Led by singer-guitarist Justin Furstenfeld, the alt-rock act Blue October has experienced extreme ups and downs since forming just over 20 years ago in Houston.

Furstenfeld chronicles that rollercoaster ride in Crazy Making — The Words and Lyrics of Justin Furstenfeld, a collection of annotated lyrics for the songs in the band’s discography. 

Recently, he’s embraced a more positive attitude, something you can hear in the lyrics on the band’s new studio album, Home, and something that comes across in interviews and in the ways he interacts with fans. 

We caught up with him last night while he was backstage at Aloft Downtown Cleveland, preparing for a special acoustic performance in the hotel’s bar, where he played to a throng of loyal fans that he said made him feel like he was performing at Blossom.   

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This article appears in Aug 17-23, 2016.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.

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