Joe Firstman

"With his piano-powered attack and his rock eclecticism, newcomer Joe Firstman reminds you of Elton John when he was still young. Firstman is the real thing. Look for him as a contender for Best New Artist at the Grammys." - New York Post

Joe Firstman's record should be a disaster, but it works. Just look at the cover: it looks like a pretentious Billy Squier or Chris de Burgh cover. And his sound is derivative of so many groups that there is only space to mention a few of them. "Breaking All the Ground" is Black Crowes mixed with the Wallflowers, "Can't Stop Loving You" is Bob Seger (or Frankie Miller) crossed with Ryan Adams, "Car Door (Dancing in the Aisles)" is more Ryan Adams with some Jayhawks thrown in for good measure. Add some Jackson Browne, Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Elton John, some Nicks, some Buckingham, and The War of Women basically plays like a who's who of AOR artists both old and new. The reason it works is that Firstman has what most of these bands and artists have lost (either a long time ago or fairly recently) -- that is, the vitality and rush of energy that comes along with a first record. The songs have the strut of early Black Crowes, the lyrical intensity of early Wallflowers or Counting Crows, the healthy pretension of Ryan Adams without the cooler than thou attitude, the grit and humor of prime Bob Seger. These songs sound like they burst of out Firstman almost against his will; they dance and shout with a refreshing enthusiasm that is really exciting. His voice is warm and inviting, his lyrics are dense, and the disc is packed with drama and a sense of urgency that makes it come alive. The slow ballads sometimes drag a little (although "Now You're Gorgeous, Now You're Gone" is depressingly majestic and "After Los Angeles" is a fittingly busted-up way to end the record), but luckily there are only a couple of them. Most of the record is made up of barnburners like the flag-waving "Slave or Siren" or the bouncy "Speak Your Mind" that will have you slapping your thigh and exclaiming "I didn't think AOR could ever be this good again!" Of course, if you don't like trad rock, you will find nothing to like about The War of Women, because it is trad through and through. The rest of you should run out and get a copy of this amazing debut before it makes its inevitable way to the cutout bin. Heck, maybe if enough people buy it, it will be a hit. No matter, even if it sells 25 copies, this record is a hit. [The album was also released in a clean edition. The edits are minimal -- Firstman exclaims the MF word once or twice -- and don't interfere too much with the album's content.] Tim Sendra - All Music Guide

Joe Firstman Hits the Ground Running

Joe Firstman makes a habit of making a memorable first impression. To start, the charming Southern boy earned singer/songwriter-of-the-year honors at 2001's Los Angeles Music Awards, which resulted in his debut album, The War of Women, being released last year on Atlantic Records. The album displays a surprising ambition and depth for the now 24-year-old, which ended up garnering him tons of national critical acclaim.

From rollicking bluesy rock, to wistful piano ballads, to sophisticated melodic pop, Joe Firstman shows impressive range. His first single, the soulful “Breaking All The Ground,” sounds like a budding Elton John fronting the Black Crowes. It's just one of the many reasons why Joe is winning over fans the old fashioned way, by playing club gigs and opening up for bigger artists. When he opened recently for Sheryl Crow at Radio City Music Hall, the young singer received a standing ovation for his eight-song set – a rare feat for an opening act. Unlike other albums that feature a couple of hits and mostly filler, Firstman's songs possess a thematic unity that stylistically explore a spectrum of American music.

Look for Joe Firstman to be part of the upcoming Virgin College Mega Tour with Michelle Branch, Gavin DeGraw, and Rooney. The tour, featuring two stages and an interactive village, will start hitting campuses across the country at the end of March. Recently, we had a chance to catch up with Joe to ask him about opening up for music legends, professional opera singers, favorite Elton John songs, and receiving pearls of wisdom from women. - Virgin Mega Magazine