Friday, October 25, 8 p.m.
Rhythm City Casino Resort Event Center, 7077 Elmore Avenue, Davenport IA
Alternative-rock fans will find October a little less blue with the area arrival of Blue October, the musicians' October 25 concert at Davenport's Rhythm City Casino Resort Event Center boasting performances from a 21-year repertoire that includes 11 top-40 singles and such chart-topping studio albums as Any Man in America, Sway, and Home.
Formed in Houston, Texas, by singer/songwriter and guitarist Justin Furstenfeld, his brother Jeremy, and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Delahoussaye in 1995, Blue October was discovered by former Kid Rock manager Michael Rand when the musicians were performing at the Papadeaux Cafe in Houston in 1998. Rand's agency proceeded to book over 350 concert engagements for the group, and the band released its first album The Answers in 1998 – a well-received debut that sold more than 5,000 copies in Houston alone. Sophomore release Consent to Treatment came out in 1999, and with the song “Calling You” from third album History for Sale, Blue October had a major hit on 2003 airwaves, eventually receiving 56,585 spins from radio stations nationwide. The song remained the band's largest mainstream success until the 2006 release of “Hate Me” from the album Foiled, which climbed to number two on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart and remained in the top five for 20 straight weeks. It was also the song Blue October performed on their network television premiere on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the appearance leading to bookings on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
Foiled went on to become Blue October's first platinum-certified recording, with “Hate Me” and followup single “Into the Ocean” emerging as platinum-selling singles. The band's new public awareness led to the musicians touring internationally in England, France, Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, and when it was released in 2009, fifth studio album Approaching Normal debuted at number 13 on the Billboard 200 chart. Over the past decade, Blue October has released a trio of additional albums – 2011's Any Man in America, 2013's Sway, and 2016's Home – that all hit number one of Billboard's U.S. Alternative charts, with their hit singles including “The Chills” and “Bleed Out.” Meanwhile, Blue October's most recent recording, 2018's I Hope You're Happy, has earned the group some of its biggest raves yet, with The Aquarian stating, “There are 12 songs on this new album, each one having just as much passion and vigor as the one before it.”
Blue October plays the Rhythm City Casino Resort Event Center on October 25 with an opening set by New Dialogue, admission to the 8 p.m. concert is $29-35, and more information and tickets are available by calling (844)852-4386 or visiting RhythmCityCasino.com.
