Concert Review: Blue October
Nestled in the middle of St. Louis, Missouri is the popular concert venue the Pageant where folks walk around under dotted golden lights and stumble around in laughter. Blue October’s show was no different; die-hard fans piled up in line two hours before the show and filed into the front of the hall for the show of a lifetime.
Blue October hails from Houston, Texas and was created by lifelong friends Justin Furstenfield (lead vocalist) and Ryan Delahoussaye (violin) back in 1995. Furstenfield describes the band as “alternative rock,” although the songs can get pretty violent and heavy. The lyrics derive from the deepest and darkest parts of Furstenfield’s thoughts, such as the hit “Hate Me” which discusses his depression and alcohol addiction to “Ugly Side” that talks about his self-hatred and the want to hide from those he loves. Delahoussaye’s violin makes Blue October stand out from other bands and gives their songs powerful energy and emotion. Furstenfield has been open about his struggle with mental health and alcohol and has been sober over ten years. These days Blue October’s songs are much happier, reflecting a man who has reached the end of a difficult journey.
Fans of Blue October know pain in many forms and that was evident at this show. The band opened with “Coal Makes Diamonds” from their 2016 album “Home” and ventured into their older songs from 2003’s “History For Sale.” Bright blue and red flashed over the faces of fans in the pit, smiling as Justin bent down to hold their hands and scream out “I’m here! Are you with me?” over and over again. Smoke filled the room, creating an active environment of excited people. Patrons held hands during “Breathe” and sang along to another hit titled “Into the Ocean” from the album “Foiled.” Delahoussaye rocked his solo in “A Quiet Mind” and tears dotted touched faces during an acoustic version of “Home.” The band even introduced a new song from their upcoming album called “I Will Follow You.”
The encore consisted of four songs, will “I Hope Your Happy” finishing off the show. Furstenfield walked around the venue with his wireless mic, holding hands and hugging fans who wept in his arms. He even stayed after the show to meet with eager patrons and spoke with them about their struggles in life.
Never have I known such a dedicated and down to earth man so willing to share his experiences and relive the difficult past he once knew. It is one of the reasons Blue October is and will remain one of my top five bands and why I flew out from Salt Lake City to St. Louis midweek for a show. For anyone struggling with depression or any other form of mental illness, you are not alone.
Find more information at these links:
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) provides information on statistics, clinical trials, and research.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention provides referrals to support groups and mental health professionals, resources on loss, and suicide prevention information (888-333-2377)
The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides 24/7 crisis intervention, safety planning and information on domestic violence (800-799-7233)
The Suicide Prevention Lifeline connects callers to trained crisis counselors (800-273-8255)
You can find Blue October on any streaming platform and catch them on one of their shows during their “I Hope You’re Happy” Tour.
—sydney.dahle@gmail.com
@dillydahle