Old friends unite for great concert at Utah First Amp
Aug 26, 2024 01:28PM ● By Tom Haraldsen
Blue October lead singer Justin Furstenfeld electrified the crowd at the Utah First Amp
It was like an old fashioned band reunion–two highly successful groups meeting to perform on
the same stage. For those who watched Blue October and Switchfoot rock the Utah First Credit
Union Amphitheatre Saturday night, it seemed like old friends coming together for a great night
of rock and roll.
The “Help From My Friends Tour” performance was exactly that. After the front acts Blindlove and
Matt Nathanson got the crowd warmed up, Switchfoot, led by Jon Foreman, came to the
amphitheater stage for the first time ever. He told the audience “it was nice to finally meet you,”
though the band had played at The Venue in Salt Lake City before.
Foreman and company set the tone immediately with “Stars” and “Dark Horses,” then did a
cover of the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage.” As Foreman told his story about being a father and
missing his daughter, the band continued with “This Is Your Life.” Though a strong wind that
was blowing most of the day began to ebb a bit at sunset, “Hello Hurricane” seemed
appropriate, along with “I Won’t Let You Go.”
Just before their set ended, Switchfoot was joined by Justin Furstenfeld, lead singer of Blue
October, for “Dare You to Move.” The two lead musicians shared a very special bond which
Furstenfeld discussed during his band’s set. More on that later.
Switchfoot finished strongly with “Where I Belong” and “Meant to Live,” paving the way for this
band’s return to Utah First Amp in the future, possibly at the front act.
Then it was Blue October’s turn. The band had played the arena in 2022 when they
opened for Beastie Boys, and also headlined a show at The Venue last year. But Saturday
night’s headlining gig at Utah First Amp was long overdue and didn’t disappoint.
As with Foreman, Furstenfeld made the concert seem very personal, telling stories about his
journey from “a very dark place” to a feeling of happiness and joy today. He credited lyrics from
a song Foreman and Switchfoot sang that “got me going in the right direction,” beating back
alcohol and drug abuse and focusing on the beautiful things in his life.
Blue October endeared the crowd with their hits like “Daylight,” “Say It,” “Fight for Love” and
particularly “Into the Ocean.” As Furstenfeld got the audience involved with singing and with
their cell phone lights (“it was like thousands of fireflies up here,” he said), everyone seemed to
celebrate by singing “Hate Me” and “Oh My My.” The audience knew the words, and the band
loved it.
They closed with “Shut Up I Want You to Love Me Back,” “Down Here Waiting” and “Moving
On.” And just as Furstenfeld had come onstage to join Foreman for Switchback’s set, Foreman
helped Furstenfeld and Blue October the “Help From My Friends” performance conclude with “I
Hope You're Happy,” ending with a slow and gentle final stanza from Furstenfeld. He made sure
almost everyone at the concert went home “happy.”
It’s been a great summer of concerts so far for Utah First Amp, and over the next few weeks,
super acts like Train, REO Speedwagon, the Doobie Brothers, Hozier, Creed, Jason Aldean,
Def Leppard, Lainey Wilson, Dan + Shey, Pitbull, ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd are yet to come,
not to mention back-to-back concerts by Post Malone and THREE performances by Imagine
Dragons. A lot more rockin’ still in store.
