November 11, 2021
Before I met Brandy, I’d never even heard of Blue October. Nearly two years later, I’m calling them my favorite band.
I don’t listen to popular music. I don’t listen to the radio at all. Most of the music I listen to is from artists others have told me about, or if an artist features a new artist on their song.
The Band
Blue October saw moderate success with their breakout hit Hate Me in 2006 from their fourth studio album, Foiled.
Apparently reaching number 2 on Billboard’s alternative charts and 31 on the Hot 100 chart.
When Brandy told me that was her favorite band, I did some cursory research and decided they weren’t horrible.
Over the course of the following year, I listened to them more and more, falling in love with them more upon each listen.
Justin Furstenfeld, the band’s frontman and sometimes guitarist, battled drug addiction for many years. As a result, he faced numerous problems with relationships and with seeing his daughter.
He has since cleaned up, being sober since 2012, has entered a healthy marriage, gaining custody of his daughter, Blue, and since having two more children with his current wife.
The Music
Several of Blue October’s songs, primarily written by Justin, deal with his struggles with addiction, recovery, his strained relationships and the happiness he’s found since being sober. I will say that there is not a person in the world that cannot relate to at least one of their songs.
In the winter of 2020, I struggled with a complication with my family, ultimately losing them to their own pride and passive aggressive behavior. Blue October’s songs most decidedly helped me come to grips with the situation, and to move past it.
The Concert
Shortly after Brandy and I began our five month break, Blue October announced a U.S. tour that would see them coming to the Sunshine Theater in downtown Albuquerque in November. I had planned on going but did not have anyone to go with. I toyed with the idea of going alone, but before long, Brandy and I reunited and we soon had tickets to go together.
We live a few short blocks from the theater so we left shortly before the doors were scheduled to open. As we pulled up, we saw the long line stretching down 2nd Street so we parked in the lot across the road and waited for the line to start moving.
When motion began, we hopped on to the end of the line entering the building shortly. We checked upstairs for any seats that may have been available but there were none. We wound up on the main floor tucked into a back corner off to the left.
Around 7:30, the opening act, Yam Haus, took the stage. Or, more specifically, the singer, Lars, did. He played a solo acoustic set while perched upon a stool at the front of the stage.
He played for about 45 minutes, then we waited through the obligatory 45 minute set change before Blue October took the stage.
The Setlist
- Daylight
- The Way I Used to Love You
- This is What I Live For
- Say It
- Oh My My
- Into the Ocean
- Hate Me
- Fear
- Home
- I Want It
- I Hope You’re Happy
- Fight For Love
- Leave It in the Dressing Room (Shake It Up)
- Debris
Encore - Calling You*
- 18th Floor Balcony
- Only Lost is Found
- Sway
- Moving On (So Long)
*The version of Calling You they played was a mega-spun down version. Watch their Spun Down version of Moving On (So Long) for an idea of what they did with Calling You:
As the final notes of Moving On (So Long) were being played, we made a beeline for the exit. My experience with leaving the Sunshine Theater dictates that the main corridor out of the venue quickly becomes an artery clogged with people trying to buy merchandise from the booths at the top of the aisle. Beating that rush is imperative if you want to get out in a reasonable amount of time.
It wasn’t too long before we found ourselves in the cool November air outside the theater. We made our way back to the car and, knowing the back roads of downtown Albuquerque as well as I do, made it home likely before the last of the crowd made it back to their cars.
Conclusion
This was the first concert I’ve been to in years. In fact, the last concert I remember going to was Disturbed with Jarrod in 2016. I think I might have seen a show or two at the Sunshine after that, maybe Tech N9ne, but I don’t recall.
I had a wonderful time. Blue October puts on a hell of a show, and they promised they’d be around every six months.
You best believe, we will be there each and every time.
I’ve added some pictures to my Photo Diary. They’re not fantastic pictures, but there is a picture of Brandy that instantly became my favorite picture of her, so check that out.
I’ve included a Spotify playlist below of the setlist we enjoyed that night. I hope you listen and enjoy it as much as we did.
I’ll be back soon with a write up on a very important Colorado trip we took a week after the concert. You’ll want to check that one out.
Until then, as always, thank you for stopping by. I appreciate you!
-Phil