of styles that doesn’t always pay off, this was about as cohesive, exciting, dramatic and powerful a concert as one will see. A truly beautiful night and occasion in one of Sydney’s most iconic venues.

Rating: ★★★★★

The Used – Sydney Opera House Concert Hall – 29 March 2026