Thursday, July 20, 2006
Texas indie rock group finds an audience with fourth album.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Something weird happened to Texas alt rock group Blue October on its way to obscurity. It became one of 2006's most promising breakout bands.
"We've been at it for like 12 years, so it's just crazy," said singer/songwriter Justin Furstenfeld, calling from Atlanta. "Someone pinch us and wake us up. We keep on going into these markets where we don't know anyone and there are 600 to 1,000 kids screaming our name. And it's like, 'Whoa, this is crazy.'"
When Furstenfeld uses the term crazy, it takes on greater significance due to his long struggle with depression, which ironically is the impetus behind not only the band's fourth studio album "Foiled" but its hot lead single "Hate Me."
Timing, timing, timing
Considering the group's lengthy history and numerous studio albums and tours, the biggest question is what has changed to make Blue October so appealing?
"I definitely think it's a timing issue because when we put our first release out, Korn and Limp Bizkit were huge," Furstenfeld said. "We put our second release out with a very poppy love song called 'Calling You' and that's when The Strokes were huge. And then now it's more along the lines of there are no rules in this music business. If you have a good product, it'll connect. If we would have put this out four years ago, it wouldn't even have scratched the surface."
Despite its melodic hooks and upbeat sound, the track is a dark exploration into Furstenfeld's mental anguish, which is why he believes so many people make a connection with the song.
"I think it has a lot to do with a lot of the issues that kids go through -- suicidal tendencies, drug addiction, insecurities," Furstenfeld said. "Every kid when they're in high school or even adults go through crap in life, and it's just everybody is so scared to talk about it. I think I was so sick of keeping it under wraps, and a lot of people are connecting with some of the issues that we're talking about."
Let it all out
In some regards, the emotional honesty may sound like emo fodder, but truth be told, this is old school alt rock -- you know, grunge minus the heavy guitar chords. In fact, Blue October is often compared to Live, which is fair stylistically speaking, but that's as far as the similarities go. In concert, Blue October amplifies its roller coaster of emotions into one big therapy session. Dr. Phil would be proud.
"The live show is like seeing a nervous breakdown happen," Furstenfeld said. "It's a really big release for fans who have issues on their shoulders and they scream with me and cry with me and yell with me and laugh with me."
It's this lack of celebrity ego that makes the outfit so inviting to fans new and old.
"They'll feel normal, like we're human beings on stage speaking exactly what they're going through," Furstenfeld said. "We're no better than them. Just come out and let it go. Let it all out."