Joe Firstman
Encyclopedia
Joe Firstman is an American adult alternative
rock musician. Former musical director for Carson Daly
's house band
on Last Call with Carson Daly
on NBC. His latest release was 2010's "Live at The Treehouse".
. Performing with local bands within the region created a buzz that would be sustained over the next six years. Joe and other local teenage musicians won the Charlotte "Battle of the Bands" competition made up largely of adult professional musicians. The local music scene took notice, and the band known as "Isabel Sol" performed locally at renowned venues that housed famous acts such as R.E.M.. In 1998, the band changed its name to "Firstman" and moved its base to Raleigh, North Carolina.
By 1999, "Firstman" was well known in the Carolina's college scene. It had become a mainstay supporting act for most regional and national bands that came through the area, including Far Too Jones, Edwin McCain
, Jupiter Coyote, Blue Dogs, and Hobex
. The band was featured as the "Backroom Band of the Week" by Raleigh's
96-Rock station.
In 2001, Joe decided to attempt a personal journey towards stardom. He quit his wait job at Southend Brewery and Smokehouse in Raleigh, NC, and packed his bags. He bought a one-way Greyhound
bus ticket and went to Hollywood. Joe met other local Sunset Strip
musicians and made a name for himself as a local act. Joe formed a new band under the same band name of "Firstman" and obtained a number of gigs at small venues such as Whisky a Go Go
, The Troubador, and others. Along the way, Joe wrote and performed with signed musicians such as members of The Black Crowes
.
. His album, The War of Women, was released. In support of this record, Joe put together a band and went on tour nationally, opening for acts such as Jewel
, Sheryl Crow
, Willie Nelson
, Josh Kelley
, Jason Mraz
, Michelle Branch
, and Lisa Marie Presley
. Though he and his band never achieved commercial success, they are notable for having helped launch the career of My Morning Jacket guitarist Carl Broemel, who played in the band at that time.
In 2005, Firstman was dropped by Atlantic Records and worked as the full-time house band for "Last Call with Carson Daly" until 2009.
In 2009, Joe signed to Rock Ridge Music and released El Porto, his first full-length recording in 3 years.
In 2010, Joe performed at Hotel Carolina
, an annual two-day singer-songwriter festival held in South Carolina.
In September 2011, Joe released another studio album, "Swear It Was A Dream" through his own label, 1stman Music.
In mid-2011, eleven songs were released as a self-title album by the band The Cordovas. The band is made out of Joe Firstman, Jaron Lowenstein, Jon Loyd, Johnny Gray, Parker Gins and Toby Weaver. The album was made available as a free download on the band's official website as well as other traditional paying outlets.
The songs Old Dog and All I Found had videos released online.
In the fall of 2011, the band went on a three months tour of the Midwest and east coast.
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
rock musician. Former musical director for Carson Daly
Carson Daly
Carson Jones Daly is an American television host. He is the host of NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly, a late-night talk show that began airing on January 7, 2002. Before his role as host of that program, Daly was a VJ on MTV's TRL, and a DJ for the Southern California based radio station KROQ-FM...
's house band
House band
For the British band that existed from 1984-2001, see The House BandA house band is a group of musicians, often centrally organized by a band leader, who regularly play an establishment. It is widely used to refer both to the bands who work on entertainment programs on television or radio, and to...
on Last Call with Carson Daly
Last Call with Carson Daly
Last Call with Carson Daly is an American late night talk show that is broadcast on NBC. The show is hosted by Carson Daly, the half-hour show featuring celebrity interviews, documentary-style coverage of a topic, and musical performances. Last Call airs weeknights at 1:35 a.m. Eastern / 12:35 a.m....
on NBC. His latest release was 2010's "Live at The Treehouse".
Early life
Born Joseph Mark Fuerstman on December 12, 1979, Firstman started his musical career in the mid-1990s as a teenager in Charlotte, North CarolinaCharlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. Performing with local bands within the region created a buzz that would be sustained over the next six years. Joe and other local teenage musicians won the Charlotte "Battle of the Bands" competition made up largely of adult professional musicians. The local music scene took notice, and the band known as "Isabel Sol" performed locally at renowned venues that housed famous acts such as R.E.M.. In 1998, the band changed its name to "Firstman" and moved its base to Raleigh, North Carolina.
By 1999, "Firstman" was well known in the Carolina's college scene. It had become a mainstay supporting act for most regional and national bands that came through the area, including Far Too Jones, Edwin McCain
Edwin McCain
Edwin McCain is an American singer-songwriter and musician.-Career:While his albums are released under his name, he does have a permanent band, referred to as the Edwin McCain Band...
, Jupiter Coyote, Blue Dogs, and Hobex
Hobex
-History:Hobex was formed by singer/guitarist Greg Humphreys after the demise of his prior ensemble, Dillon Fence, alongside drummer Steve Hill and bassist Andy Ware. Their first release was 1996's Payback EP, which was a regional hit in the southeastern United States...
. The band was featured as the "Backroom Band of the Week" by Raleigh's
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
96-Rock station.
In 2001, Joe decided to attempt a personal journey towards stardom. He quit his wait job at Southend Brewery and Smokehouse in Raleigh, NC, and packed his bags. He bought a one-way Greyhound
Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
bus ticket and went to Hollywood. Joe met other local Sunset Strip
Sunset Strip
The Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with Hollywood at Harper Avenue, to its western border with Beverly Hills at Sierra Drive...
musicians and made a name for himself as a local act. Joe formed a new band under the same band name of "Firstman" and obtained a number of gigs at small venues such as Whisky a Go Go
Whisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
, The Troubador, and others. Along the way, Joe wrote and performed with signed musicians such as members of The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
.
Musical career
In 2003, Firstman was signed by Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. His album, The War of Women, was released. In support of this record, Joe put together a band and went on tour nationally, opening for acts such as Jewel
Jewel (singer)
Jewel Kilcher , professionally known as Jewel, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress and poet...
, Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
, Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, Josh Kelley
Josh Kelley
Joshua Bishop "Josh" Kelley is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Kelley has recorded for Hollywood Records, Threshold Records and DNK Records as a pop rock artist, and has had four hit singles on the Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks chart...
, Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz
Jason Thomas Mraz , also known as Mr. AZ and Mr. Raz, is an American singer-songwriter. Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which contained the hit single "The Remedy ", in 2002, but it was not until the release of his second album, "Mr. A-Z", in 2005, that Mraz achieved...
, Michelle Branch
Michelle Branch
Michelle Jacquet DeSevren Branch is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and actress. During the early 2000s, she released two top-selling albums, The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper, and was subsequently nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2003...
, and Lisa Marie Presley
Lisa Marie Presley
Lisa Marie Presley is an American singer and songwriter, also known as the "Princess of Rock and Roll". She is the only child of Elvis Presley, and daughter of Priscilla Presley.-Early life:...
. Though he and his band never achieved commercial success, they are notable for having helped launch the career of My Morning Jacket guitarist Carl Broemel, who played in the band at that time.
In 2005, Firstman was dropped by Atlantic Records and worked as the full-time house band for "Last Call with Carson Daly" until 2009.
In 2009, Joe signed to Rock Ridge Music and released El Porto, his first full-length recording in 3 years.
In 2010, Joe performed at Hotel Carolina
Hotel Carolina
Hotel Carolina is an annual singer-songwriter music festival which is held in Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Featuring an array of touring singer-songwriters on the scene today, Hotel Carolina was conceived to provide an opportunity for fans to see a number of nationally-touring singer-songwriters...
, an annual two-day singer-songwriter festival held in South Carolina.
In September 2011, Joe released another studio album, "Swear It Was A Dream" through his own label, 1stman Music.
In mid-2011, eleven songs were released as a self-title album by the band The Cordovas. The band is made out of Joe Firstman, Jaron Lowenstein, Jon Loyd, Johnny Gray, Parker Gins and Toby Weaver. The album was made available as a free download on the band's official website as well as other traditional paying outlets.
The songs Old Dog and All I Found had videos released online.
In the fall of 2011, the band went on a three months tour of the Midwest and east coast.
Discography
- Wives Tales [EP] (2003, Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
) - The War of WomenThe War of WomenThe War of Women is the first full-length album released by Joe Firstman on Atlantic Records.-Track listing:# "Introduction to the War of Women" – 1:25# "Breaking All the Ground" – 4:25# "Can't Stop Loving You" – 3:56...
(2003, Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
) - Live at the Sandbox (2006, Beverly Martel Music)
- DrAMA!Drama!"Drama!" is the first single released by Erasure from their fourth studio album Wild!. It was issued by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the U.S....
(2007, 1stman Music) - Fell Swoops (2008, 1stman Music)
- El Porto (2010, Rock Ridge Music)
- Live At The Treehouse (2010, Rock Ridge Music)
- Swear It Was A Dream (2011, 1stman Music)
- The Cordovas (2011)
External links
- Artist's Official Web Site
- Joe Firstman's MySpace Website
- [ Allmusic.Com Music – The War of Women by Joe Firstman]
- Last Call With Carson Daly Website
- Joe Firstman's DrAMA CD at CD Baby
- The Cordova's Official Web Site