Austin Sound Check

Best Concert Ever - Blue October

by awolken on March 24th, 2008

So, this month the b5 Music Channel bloggers decided to write about our most favorite concert. This was definitely not an easy choice. I decided to go with Blue October at La Zona Rosa (Austin) in 2003.

Blue October’s show sticks out from the hundreds of live shows that I’ve been to, for one reason. The passion in the music was equally matched by the energy of the crowd that night.

La Zona Rosa was sold out. It was cramped and hot. The line for drinks was incredibly long. Yet, despite all that, once Blue October took the stage, they were all that mattered. The crowd forgot how tiny the venue was, how impatiently thirsty they were getting and turned their collective focus to the band on stage. Once the music started every fan packed into La Zona Rosa was singing along at the top of their lungs and dancing. Justin Furstenfeld and Co. transported the crowd out of the venue and into that place where raw emotion meets music. That is the mark of true talent, and something I’ve experienced very rarely.

This show was on Blue October’s tour in support of History for Sale, their best work to date. It was before Hate Me was ever on VH1 and before they were getting airplay on national radio. I’ve seen Blue October twice since the La Zona Rosa show in 2003, and neither time even came close to matching the night in terms of raw power. There was something special and intangible about their show that night, something I haven’t been able to match since.

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