Jake McKim
Staff Writer
First impressions of local band Blue October to the average listener may be, "Oh no, not another copycat, alternative, wannabe-Bush-band." But listening closer to the hard-rocking sound, one has to take notice of the true-to-life lyrics and well-thought-out melodies.
Lead singer Justin Furstenfeld, who has Gavin Rossdale-like qualities, pours his soul into every word while bandmates actually connect with audience members (unlike most bands in today's money-driven music industry).
"I use music as a release, an outlet for my problems," said Furstenfeld. "Music is something I can take pride in. Most of my life I've been doing things that I'm not proud of."
Justin is powerfully backed by a female bassist named Liz, his brother Jeremy on drums and a violinist who helps separate the bands' sound from others.
Playing at popular local nightspot Fitzgerald's over the weekend, Blue October, which already has a strong following in Houston and San Marcos, drew in the raucous crowd with a two-hour set that featured all original tunes. Shifting from loud, head-banging tracks to soothing, lyric-driven tunes, the band succeeded in keeping the crowd entertained well into the night without compromising the keep-it-real attitude.
Blue October will once again be playing Fitzgerald's on Friday, April 17th, and for anyone out there yearning to see a band before they hit it big, this is your chance.
"Our band is all about positive vibes," said Furstenfeld. "Our songs are for people who feel alone and afraid. We want people to know that others are going through the same thing they are, and that we all can make it through the tough times together."
One thing is for sure - expect to hear more from this group in the near future.