Cordovas Share Second Track From ATO Records Debut That Santa Fe Channel, Add Newport Folk Fest To Extensive Tour
June 25, 2018
Produced by Milk Carton Kids’ Kenneth Pattengale, album is out August 10th, listen to “Frozen Rose” here
June 25, 2018 – Nashville’s Cordovas today release “Frozen Rose,” the second track from their greatly anticipated forthcoming album, That Santa Fe Channel, out August 10th on ATO Records. CLASH Magazine says “it’s a must for anyone who fell for Uncle Tupelo, Beachwood Sparks, or even luminaries such as Gram Parsons.” Cordovas create their own version of American roots-rock, rooted in triple-stacked harmonies, southern storytelling, and cosmic country twang, That Santa Fe Channel was produced by the Milk Carton Kids’ Kenneth Pattengale in East Nashville, not far from the home that doubles as the band’s rehearsal space, headquarters, and shared living quarters.
Bandleader Joe Firstman says of the song, “’Frozen Rose’ was a group effort. After Lucca brought the heart of the song to the laboratory table and we all dug in. I always liked the hook ‘just a few times’ and we built up the structure over a few months and lots of tequila under a Pacific moon in Mexico. It’s one of our best songs to perform live.”
The album’s first single “This Town’s A Drag” has been met with critical praise and a wave of support from streaming services. After appearing on Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist (2.6 million-plus followers), the track was added to “Pulse of Americana” and “Fresh Folk” playlists. It’s also currently on Apple Music’s “Eclectic Rock” playlist. Rolling Stone said the track was one of the “Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week” upon release.
Rolling Stone also says of the band, “caught halfway between Duane Allman’s Telecaster twang, the Dead’s hazy harmonies and the stoned swoon of California’s folk-rock heyday, Cordovas wring new life from older influences, hoisting their freak flag high,” while NPR Music points out that “everyone in the East Nashville band Cordovas is a lead vocalist. The country-rock group is committed to the sound of brotherhood — a few voices sharing a feeling.”
Years before Cordovas’ formation, bandleader Joe Firstman traveled the country as a solo musician. Raised in North Carolina, he moved to Hollywood as a determined 20 year-old, signing a major-label deal with Atlantic Record. When a dizzying blur of acclaimed shows — including opening dates for Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson — weren’t enough to satisfy the expectations of a big-budget record label, Firstman lost his contract and took a new job as music director on Last Call with Carson Daly. It was good work, with Firstman performing nightly alongside first-rate musicians like Thundercat and Kamasi Washington.
Cordovas are in the middle of a five-week European tour – including the first ever Songpickr show in Berlin, Norway’s Bergenfest, UK’s Maverick Festival and a headline slot at Static Roots Festival in Germany – then return to the U.S. for a tour that currently runs from July through September. They’ll make their Newport Folk Festival debut on July 29th.
Cordovas – 2018 Summer Tour Dates
Jun 27 – London, UK – Borderline
Jun 28 – Brighton, UK – The Prince Albert
Jun 29 – Bristol, UK – The Louisiana
Jul 1 – Nottingham, UK – The Maze
Jul 3 – Birmingham, UK – Kitchen Garden Café
Jul 4 – Manchester, UK – Night & Day Café
Jul 5 – Newcastle, UK – Gosforth Civic Theatre
Jul 7 – Woodbridge, UK – Maverick Festival
Jul 12 – Berlin, Germany – Privatclub
Jul 13 – Norderstedt, Germany – Music Star
Jul 14 – Oberhausen, Germany – Static Roots Festival
Jul 18 – Woodbridge, NJ – The Mayor’s Free Concert Series
Jul 19 – Fitchburg, MA – River Styx Brewing
Jul 20 – Boston, MA – Downeast Back Porch
Jul 21 – Pittsburgh, PA – Club Café
Jul 26 – Mobile, AL – The Brickyard
Jul 27 – Macon, GA – Bragg Jam Music Fest
Jul 29 – Newport, RI – Newport Folk Festival
Jul 30 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
Aug 2 – Big Sky, MT – Music in the Mountains Concert Series
Aug 4 – Elkin, NC – Reevestock Music Festival
Aug 11 – Baileys Harbor, WI – Door Country Brewing Music Hall
Aug 14 – Rockford, IL – Anderson Japanese Gardens
Aug 16 – Chicago, IL – Haymarket Americana Concert Series
Aug 19 – Chattanooga, TN – The Signal
Aug 23 – Washington, DC – Pearl Street Warehouse
Aug 24 – Harrisonburg, VA – Clementine Café
Aug 25 – Wise, VA – RTE 23 Music Festival
Sept 5 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
Sept 7 – Chicago, IL – Fitzgerald’s
Sept 8 – Bowling Green, OH – Black Swamp Arts Festival
Sept 9 – St Louis, MO – Off Broadway
Sept 21-23 – Bristol, TN – Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion
Cordovas are: bassist/vocalist Joe Firstman, drummer Graham Spillman, keyboardist Sevans Henderson, guitarist/vocalist Lucca Soria and guitarist/vocalist Toby Weaver.
Pre-order That Santa Fe Channel here.