Buy now: Don't stand 'Down Here Waiting' to see Blue October in Brown County

Platinum-certified band Blue October's "The Answers" (1998) redirected their career course. Ever since, they've toured the globe seizing more than a billion total streams and charting 19 hits, including “Down Here Waiting.”

Blue October comes to the Brown County Music Center on March 7 with Justin Furstenfeld (vocals, guitar, songwriter), his brother Jeremy Furstenfeld (drums), Ryan Delahoussaye (violin, mandolin, piano), Matt Noveskey (bass) and Steve Schlitz (guitar).

Tickets are limited, so buy yours soon.

Blue October started rocking in the 1990s when Justin, his brother Jeremy and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Delahoussaye got noticed by former Kid Rock manager Michael Rand.

Blue October's new video for "Down Here Waiting" plus a new LP

Blue October has released their latest LP, "Spinning the Truth Around (Part II)," and it's a section of their three-part opus. There's also a new video for "Down Here Waiting” in which viewers will have no doubt of Justin's past theatrical experience. Although writing songs is his favorite part of being in the band, it's obvious he was made for the stage, and an uproarious and inventive stage at that.

As a high school freshman, Justin watched the seniors who had parts in the school plays. "You see someone slip, you move right in." An actor, and pragmatic opportunist, was developing.

Blue October recorded the "Spinning the Truth Around" series in Justin's own studios in San Marcos, Texas. One goal is to reinvigorate the old way of listening to albums, where listeners would hear the whole thing in one sitting, finding the theme.

"I like to make records where the album tells a story," Justin said over the phone.

So "Spinning" tells the story of two people growing apart. And this is something Justin knows.

"I'm not good at putting other people first," he said. "But I'm good at loving."

Justin Furstenfeld: a dozen years of sobriety and a mental health documentary

Justin, has been sober now for just under 12 years, and his songs — particularly the transfixing "Hate Me" — show addiction's and recovery's torture and relief. In the "Hate Me" video, his own mother appears in a hard-to-watch scene.

For seven years Justin worked to make "Get Back Up," a mental health documentary that explores his own life and those of his cohort. When nearly everything fails, sometimes a solution appears, as many of Blue October's songs suggest. Watch the "Get Back Up" trailer at getbackup.tv/programs/get-back-up-documentary.

Five things keep Justin going, he said: a good therapist; abstention from drugs and alcohol; the right food choices; appropriate meds; positive people.

"Stop hanging around with idiots," he said.

"I love my children more than anything in the world." And he said that's what keeps his musical success flowing: making money for the kids' lives.

"(Blue October is) no longer working for our egos and thinking 'what cool things can I buy?'"

And, yes, Justin has a girlfriend he loves, but he's still friends with his ex, a story his fans have enjoyed following through his recovery.

"I am happy, joyous, free now," he said. "People make up too much drama in their lives. Protect your peace."

Editor's note: If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide and wants emotional help, there are crisis lines available via phone (dial 988), online at https://www.in.gov/issp (Indiana Addition Hotline). Indiana residents can dial 800-662-4357 anytime to reach a professional trained in addiction counseling and able to direct you to resources.

If you go

WHAT: Blue October's Spinning The Truth Around (Part II) Tour

WHEN: 8 p.m. March 7

WHERE: Brown County Music Center, 200 Maple Leaf Blvd., Nashville

TICKETS: Going fast. Starts at $40 and can be purchased online at tinyurl.com/2n8m3fnf

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Buy now: Rock band Blue October performing March 7 in Brown County