Joe Firstman

Joe Firstman
Origin	Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Genres	Adult Alternative, Rock
Instruments	Piano, vocals, Guitar
Years active	1990s–present
Labels	Atlantic Records, Firstman Music, Inc., Rock Ridge Music
Website	http://www.joefirstman.com/

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".

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 Carolina. 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.

Musical career

In 2003, Firstman was signed by Atlantic Records. 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, Firstman formed The Cordovas with Jaron Lowenstein, Jon Loyd and Toby Weaver . The Cordovas cycled through several members and as of 2012, Firstman, Loyd and Weaver remain as the core members of the band.

Discography

• Wives Tales [EP] (2003, Atlantic Records)
• The War of Women (2003, Atlantic Records)
• Live at the Sandbox (2006, Beverly Martel Music)
• DrAMA! (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