Blue October Gripping New Documentary Get
Back Up
Covers Their Struggles with Depression, Drugs, and Alcohol
“You have a choice. You can choose drugs or you can choose your family.”
It’s an ultimatum that no addict wants to hear, especially not a platinum-selling rock star like Justin Furstenfeld of Blue October. But that’s exactly what his wife Sarah said to him, as seen in the powerful and riveting new trailer for the upcoming music documentary GET BACK UP.
While the ultimatum is intended to be focused on his immediate family unit, this demand of finality can be seen as a universal plea that includes his band, management and ultimately his fans, as witnessed in powerful and gripping feature-length film as directed by acclaimed Emmy-winning director Norry Niven (Dexter, Chasing Shakespeare, American Idol).
The trailer which gets released on YouTube today offers a snapshot of Blue October’s – and more centrally, Furstenfeld’s – struggles and near-immolation with depression, drug and alcohol-abuse and how it affects the orbit around him and his ultimate and hopeful redemption and triumph of the human spirit.
Filmed over the span of nearly a decade through hundreds of shows worldwide, GET BACK UP isn’t just the story of Blue October’s meteoric rise to the top of the charts and then its equally quick demise. The film also deals with Justin’s mental health issues and thoughts of suicide which leads to a more personal story documenting Furstenfeld’s struggles and how they fractured and damaged his loving family.
“I always knew my head and heart were different. My head was darker… and my heart was much, much bigger,” says Furstenfeld in the film’s trailer. With his self-flagellation and recovery splayed out in the documentary, what ultimately saves him is his newfound balance between head and heart.
Mirroring the continued rise of his health, mind and family, Furstenfeld and Blue October has been on a similar rebound as well. When his addictions got the better of him, the health of the band suffered as well… but now, as he gains more and more strength and gets to a much healthier and happier frame of mind and body, the band’s music has witnessed a resurgence with the release of their ninth album I Hope You’re Happy which debuted at #7 on Billboard’s Album Chart and #2 on its Alternative Album Chart. Known for their previous platinum singles like “Into The Ocean,” “Hate Me,” and “Calling You,” the new album, which embraces Furstenfeld’s new lease on life, enjoyed immediate success with its first two singles “I Hope You’re Happy” and “Daylight,” both of which charted high on US Alternative Airplay Chart.
After spending 25 weeks on the US Alternative Airplay Chart and peaking at #14, “I Hope You’re Happy” crossed over to the US Hot AC Chart, reaching #34 and being the 35th most-played song in 2018. “Daylight” hit #22 on the US Alternative Airplay Chart, making “Daylight” the second song from I Hope You’re Happy to impact this chart.
Their latest single “King” reached #34 on the Alternative Chart too, making it their third track on that chart’s Top 40 in less than a year. The fact that I Hope You’re Happy was released on indie label Up/Down-Brando Records makes this feat even more notable.
GET BACK UP will be premiering on the film festival circuit Fall 2019.
Tour Dates
Jun 01 Bunbury Music Fest Cincinnati, OH
Jun 06 Orpheum Theatre Flagstaff, AZ
Jun 07 Fox Theater Bakersfield, CA
Jun 08 House of Blues Anaheim Anaheim, CA
Jun 09 Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA
Jun 12 Cargo Reno, NV
Jun 13 Gallivan Center Salt Lake City, UT
Jun 14 Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas, NV
Jun 15 Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre (101WKQX PIQNIQ) Tinley Park, IL
Jun 16 The Observatory San Diego, CA
Jun 19 The Midtown Bend, OR
Jun 20 Knitting Factory Concert House Spokane, WA
Jun 21 The Showbox Seattle, WA
Jun 22 Roseland Theater Portland, OR
Jun 23 VENUE Vancouver, Canada
Jun 26 Knitting Factory Concert House Boise, ID
Jun 28 Ogden Theatre Denver, CO
Jun 29 Ogden Theatre Denver, CO
Jun 30 Sunshine Theater Albuquerque, NM
Jul 11 The Hotel Cafe (An Open Book) Los Angeles, CA
Jul 18 The Hotel Cafe (An Open Book) Los Angeles, CA
Jul 27 Houston’s Music and Arts Festival Houston, TX
Aug 01 The Hotel Cafe (An Open Book) Los Angeles, CA
Aug 09 The Van Buren (An Open Book) Phoenix, AZ
Aug 28 Franklin Theater (An Open Book) Des Moines, IA
Aug 29 The Ark (An Open Book) Ann Arbor, MI
Aug 30 The Rex Theater (An Open Book) Pittsburgh, PA
Aug 31 The Athenaeum Theatre (An Open Book) Columbus, OH
Sep 01 Buskirk-Chumley Theater (An Open Book) Bloomington, IN
Sep 04 Knuckleheads (An Open Book) Kansas City, KS
Sep 05 Englert Theatre (An Open Book) Iowa City, IA
Sep 06 Wave (An Open Book) Wichita, KS
Sep 07 Cain’s Ballroom (An Open Book) Tulsa, OK
Sep 08 Revolution Music Room (An Open Book) Little Rock, AR
Sep 11 Common Grounds (An Open Book) Waco, TX
Sep 12 Brewster Street Ice House (An Open Book) Corpus Christi, TX
Sep 13 Ice House on Main (An Open Book) Bryan, TX
Sep 14 Paramount Theater (An Open Book) Austin, TX
Sep 27 Revolution Live Fort Lauderdale, FL
Sep 28 Jannus Live Tampa, FL
Sep 29 The Senate Columbia, SC
Oct 03 The National Richmond, VA
Oct 04 The Masquerade Atlanta, GA
Oct 05 The Caverns Pelham, TN
Oct 09 Manchester Music Hall Lexington, KY
Oct 10 The Intersection Grand Rapids, MI
Oct 11 The Pageant St. Louis, MO
Oct 12 The Waiting Room – Outdoors Omaha, NE
Oct 18 The Aztec Theatre San Antonio, TX
Oct 19 Toyota Music Factory Dallas, TX
Oct 20 George’s Fayetteville, AR
Oct 23 Monarch Music Hall Peoria, IL
Oct 24 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
Oct 25 Rhythm City Casino Resort® Davenport, IA
Oct 26 Royal Oak Music Theatre Royal Oak, MI
Oct 27 SI Hall at New York State Fair Grounds Syracuse, NY
Nov 02 The Rave Milwaukee, WI
Nov 05 Anthology Rochester, NY
Nov 06 Town Ballroom Buffalo, NY
Nov 10 The Opera House Toronto, ON
Nov 13 The NorVa Norfolk, VA
Nov 14 Baltimore Soundstage Baltimore, MD
Nov 15 Webster Hall New York, NY
Nov 16 Agora Theater & Ballroom Cleveland, OH
Nov 17 The Mill & Mine Knoxville, TN
