Taking the stage to a deafening ovation, Blue October stopped at The Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls, NY this past Wednesday night. Starting with fan favorite “HRSA”, the screaming fans got right into the act, singing every word. Justin Furstenfeld’s voice and singing style are truly unique, he’s one of those artists you can hear on the radio, and instantly know it’s him. With Ryan Delahoussaye on the mandolin, the band came out and laid down an infectious groove that carried on through their entire performance.
It’s well documented that Furstenfeld has a history of mental illness, but wed night he didn’t appear to want to be anywhere else than in the company of his fans playing his music for them. He was very candid throughout the the night telling stories about where his songs come from and what they mean, sometimes even joking and saying “That’s not really why I wrote it, I’m just fucking with you guys….again”.
Blue October’s sound combines rock, pop, and electronica. The blend of all three makes for an interesting tempo that captivates their fans and has them dancing all night. With Furstenfeld’s deep, meaningful songs, he creates a real connection with his fans, and they seem to identify with him. I even saw several fans in tears toughout the night.
After finishing up the set with “The Worry List”, the band said thank you and exited the stage. After several moments of a “Blue October” chant, they returned to play a three song encore, culminating with “X Amount of Words”. Furstenfeld ended up on the floor by the end of the show, seeming to be physically and emotionally exhausted. It was as if he put everything he had into the performance.
Set List:
HRSA
Say It
The Sound of Pulling Heaven Down
Dirt Room
Quiet Mind
Kangaroo City
Into The Ocean
Feel Again
For The Love
The Chills
James
Amnesia
Hate Me
The Worry List
Encore:
Razorblade
Get Over It
X Amount of Words
We would like to thank Ralfael Castro and the Rapids Theatre for allowing BackstageAxxess to review the show.
