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Blue October |   | |
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Blue October Ignite A Hometown Firestorm Blue October’s second night at Houston’s 713 Music Hall felt less like a tour stop and more like a hometown homecoming - one charged with memory, gratitude and a spark that only this city can pull from the band. Riding the momentum of a sold-out first night, the Houston natives walked into a room already humming with anticipation, fans filling every corner as if returning to a familiar sanctuary. Opening the evening, James and the Cold Gun delivered a fierce, no-nonsense jolt of punk-leaning adrenaline that primed the crowd perfectly. By the time Blue October stepped onto the stage, the atmosphere had already tipped toward electric, ready for a night that would stretch from emotional depths to roaring celebration. James And The Cold Gun: Welsh Thunderbolts Strike Houston The night kicked off as James and the Cold Gun hit the 713 Music Hall stage with the confidence of a band that knows exactly who they are and what they do best - deliver high-voltage, guitar-forward rock with zero pretense. As a four-piece, they operate like a tightly coiled machine: every part essential, every part pushing the others harder. The expanded lineup gives their songs extra muscle and it showed from the moment they stepped under the lights. Frontman James Joseph prowled the front of the stage with a mix of grit and charisma, his vocals cutting through the room like a siren call. Beside him, James Bliss fired off riffs that ricocheted around the hall, sharp and serrated, driving each chorus into overdrive. The rhythm section - completed by their bassist Gaby Elise and drummer Benny Mead, formed a relentless heartbeat, locking into grooves that felt both raw and razor-tight, the kind of pulse that makes a room sit up straight. Live, James and the Cold Gun thrive on immediacy. Their set is loud, lean and refreshingly unpolished in all the right ways. Songs detonate instead of unfold, built on riffs that snap and vocals that push toward the edge without ever tipping into chaos. What makes them stand out though, isn’t just volume, it’s urgency. There’s a sense that they’re chasing something onstage and they want the crowd to chase it with them. By the end of their performance, the foursome had stamped their identity firmly on the night: part punk spirit, part rock revival, all heart. In a city waiting eagerly for Blue October, James and the Cold Gun didn’t just warm up the room - they set it ablaze. “James and the Cold Gun hit the stage like a live wire - every riff, every beat, every word demanding your full attention.” Blue October: A Hometown Heartburst of Sound and Story Blue October’s second night at Houston’s 713 Music Hall felt like the kind of homecoming show bands spend their whole careers chasing - electric, emotional and overflowing with the kind of communal energy that only comes from playing in the city that raised you. From the moment the lights dimmed, the band - Justin Furstenfeld, Matt Noveskey, Jeremy Furstenfeld, Ryan Delahoussaye and guitarist Steve Schiltz stepped onstage, the room hummed with anticipation, ready for a night that would traverse the full spectrum of the band’s emotional landscape. The evening opened with “Further Dive (The House That Dylan Built),” a slow-blooming invitation that set a reflective tone. Justin’s voice wove through the soft glow of Schiltz’s atmospheric guitar lines, while Ryan’s violin added subtle textures, almost like a whisper to the crowd gently pulling them in. The momentum quickly shifted into “This Is What I Live For,” a triumphant anthem that ignited the room, with Matt Noveskey’s bass propelling the energy forward and Jeremy Furstenfeld’s drums punctuating every surge. “Coal Makes Diamonds” followed, the guitar interplay of Steve sharpening each chorus, while “The Way I Used to Love You” reminded the audience of the band’s knack for turning heartbreak into a vivid theatrical performance. Ryan’s violin swelled during “Only Lost Is Found,” giving the song an ethereal lift before “Sway” coaxed the crowd into movement with its hypnotic rhythm. By the time “Into the Ocean” came around, the room had become a collective voice, fans singing back every line as if it were their own story. The middle portion of the set was a careful balancing act between intensity and reflection. “Everything We Lost in the Fire” simmered with restrained tension, flowing naturally into the icy pulse of “The Chills.” Schiltz’s guitar cuts on “Chameleon Boy” added a biting edge, perfectly counterpointing Justin’s intimate vocals, while Ryan’s layered textures wove throughout, holding each song together like an emotional backbone. When the band launched into “Home,” the response was immediate - a swelling of cheers and raised hands, a collective exhale as the song’s comforting familiarity embraced the room. That feeling carried seamlessly into “All That We Are,” which then built into the raw power of “Hate Me.” This night however, "Hate Me" took on a new layer of intimacy when Justin’s daughter, Saydee Belle, joined him on stage their voices intertwining in a moment that left fans both thrilled and moved. It was a performance that exemplified the personal, human connection at the heart of Blue October’s live shows. The band shifted gears with the playful swagger of “Oh My My”, flowing into the driving rhythm of “Moving On (So Long)”, and then the full-throttle energy of “Hot Stuff”. Jeremy’s drums thundered through “Amnesia,” giving the track a stadium-sized punch, while Ryan’s violin added subtle flourishes that elevated the song’s emotive core. As the night moved toward its conclusion, “Down Here Waiting” brought a reflective hush over the room, only to give way to the brooding, emotional sweep of “Debris.” Then Ryan’s solo became the centerpiece - a delicate yet powerful tapestry of violin that turned the 713 Music Hall into something almost sacred, a brief moment of pure artistry that allowed the audience to breathe in and process the emotional journey so far. The band returned for a three-song encore that felt like a love letter to Houston. “1222 Bay Oak Street” dripped with nostalgia, Steve’s gentle guitar lines highlighting the song’s reflective storytelling. “Fear” followed like a sunrise, soaring and defiant, and finally “I Hope You’re Happy” closed the night with joy, leaving the audience uplifted and together as one. As Justin smiled out into the sea of faces - his brother Jeremy behind him, Matt anchoring the final notes, Ryan lowering his violin and Steve’s guitar humming its last echo - it was clear this wasn’t just a concert. It was a reunion, a celebration and a reminder that no matter how far Blue October travels, Houston will always be the beating heart of their story. “When Saydee Belle joined Justin on stage for ‘Hate Me,’ the entire room felt like family - every note, every lyric, carried the weight of home.” Blue October Setlist: Further Dive (The House That Dylan Built) This Is What I Live For Coal Makes Diamonds The Way I Used to Love You Only Lost Is Found Sway Into the Ocean Everything We Lost in the Fire The Chills Chameleon Boy Home All That We Are Hate Me Oh My My Moving On (So Long) Hot Stuff Amnesia Down Here Waiting Debris Ryan Solo Encore: 1222 Bay Oak Street Fear I Hope You're Happy James and the Cold Gun Setlist: Twist The Knife Fragile Above the Lake Meet My Maker Guessing Games Chewing Glass |
                                    James And The Cold Gun                            
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