There is no other band like Firstborn Live. Three distinct but powerful vocalists front this spiritually passionate, somewhat intense, hard rock, blues, and folk band. An adventurous mix of slide, lead, acoustic guitars, keys, harp, drums and bass.

9 MP3 Songs
BLUES: Blues-Rock, COUNTRY: Outlaw Country



Details:
FIRSTBORN LIVE!âS NEW CD NOW AVAILABLE

âWHAT A GREAT SHOW!â âYOU GUYS ARE GREAT LIVE!â

For the first timer to a Firstborn Live! (FBL) performance, a true understanding of the âLIVE!â tag on their band name comes up often. This band is a blast live. They have opened for internationally known âBlind Boys of Alabamaâ as well as âRez Bandâsâ hard blues guitarist âGlenn Kaiserâ of Chicago.

Of the band, Joe Hawleyâs good natured laugh, Lee Connors intensity and passion, Rosemaryâs radiant beauty are all icing on a fun filled musical cake made up of a tasty concoction of original ingredients ranging from edgy guitar rock and cool driving blues topped with âhard candyâ lyrics to a bit of jazz and R&B with the most delicious soul searching softness you can sink your teeth into.

Joe Hawley, Lee Connors, Rosemary Reuss-Connors, Wayne Clark, Rick Sloot, and new band member Ed Pears are back in force and supporting the release of their new nine song CD âFlesh n Boneâ. The (mostly) studio recording is both dark and light and explores honest thoughts of facing God right where you standâ¦.todayâ¦whether good, bad or ugly. Yet, you donât get the feeling that all is lost if you donât measure up.

âFlesh n Boneâ, the hard rocking title track, takes you on a search for âThe Distant Oneâ when no understanding of spiritual matters has yet been discovered. The song wails with both killer lead guitar (Scott Greene) and Joe Hawleyâs slide work simultaneously. Meanwhile, both Joe and Leeâs lead vocals bring the point home with a rock lovers fervor. A winning track. But prepare yourself for the wall of sound.

âWhisperâ, a straight ahead, driving blues tune featuring cool Joe Hawley on blues harp, is an honest statement in the fight of acceptance of who and where we are in life. âWhen you whispered that you loveâ¦when you whispered in my earâ¦I learned it was the truth.. it was so hard for me to bearâ.

Then thereâs the power ballad âGreat Loveââ¦when the band plays this one live, even the hardest heart canât help but breakâ¦or run. Ed Pearâs lead guitar sails on this one. Itâs not unusual for a tear to be secretly swept from under the eye as the realization that love is larger and stronger than most expect hits home.

Not to be outdone, Rosemaryâs somehow both sweet and bluesy voice sells us on the fact that itâs ok to turn back from bad life decisions and make the choice for the comfort of coming home in the country styled worshipful âI Will Returnâ. Throw out the click track. This song makes good, yet subtle use of pedal steel, violins, Joeâs harp playing and Rosemaryâs free form acoustic guitar style. She sings with passion and is a true vocal gem on this album.

One of the most fun songs on this CD is âIâve Got Somethingâ, an excited and energized âliveâ recording featuring Lee, Joe and Rosemary all singing the chorus as if theyâve got the best news to deliver to every passerby at the downtown open market. Some cool lead guitar work, a la Stevie Ray, by Evan Salmon who is one of three guest lead players on this album.

Remember the days of âdeep cutsâ? Those were the songs you didnât buy the album for but discovered later. You may not even have liked them the first few times but somehow they grew on you. âLet Him Inâ may belong in that category even though it is the opening track on the CD. A movie-like keyboard solo surrounds you for an extended opening when all at once a strong kick drum accompanied by an almost latin beat hand clap comes in then followed by Leeâs haunting vocals. âYou donât have to rock n rollâ¦you donât have to sell your soulâ¦you donât have jump and jiveâ¦you donât have to stay aliveâ Ultimately the poet narrows everything down to making only one real choice in life from which everything else stems.

Other classic Firstborn songs also make the collection, including âStraight Highwayâ. Its opening lines are not easy ones to swallowâ¦but they are delivered extremely well by Lee and Joe as if Shakespeare were the playwright and director of this cut specially made for âJohn the Baptistâ. If you have the guts to hear it out, then the reward follows. As simple as the song is, the message is clear. Whatâs really cool is how Rosemaryâs backing vocal takes on a âGrace Slickâ quality and makes the song that much more cool.

Then thereâs the upbeat bluesy âCrying in the Nightâ brings its message to the forlorn without feeling forlorn And the final cut, a live recording of âLive Itâ, brings an almost punkish vigor to this last bite of dessert.

Intense Dark Chocolate Sweetness and a bit of Soft French Vanilla Ice Cream on a bright white plate. Mmmmm. Good for your Flesh n Bones.
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