Joe Firstman Sets New Album Release

The album is not live in the sense of a traditional live album in front of an audience; rather, it was recorded in the studio (The Treehouse in Laurel Canyon outside Los Angeles) with Firstman playing and singing simultaneously to achieve a more live sound in the finished songs. The CD version will include eight tracks while the iTunes download version will contain ten (see track listing below).

Says Firstman of the album: "Everything is in line on 'Treehouse.' It's how I sound right now. It's an appropriate snapshot of my life and my sound. I think Mike [Vicarra, the producer] did a good job recording my voice and presenting my music. I wanted it to be a recording that would flow smoothly from beginning to end."

A number of the tracks are reworkings of older, already-released songs, while two ("Speak Your Mind" and "Fight Song" [only a live version has been released]) were never released previously in studio versions but have been part of Firstman's live set for a while. One song, "Middle Ground," is brand new and features Jay Buchanan (of Rival Sons) singing lead vocals; another is a cover ("Mrs. Rosenthal," penned by Brian Wright who is also featured on "Fight Song"). Also joining Firstman on other tracks are Jamie Drake ("Marlene And Her Sisters"), Mike Vizcarra ("Everything Is A Crime"), and Tim Jones and Walker Young, both of Truth & Salvage Co. (on "Pretty Things").

"Live At The Treehouse" � Track Listing:
The One That Makes You Happy
Phoenix Hotel
Fight Song (featuring Brian Wright)
Pretty Things (featuring Tim Jones and Walker Young)
Marlene And Her Sisters (featuring Jamie Drake)
Everything Is A Crime (featuring Mike Vizcarra)
Middle Ground (featuring Jay Buchanan)
Mrs. Rosenthal
Speak Your Mind*
Crowded Town*
(* denotes iTunes version only)