Joe Firstman

A singer, songwriter, and late-night bandleader, Joe Firstman has worn many hats during his career. In the '90s, the Charlotte, NC native became a staple of the local college music scene with his band Firstman (originally Isabel Sol). After spending years supporting national acts that rolled through town, Firstman (the man, not the band) decided to roll the dice on stardom with a move to Hollywood in 2001. After arriving on the west coast, Firstman assembled another eponymous band and set to work building a name for himself by playing shows and working to introduce himself to industry insiders. In 2003, the gamble paid off and Firstman landed a major-label deal, signing with Atlantic Records. That same year, the singer/songwriter’s debut full-length, The War of Women, was released. After touring nationally in support of major acts like Sheryl Crow, Jason Mraz, and Willie Nelson, Firstman decided it was time for another change. In 2005 he left Atlantic to become the bandleader for NBC’s late-night program, Last Call with Carson Daly. His new gig didn’t prevent him from continuing to write music, and in 2006 he released the EP Live at the Sandbox. He would continue to self-release records throughout his tenure on the show, releasing DrAMA! in 2007 and Fell Swoops in 2008. In 2009, NBC decided to go in another direction with Last Call, leaving him out of a job. Relocating from Hollywood to the surf community of El Porto, Firstman once again refocused his efforts on songwriting. The result would be his 2010 album, El Porto, which he released on his own imprint, Firstman Music.