I was a bit late arriving to last Monday’s show at the Canopy Club and had to soldier through the crowd for most of the show, but my camera put out a valiant effort nonetheless. Art IS hard. Hopefully there’s some Cursive fans out there who might enjoy these.

As I sat watching the Used metaphorically defecate all over the stage of Foellinger Auditorium last night, I couldn’t help but drift off into thought about my more angsty days in which I constantly listened to that type of music. And I’ll be honest - I still sneak out “Taste of Ink” from its hiding place from time to time. (I keep it right next to the first Taking Back Sunday album, Thrice’s Illusion of Safety, Thursday’s Full Collapse, and Finch’s What It Is To Burn.) And so, after seeing last night’s disappointing display, I have to ask: What happened? Did I change or did the music change?

What are your thoughts, past and present fans of Screamo? It is still called that, right? How did The Used go from writing catchy and angry, yet still thoughtful music to writing entire songs on a foundation of the lyrics “Liar, liar, pants on fire?” How is that all of these bands I’ve mentioned seem just about equally lame these days? As sad as it all might seem when you think about it, you’ve got to admit that it’s a fairly nice stroll down memory lane.

One last thing while I’m ranting: Whose idea was it to take the punk rock out of Warped Tour to make way for Fall Out Boy and Hawthorn Heights? Because I’d like a word. You’re dumbing up America’s youth.

Here’s are some things to help remind us that emo didn’t always suck.