Blue October kicks off national tour in Albuquerque

These days, Justin Furstenfeld likes to focus on being positive.

“I used to be the strange guy,” he says with a laugh. “Now, I just want to have all my ducks in a row and be happy. I’m beyond the tortured artist I used to be.”

Furstenfeld, the vocalist for rock outfit Blue October, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary as a band this year, finds time to look back at his life and career more frequently these days.

“I told my girlfriend that if I died tomorrow, I’d be OK,” he says. “The kids love me. I have the best guys in the band. What I’ve learned is that writers can’t write anything unless they experience it. That’s what I’m doing with my life right now. I take my experiences and write about them. I’m trying to make more time to experience life.”

Blue October formed in 1995 and quickly began making a name for itself as a beacon of emotional transparency.

Justin Furstenfeld is joined by his brother, Jeremy Furstenfeld, Ryan Delahoussaye, Matt Noveskey and Steve Schiltz in the band.

With over a billion streams and 18 Top 40 singles, including hits like “Hate Me,” “Into the Ocean,” “Oh My My” and “I Hope You’re Happy,” the band has cultivated a fiercely loyal global fanbase.

“We’re kicking off our tour in Albuquerque for the first time,” Furstenfeld says. “We have some of the best fans in the city. We usually hit Albuquerque in the middle or the end of a tour cycle.”

The band’s most recent single, “Hot Stuff,” has been a staple on rock radio since its release in March, and will appear on the band’s upcoming album.

“We were working on the new record and Steve is such a good guitarist and he was playing these really awesome rock riffs and I said, ‘Hold on,’” Furstenfeld says about how “Hot Stuff” came to fruition. “I thought it sounded like a ZZ Top song. This is the type of music that we never really go to do. It’s a rock ’n’ roll song for the sake of doing rock ’n’ roll. It’s fun to be at a stage in your life when you just want to take the cape off and make good music.”

Furstenfeld, who will turn 50 on Dec. 14, has been playing in a band since he was 13. Prior to Blue October, he was in The Last Wish.

He’s lived a life on stage and performing is second nature — it’s also where he thrives.

“Being on stage and making music has gotten not only quicker, but more exciting,” he says. “If I have a new idea, I won’t save it for tomorrow. I know I can reach out to people for help.”

Furstenfeld says the band is hitting the road as a thank you to fans.

“This is going to be a fun tour and we’re not worried about marketing,” he says. “We’re on stage showing our gratitude to the fans. They keep showing up and supporting us.”

In 2026, Blue October is heading back to Universal Records and will put out a 20th anniversary vinyl of “Foiled.”

“We’re going to do a world tour where we play the album from top to bottom,” he says.

Looking back on 30 years of Blue October, Furstenfeld says he stands today because of all the experiences — highs and lows — and he’s proud of himself for never giving up.

“There are years before ‘Sway’ that I can’t identify anymore,” he explains. “I’m constantly reminded of how blessed I am to have a colorful catalog of music.”

Furstenfeld says Blue October’s legacy is a point of pride.

“We continue to make music that we hope connects with others,” he says. “We’ve had success and never quite broke through. The world has evolved for me. I now see that I don’t want to rule the world. I just want to do ‘me’ as well as I possibly can. And maybe add some color to this project that we’ve been able to call our own for so many years.”