JVHS's Delahoussaye, Blue October kick off 2010 tour tonight

Jersey Village alum Ryan Delahoussaye and his rock band Blue October will kick of their 2010 tour tonight in Hollywood, Calif. 

In 1995, Delahoussaye teamed up with vocalist Justin Furstenfeld and his brother Jeremy to form the rock band Blue October. 

 

It was Delahoussaye’s violin playing that separated Blue October from many of the other bands out there, giving them a distinguishing sound and making them a local favorite.

 

Its huge local following in Houston propelled the band to be signed by Universal Records in 1998 and over the course of the past 12 years, they have recorded five albums and gained exposure through their songs being played in movies and TV shows. 

 

Last year, Justin Furstenfeld, who suffers from bipolar disorder, blacked out in a Minneapolis airport and had a severe mental anxiety attack, canceling a tour that was supposed to support the band’s “Approaching Normal” recording. 

 

Furstenfeld has recovered and Blue October begins a new tour on tonight in Hollywood, that is designed to help others as well.

 

Called “The Pick up the Phone Tour,” it was formed through a partnership between non-profit organizations to raise suicide awareness.  

 

The tour will be making stops throughout California, Washington, Missouri, Wisconsin and other cities, with more dates expected to come.

 

Delahoussaye graduated from Jersey Village in 1990.