Blue October : iSOUND.COM™

Biography

Blue October isn’t just your average, everyday rock band from Texas. The group was formed in Houston in the late ‘90s by lead singer/songwriter/guitarist Justin Furstenfeld, his brother, drummer Jeremy, multi-instrumentalist Ryan Delahoussaye, later joined by guitarist/vocalist CB Hudson and bassist Matt Noveskey. The group’s epic live shows and exploration of subjects like mental depression, drug use, love, betrayal, forgiveness and cathartic transcendence have helped them amass a strong, loyal following through five albums, three of which have been released by Universal Records.

Blue October released their first album, The Answers, in 1998. The group was signed to Universal for their August 2000 major label debut, Consent to Treatment, but with Rock radio non-responsive, they were soon dropped. The band then signed with Brando Records and released History for Sale in July 2003. When “Calling You,” which was also included on the American Wedding soundtrack, began picking up airplay in Dallas and other Texas cities, Universal offered to re-sign the group. After considering several other major label offers, Blue October decided to return to the very label that dropped them.

“We’re not an easy band to understand,” says Justin about the decision to return to their major label home. “I just felt at Universal, we had a team of people who understood us, and who loved us for all the right reasons. I wasn’t about to walk through life with people who didn’t really know me.”

That Blue October hasn’t followed the ordinary path to success is clear from the first single from Foiled, “Hate Me,” a song that recalls such aching rock anthems as Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” or Jane’s Addiction’s “Jane Says” for songwriter Justin Furstenfeld’s unflinching look at himself. It’s a song portraying a man’s selfishness in a relationship, then coming to terms with it, and admitting the mistakes.

“I have to block out thoughts of you/So I don’t lose my head/They crawl in like a cockroach/Leaving babies in my bed,” he sings, the images underlined by the matter-of-fact sing-song way in which they’re delivered. “It’s like, let me just kind of clue you in on what it feels like in my own brain,” he offers.

That brand of intensity is welded to wide screen sound that evokes an array of eclectic influences such as prog-rockers Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, Flaming Lips, U2 and Coldplay, attracting a hardcore following who not only relate, but ardently sing along with the band’s songs.

“Our fans really make us what we are,” says Justin’s older (by 14 months) brother, drummer Jeremy. “We have a tight bond with them. Many have become our friends through the years. To see them sing these songs right back at us as we play them is amazing. It blows me away every time.”

“Into the Ocean,” with Delahoussaye’s seductive violin siren call and plucked mandolin, openly contemplates a death wish with so much honesty, fans write to the band, claiming tracks like this have prevented their own suicidal impulses.

“I love Justin’s lyrics,” says guitarist Hudson, whose early influences include such players as Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson and Stevie Ray Vaughan. “He speaks the truth. It’s all real-life experiences everyone can relate to. Being able to work with someone like that is special. Our music touches people in the heart. I’m really proud of that.”

“If I have saved others, I don’t know what to say,” admits Justin. “But if I can do that for them, why the fuck can’t I do that for myself?”

It’s a reasonable question to ask for Furstenfeld, whose first musical memory as a child was hearing fellow Texan Roy Orbison’s plaintive “Crying.” That led to an interest in other melancholy groups like The Smiths, The Cure, Red House Painters and Idaho. Having been in therapy since he was 14, Justin turned to music to get away from his problems. Songs like “What If We Could,” about the longing of a true love that is seemingly doomed by distance and circumstance, or the apocalyptic “Sound of Pulling Heaven Down” and “Let It Go”, with its mournful Neil Young harmonica line halfway through, deal with that self-doubt in no uncertain terms, as Justin asks in the latter: “Why do I feel this way?/Why do I kneel?/How could I let it go?/Why do I feel?”

“I don’t remember writing these songs,” he says. “They just come out when it’s getting too much for me. It’s like getting closure. Now, I’m not so hurt about that relationship. I’m actually in a better place now. I’m just waiting to write that happy song. I welcome it with open arms.

After eighteen months of touring on History for Sale, a double-live CD/DVD, Argue with a Tree, which captured the amazingly symbiotic live relationship between the band and its fans, was released in February 2005.

Without any radio airplay or press, and after being off the road for more than a year, a fall ’05 tour was booked, resulting in sold-out shows in Houston, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Tulsa, Little Rock, Omaha, Chicago, Lawrence/Kansas City and Des Moines, proving the band’s audience was growing even stronger.

“I really wanted to be part of this,” says bassist Noveskey, a Michigan native who worships at the altar of Motown’s Jamie Jamerson and Sly and the Family Stone’s Larry Graham. He briefly left the band, only to return in time to record the new album. “It was an amazing process. Everything worked out the way it was supposed to.”

Foiled isn’t just about despair, delusion and dementia. “X Amount of Words” is “Subterranean Homesick Blues” with a lively New Order/Depeche Mode dance beat. On the other hand, “Drill a Wire Through My Cheek” is a harrowing glimpse into Justin’s Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde, a devil on one shoulder, an angel on the other, connected by the titular “wire through my cheek,” which Justin is willing to pull to defeat his dark side.

“That’s me at home, when nobody’s around,” he says sarcastically.

There’s an element of light at the end of the tunnel, a hopeful optimism that comes out in the album’s final two songs—the sweet soul of “Everlasting Friend” and the idyllic love of the sweeping “18th Floor Balcony,” for which Hudson wrote the music.

“That’s the first love song I’ve ever written without doubt,” admits Justin. “At least I know in my head I’m capable of loving. It’s great to know that my heart still works.”

“This really is our best record yet,” says multi-instrumentalist Delahoussaye, classically trained on piano at the age of four, violin at six and viola at nine. “We’re more accomplished in fine-tuning the way we want things to sound and what our mission is.”

You can hear Blue October’s collective heart pumping—alternately breaking, healing and breaking again—on Foiled. It is a sound you won’t soon forget.

Bio written by: magicofeet

Artist Forum


Discussion Topic	Creator
::::SoNg Quote GaMe::::....or name that tune Ok...here's an idea for another thread that we can post on daily. Here is a quote from a Blue October song: Hook up a C.B Wave a way... For conversation flow. A fitting quote to start out the game I think. Okay...now name that tune. ;) (and put up a new quote)	tattoo_of_a_ring

Replys	Listener
"Ugly Side"!!! Yeah...and now.... "Let's break a smart ass grin... Let's let the losers win!"	bluefreak
Oh, I know! "Somebody" So now we've come upon the hardest thing I've ever done, It's telling you that I'm a mess.	chrisgregory
I know, I know! Chameleon Boy I try to relax. I touch your still frame. So I can watch you closer And study the ways I believe I belong to you.	tattoo_of_a_ring
"Amazing" ...I think what makes this game work for me is I usually start to remember music when I read the lyrics. "Trees only seems for hanging A moon is a target range And rivers seem only for drowning You fall away and then you starve"	chrisgregory
That one is a little more difficult. I'm thinking it's from the earlier work, probably The Answers. I don't have that one yet :( (I know, I know, what am I waiting for?)	tattoo_of_a_ring
mwahahaha evil laugh not even close!!! keep guessing kiddies	chrisgregory
Awww man....that's gotta be really old...or new...or whatever...I'll have to go do a lyric search cuz it's not from any of the songs on The Answers either....you are a tough one!!!! WE are talkin' Blue October, right? Not 5591 or Last Wish here.....right?	bluefreak
I'm sure it's blue october... In fact I'm listening to Justin sing the lyrics right now ^_^ Here's two more lines: "And you're a super-star on your own And I'm looking over your shoulder -"	chrisgregory
You have me stumped! I even searched through one of the Blue October lyrics webpages.	tattoo_of_a_ring
"I'm sure it's blue october... In fact I'm listening to Justin sing the lyrics right now ^_^" And might I ask what type of media you are listening to this on? And may I go further to ask if it's like, only on your computer or is it removeable? And might I go even further to ask if it's been commercially recorded? haha!	bluefreak
Good investigative questions!! We need answers. Another hint at least. Pretty please, with sugar on top?	tattoo_of_a_ring
Graceful Dancing - Yeah that was easy haha "You got to hurry up and make your move."	magicofeet
Geeze magicofeet...is there anything you don't know? ha ha...j/k! Didn't you say you have lived in Texas previously? That could explain it though because we up north haven't had the exposure you've been able to have, ya know. And your quote...it's from Balance Beam. And now..... "This room is old and wise I fall into the bed and wonder, "How did I get here?"'	bluefreak
ooh I want to say "Angel" but I know that's not correct...	chrisgregory
Weight of the world And no I never lived in the South. Maybe I will someday though. I am the leader of the PA Street team though. "I walk like a burnt out porn star"	magicofeet
That's from Two A.M. Lovesick... hmmm...how'd ya get to know of Blue October then way out east there magicofeet? And you're really up on your facts and such too...good for you! and now... " There's nothing left to sing about"	bluefreak
C'mon...c'mon...ya'll know this.....	bluefreak
I'm racking my brain trying to come up with it without relying on looking at the lyrics. Since I haven't listened in a while, it's a little bit harder to do.	tattoo_of_a_ring
Hmmm well I be tiered of answering. SO umm why dosen't everyone else look towards the ANSWERS!!! Maybe turnind on your radio and watching some olympics would help.	magicofeet
Aha! Italian Radio!! and now.... The heart was tossed with a black lace chain	tattoo_of_a_ring
I know this one...but I refuse to answer on the grounds that someone else needs to take a turn at this.....	bluefreak
uh... checkmate?	chrisgregory
Yeah, no clue.	etg00ag
Oh yeah, I bet bluefreak is like "yeah, dunno either" but doesn't want to admit it ;)	chrisgregory
Ha ha...I do SO know this song...ummm...if you remember the other day we were talking and you indeed asked me about that...uh...if you recall, Chris...ha ha...so funny! Indeed, I know every word to this song too....and I would think you'd remember our CONVERSATION....Mr. RADIO......uh...hm.....ha ha....	bluefreak
d'oh!!! I'm such a dork - "Conversatio Via Radio!!" "The secret I kept here inside, the man you thought I'd be..."	chrisgregory
Chameleon Boy again "She kissed me on the cheek and waved goodbye"	magicofeet
Ok so those are not the exact words. Hmm maybe it goes " I kissed her on the cheek and waved goodbye, It was the saddest look I've seen in years"	magicofeet
yeah maybe thats better. hehe I am trying to quote from memory ahhh. Thats not a good thing.	magicofeet