Blue October is one of my favorite bands. Their music frequently deals with suicide, depression, and lost love. Found this on the Pollstar Blog by Jim Otey:

Texas-rockers Blue October and Atlanta-based hip-hop artist B.o.B are teaming up for a tour designed to help raise awareness and funds for depression and suicide prevention.

The Pick Up the Phone tour kicks off with a press conference on Capitol Hill on Oct. 21. Blue October frontman Justin Furstenfeld, who has struggled with bi-polar disorder most of his life, will speak to members of Congress and deliver an acoustic set.

Furstenfeld’s will urge Congress to fund creative writing and art therapy programs as alternative options for mental health, as well as to fully fund the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act. The act provides funding for most of the suicide prevention programs in the U.S.

The press conference is open to all on a first-come first-served basis. Fans wishing to attend and show their support should send an email to one of the tour’s sponsors, To Write Love on Her Arms, at PUTP@TWLOHA.com. Other sponsors include 1800-Suicide The National Hopeline Network, Synclive.com and Postsecret.

The tour portion of PUTP launches Oct. 23 at Music Farm in Charleston, S.C., and wraps Nov. 21 at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q in Austin.

Read the rest HERE.