Blue October take on The Big A with a headlining show on The Masquerade's Heaven stage.
Blue October 10/27/2021 at The Masquerade | Dylan Basden Photography
The hard rock turned adult alternative/art rock outfit returned to Atlanta for the first time in over two years. With songs from across their discography to play, the crowd was treated with a wide variety of sounds and themes, with much of the music being very personal for both the band and audience.
Blue October 10/27/2021 at The Masquerade | Dylan Basden Photography
Minnesota rockers Yam Haus opened up the show. Their energetic performance stole the hearts of the crowd. While a short set, it helped get the crowd prepped for the oncoming storm.
Blue October 10/27/2021 at The Masquerade | Dylan Basden Photography
The Houston natives certainly didn't make any friends in Atlanta when they reminded the crowd of their baseball allegiance. The Houston Astros are in the midst of a World Series matchup with the Atlanta Braves.
The band did make a statement in the middle of their set though. Lead singer Justin Furstenfeld is a mental health and clean living advocate. Mid-way through the band's set he stopped to tell part of his recovery story, Justin is closing in on 10 years of sobriety. Themes of his past and subsequent recovery are clear throughout the band's discography.
Blue October 10/27/2021 at The Masquerade | Dylan Basden Photography
Even playing for well over an hour and a half, the band still didn't even hit all of their albums. With 10 studio LPs under their belt, the band was only able to play a couple from the ones they did cover. Even their latest album, This Is What I Live For, only got four tracks. Despite this, there was little to complain about. The bands biggest singles, "Hate Me" and "Into the Ocean" were played back to back, followed shortly by a fan favorite "Fear." The band's encore featured a more stripped back four song run featuring mandolin and slide guitar. The full setlist is below:
1. Daylight
2. The Way I Used to Love You
3. This Is What I Live For
4. Say It
5. Oh My My
6. Into the Ocean
7. Hate Me
8. Fear
9. Home
10. I Want It
11. I Hope You're Happy
12. Fight for Love
13. Leave It in the Dressing Room (Shake It Up)
14. Debris
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15. Calling You
16. 18th Floor Balcony
17. Sway
18. Moving On (So Long)
Blue October 10/27/2021 at The Masquerade | Dylan Basden Photography
The band still has quite a few dates left on their US tour. After a quick stop in Louisiana the band is onto their native Texas and the west coast. The full list of dates are below:
10/28 New Orleans, LA — House of Blues
10/29 Beaumont, TX — Jefferson Theatre
10/30 Houston, TX — Revention Music Center
11/04 Dallas, TX — House of Blues
11/05 Dallas, TX — House of Blues
11/10 Midland, TX — Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center
11/11 Albuquerque, NM — Sunshine Theater
11/12 Denver, CO — Filmore Auditorium
11/13 Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
11/14 Great Falls, MT — The Newberry
11/16 Portland, OR — Roseland Theater
11/17 Seattle, WA — The Showbox
11/19 Spokane, WA — Knitting Factory Concert House
11/20 Boise, ID — Knitting Factory Concert House
11/23 Bakersfield, CA — Fox Theater
11/24 San Francisco, CA — Great American Music Hall
11/26 Reno, NV — Whitney Peak Hotel
11/27 Sacramento, CA — Ace Of Spades
11/28 Sacramento, CA — Ace Of Spades
12/01 Las Vegas, NV — Brooklyn Bowl
12/02 Phoenix, AZ — The Van Buren
12/03 Los Angelos, CA — The Belasco Theater
12/04 San Diego, CA — The Observatory North Park
12/05 Anaheim, CA — House of Blues
12/09 St. Louis, MO — The Pagent
12/10 Milwaukee, WI — The Rave / Eagles Club
12/11 Grand Rapids, MI — Intersection Lounge
12/18 Tulsa, OK — Tulsa Theater
Blue October 10/27/2021 at The Masquerade | Dylan Basden Photography
Blue October continue to impress after over 25 years. The band will return to Atlanta August 28th, 2021 in support of The Goo Goo Dolls.
