They’ve swooped in and taken over the charts of FM90 and the ears of its listeners. They’ve kicked out four No. 1 hits, including “Calling You,” “Hate Me” and “Fear,” and continue to grow their fan base.
Blue October lead singer Justin Furstenfeld performed to a packed house in Ordway Hall in September. He will return Saturday with the rest of the band to rock the Amarillo Civic Center auditorium.
Their music has appeared in movies, and their lead singer, Justin Furstenfeld, performed in Amarillo College’s Ordway Auditorium last semester.
This Saturday, Furstenfeld will return to Amarillo, but he won’t be alone. The Fear Tour will stop in Amarillo, and Blue October will perform at 7 p.m. in the Amarillo Civic Center auditorium.
Tickets have been on sale for $15, $20 and $25 since Feb. 6, but KACV-FM Program Director Brian Frank said they’ve gone quickly.
“Tickets are still available,” Frank said. “We’re Amarillo – we like the ‘walk up.’ All the $25 tickets are gone, and the $20 tickets are headed that way.”
“But it’s in the auditorium, and every seat in there is pretty good.”
FM90 disc jockeys have given away numerous tickets in the weeks leading up to the concert.
Just before 9 a.m. Friday, FM90 will announce on the air the winner of a joint contest between the radio station and The Ranger, “Be a Ranger Reporter for a Day.”
The winner of the contest will be around the band as soon as it arrives in Amarillo, giving live updates online all day during preparations for the show.
The winner will be rewarded with Blue October merchandise and sit in the front row for the concert.
The band and FM90 hope to sell out the show. Part of the proceeds will go back to AC to help those in need, Frank said.
“After we pay the costs of the show, the band is splitting proceeds with us back to the AC Pantry,” he said.
Last Sept. 6, Furstenfeld made a solo appearance on campus and spoke out to concert-goers about his past. He answered questions, focusing on his relationships and offering an inside view into struggles with addiction and mental illness.
“Once an addict, always an addict,” he said about dealing with addiction.
“Just today, I’m sober. Tomorrow, I’ll try it all over again.”
Between stories, he played acoustic versions of his songs, ending with a powerful vocal-only performance of “Bleed Out.” The show sold out the day of the performance.
“The success of the concert is resulting in a second visit from the band,” Frank said. “The concert last semester sold out six hours before Justin Furstenfeld arrived to perform”.
FM90 has supported the band since its first No. 1 hit, “Calling You,” playing many of the band’s other hits along the way.
“The station has had a good relationship with the band,” KACV-FM student director David Lovejoy said.
“I look forward to seeing the entire band and watching the lights fill the auditorium.”
Ranger Reporter J.B. Upshaw contributed to this report.
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