Firkins is very unique in that he plays almost exclusively with his fingers and not a pick, a technique he learned from country guitarists. He also make very creative use of the tremolo bar, making it sound as if he is playing slide guitar. Despite an amazing ability, Firkins never took the studio-cat or sideman route to second-hand prominence and financial security, the virtuoso preferring instead to woodshed and further tweak his guitar abilities. To many, Firkins has been a guitar genius Howard Hughes-style recluse, exploring musical and personal territories that have been the subject of ongoing curiosity and discussion for years from the Firkins watchers around the world. With his new album, “Black Light Sonatas” Michael Lee Firkins has broken some personal and musical boundaries and will re-ignite talk of him being the “next great guitar player.”