FIREWATER was birthed in a Brooklyn basement in the long, hot summer of 1996. Depressed, broke and desperate, ex-Cop Shoot Cop leader Tod A tossed away a major label deal and a free meal ticket to launch what, at the time, was a crazy proposition: a punk band fueled by gypsy and klezmer melodies. FIREWATER stormed on to the scene as an unparalleled underground supergroup, boasting guitarist Duane Denison (Jesus Lizard), drummer Yuval Gabay (Soul Coughing), saxophonist Kurt Hoffman (They Might Be Giants, Ordinaires), drummer Jim Kimball (Jesus Lizard, Laughing Hyenas, Mule) and violinist Hahn Rowe (Hugo Largo). Originally released on NYC's ultra-hip Jetset Records, the band's seminal debut Get Off the Cross.. We Need the Wood for the Fire introduced and celebrated a new genre where Latin jazz, punk, world and rock music coexist and blazed a trail that many acclaimed acts would later follow. Checkered Past Records is honored to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this landmark debut with this first-ever vinyl release. Featuring new handmade cover art by Tod A and an inner sleeve with complete lyrics, this LP will be on transparent purple vinyl in a highly limited pressing.