“These songs should make you want to fall in love with somebody, or miss somebody, or want to do something outrageous with your life,” says Justin Furstenfeld, vocalist and lyricist for the unstoppable alt-rock band Blue October. He’s talking about the tracks on the quintet’s tenth studio album, This Is What I Live For, released in late 2020.

How does it feel to have a Top 10 single with “Oh My My,” your first Top 10 single since 2009? “Honestly, I’m blown away. We started releasing our albums independently several years ago. It’s good to see that it doesn’t matter what label you’re on. As long as you’re writing good songs you have chance to be heard. Hopefully that inspires others.”

The San Marcos, Texas-based band (vocalist Justin Furstenfeld, multi-instrumentalist Ryan Delahoussaye, guitarist Will Knaak, bassist Matt Noveskey, and drummer Jeremy Furstenfeld) has earned a reputation for being remarkably dynamic, consistently delivering anthemic songs filled with rousing melodies and precision playing. And with this latest release, The Is What I Live For, the members are even more in synch than ever because they wrote much of the material while they were on the road supporting their last album, 2018’s I Hope You’re Happy (Debuted #1 on the Billboard Alternative Album Chart and #1 Billboard Independent Album Chart.), often finetuning songs in front of live audiences. In this way, the song “I Will Follow You” has already become a favorite even before it was recorded for the new album.

“This album is going to catch some people off-guard,” Matt says. “A lot of it is about interpersonal relationships – years and years of marriage, growing older, and some of the issues that you may run into with that. I know that other albums are about that, but we get into some corners of life that we haven’t explored before.”

This determination to always speak the truth, even if it’s difficult, is the way Blue October has operated from the very start, since Justin, Jeremy and Ryan formed the band in 1995 when they were still in high school. When Matt joined three years later, Blue October really coalesced as the members found inspiration in bands like A Perfect Circle, Jimmy Eat World, Radiohead, and The Cure – then reworked those disparate influences into an epic yet introspective sound that is entirely their own.

Blue October members themselves have admitted in characteristically candid fashion, things certainly haven’t always been easy. Their struggles over the years with substance abuse, and their subsequent treatment and recovery, have been well-documented in their songs. They also allowed themselves to be filmed over the course of seven tumultuous years for a documentary, Get Back Up, which was released in 2020. The film takes an unwavering look at the band – and Justin, in particular – as they grapple with the fallout from addiction and the resulting damage done to their families, professional relationships, and each other. It is ultimately a redemptive story, with all members now sober and mending their relationships, but not without going over some harrowing ground first.

“We made it out the other side, and it was hard,” Matt says. “There were times where we weren’t sure we would. But when you go through a lot together, you grow together, and you realize what’s important. Then you realize, maybe there are things I’ve taken for granted over the years, including each other. We’re not going to let that happen anymore.” Will, who joined the band
two years ago, agrees: “When a lifestyle change occurs, it filters in on all levels. Their positivity feeds mine, and I think it’s been really serendipitous that we met at a good time in all of our lives. I’m gaining a lot from their wisdom, and maybe they’re getting a little kick in the ass from my fresh perspective.”

After struggling with being incorrectly categorized because there was no easy label to apply to a group that is so musically powerful yet lyrically sensitive, it is particularly gratifying for the members to finally gain recognition for being distinctive. “As much as people wanted to change me into something else, I always said no,” Justin says. “I’m always a reality writer. I write
bluntly, for the people that want to talk about things that aren’t dinner conversation pieces.”

This unswerving belief in Blue October’s music and message – and fans’ unusually strong connection as a result – has carried this band through many good and bad times.

Special guest Beatnik Bandits open the show.