Saturday, October 17, 2009

Pick Up The Phone Tour w/ Blue October Hits Jacksonville 10/27

PICK UP THE PHONE TOUR 2009:
BANDS STAND-UP FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION & AWARENESS,
TEAMING UP WITH
1 800-SUICIDE THE NATIONAL HOPELINE NETWORK,
TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS,
SYNCLIVE.COM AND POSTSECRET
FOR THE FIRST SUICIDE PREVENTION MUSIC TOUR
LAUNCHING OCTOBER 2009

BLUE OCTOBER
SET TO HEADLINE MONTH-LONG U.S. TREK
WITH B.o.B. (aka BOBBY RAY) SUPPORTING
TOUR PRE-SALE UP NOW

The reality of depression and suicide has inspired artists to take part in the PICK UP THE PHONE TOUR, a music tour committed to reducing the stigma associated with mental health as well as making the access to help and hope for all safe and without fear. Houston-based art rockers Blue October will headline the inaugural PICK UP THE PHONE TOUR--where impassioned artists join together to raise awareness and funds for depression and suicide prevention--and Atlanta-based hip-hop artist and producer B.o.B will open on the trek. The PICK UP THE PHONE TOUR marks the first-ever tour solely benefitting suicide prevention in history. The month-long trek will launch Thursday, October 22nd at the Music Farm in Charleston, SC and wrap up with a two-night stand at Stubbs in Austin, TX November 20 and 21. See the full PUTP tour itinerary below; tickets are on sale now. To purchase, visit: www.putp.org and http://www.blueoctoberfan.com/pickupthephone/.

The PICK UP THE PHONE TOUR will launch with a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC Wednesday, October 21 at 10:00 AM. Justin Furstenfeld, the lead singer of Blue October, will be on hand to speak and perform an acoustic set before members of Congress as well as supporters of the tour partners 1-800 SUICIDE, PostSecret and TWLOHA. Justin--who has struggled with bi-polar disorder most of his life--will be calling on Congress to fund both creative writing and art therapy programs as alternative options for mental health. The press conference will also urge Congress to fully fund the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act which provides the funding behind the majority of the suicide prevention programs in the United States today. The press conference is open to all on a first-come first-served basis, to RSVP, email TWLOHA: PUTP@TWLOHA.com.

The PICK UP THE PHONE TOUR is created through a partnership between the non-profit organization To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), the largest charity on MySpace and Facebook: Postsecret.com; Synclive.com; and 1-800 SUICIDE The National Hopeline Network. Through 1-800 SUICIDE--which provides a life-saving service that is private and confidential for people in need--callers are routed directly to the closest crisis center in their immediate area so that quick referrals to behavioral health services and other supports can be offered. Since 1998, 1-800-SUICIDE has received over 3.6 million calls and rescued more than 4,000 individuals who had already initiated suicide plans.

The spokesperson for the PICK UP THE PHONE TOUR 2009, Justin Furstenfeld personally understands the struggles those who are affected by mental health issues face on a daily basis. “It has taken 20 years to have the chance to do a tour focusing on mental health issues which have been a daily battle for me for most of my life,” explains Justin. “It’s great to finally be a part of a positive, progressive-thinking tour for an important cause which will make a direct impact and help people in desperate situations that need it the most.” In a strange turn of events in his own life, Justin worked at a mental hospital one day and, after suffering a breakdown, became a patient in a hospital the next. Justin--who has taken medication for the condition since he was a teenager--now teaches creative writing at a mental hospital to young adults affected by mental health issues, self-abuse issues and sexual abuse. Through personal experiences and music, Justin challenges young minds to channel their emotions and anger into creative writing and art versus taking their frustrations out on themselves or the world around them. He performs his art around the world, sending a message of hope to thousands who know and trust his message because he fights the same battles they fight every day. Justin is living proof that if you reach out and allow yourself to be helped you can lead a beautiful life filled with love, family and career.

Formed in Houston in 1995, the rock five–piece Blue October have released five studio albums and sold over 2 million albums. The group released their fifth studio album Approaching Normal (Universal Motown), the follow-up to their 1.3 million-selling Foiled album; it spawned the hit “Hate Me,” which reached #2 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, followed by "Into the Ocean," a # 1 video on VH1 about a the metaphorical contemplation of suicide itself. Approaching Normal debuted at # 13 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart in March 2009 and produced two top singles: “Dirt Room,” which rocketed to #6 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart marking the group’s third Top Ten singl, and “Say It.” Blue October is Justin Furstenfeld (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Jeremy Furstenfeld (drums, percussion), Ryan Delahoussaye (violin/viola, mandolin, piano, backing vocals), C.B. Hudson (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Matt Noveskey (bass guitar, backing vocals). Due to their hard-won and loyal fanbase, the group now tours all over the world. Check out www.blueoctober.com and www.myspace.com/blueoctober

Hailing from Atlanta, B.o.B. also known as Bobby Ray is a hotly-tipped hip-hop artist and producer who will release his debut album The Adventures of Bobby Ray via T.I.’s label Grand Hustle (Atlantic Records) in 2009. B.o.B. appeared on the covers of XXL and Vibe magazines as was hailed as part of “Hip-Hop’s class of ‘09” (XXL, 12/08). B.o.B describes his music as a fusion of influences ranging from 80’s, techno, rock, funk and du-wop. Check out www.bobatl.com and www.myspace.com/bobatl.

Recently, acclaimed actor James Earl Jones recorded a Public Service announcement for the PICK UP THE PHONE TOUR; click here to view:

http://www.preventsuicide.us/hopeline-new/index.html#

Following are the confirmed dates for the PICK UP THE PHONE TOUR 2009:

Wed 10/21 Washington, DC Capitol Hill-PUTP Press Conference
Thu 10/22 Charleston, SC Music Farm (no B.o.B.)
Fri 10/23 Charlotte, NC Fillmore
Sat 10/24 Hilton Head, SC Shoreline Ballroom
Tue 10/27 Jacksonville, FL Freebird Live
Wed 10/28 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Revolution
Fri 10/30 Orlando, FL House of Blues
Sat 10/31 Tampa, FL The Ritz (Ybor City)
Sun 11/1 Columbia, SC Headliners
Mon 11/2 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
Thu 11/5 Rochester, NY Water Street
Fri 11/6 Boston, MA House of Blues - “10th Anniversary Reason To Live Concert” with Cracker
Tue 11/10 Columbus, OH LC Pavilion
Thu 11/12 Chicago, IL House of Blues
Fri 11/13 Detroit, MI Royal Oak
Sat 11/14 Kalamazoo, MI State Theater
Sun 11/15 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
Wed 11/18 Tulsa, OK Cain's
Fri 11/20 Austin, TX Stubb's
Sat 11/21 Austin, TX Stubb's

For more information about the PUTP tour, visit:

www.putp.org
www.hopeline.com
www.twloha.com
www.synclive.com
www.postsecret.com

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