East Nashville’s Cordovas have released their ATO Records debut That Santa Fe Channel in stores. Produced by the Milk Carton Kids Kenneth Pattengale, Billboard says “Cordovas and That Santa Fe Channel are Americana through and through, with a clear-cut influence from traditional country and the Grateful Dead along with rich melodies and tight harmonies.” The band celebrated the release of the album with an in-store at Grimey’s in Nashville which was broadscast live on Lightning 100. The band head back out on the road next week, and will showcase at AmericanaFest on September 15^th at the High Watt.

Prior to their current U.S. summer tour, Cordovas were out on a five-week European tour. In London, the band stopped by the famed Toe Rag Studios (where the White Stripes recorded Elephant), and taped a session. You can watch their pulsating cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Truckin’” here and That Santa Fe Channel lead single “This Town’s A Drag” here.

“This Town’s A Drag” has already begun to get early adds at radio, including at Lightning 100 (Nashville, TN), WXPN (Philadelphia, PA), WUMB (Boston, MA) and WYEP (Pittsburgh, PA). After highlighting the song in their “New Music Friday” playlist week of release, Spotify has added “This Town’s A Drag” to their “The Pulse of Americana” playlist as well.

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 Records. 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 – 2018 Summer Tour Dates
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
Aug 30 – Ft. Worth, TX – Magnolia Motor Lounge
Aug 31 – Helotes, TX – Floore’s Country Store^
Sept 1 – Fredricksburg, TX – Backyard at Fritztown^
Sept 2 – Lewisville, TX – Coyote Drive-In
Sept 5 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
Sept 6 – Lexington, KY – The Burl
Sept 7 – Chicago, IL – Fitzgerald’s
Sept 8 – Bowling Green, OH – Black Swamp Arts Festival
Sept 9 – St Louis, MO – Off Broadway%
Sept 14 – Oak Park, IL – Downtown Oak Park
Sept 15 – Nashville, TN – AMERICANAFEST
Sept 21-22 – Bristol, TN – Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion
Sept 28 – Iowa City, IA – Big Grove Brewery
Sept 29 – Baileys Harbor, WI – Door Country Brewing Music Hall
Oct 4 – Mobile, AL – Saenger Theatre#
* w/ JJ Grey and Mofro
# w/ Blackberry Smoke
^ w/ Charley Crockett
% w/ Shinyribs

Cordovas are: bassist/vocalist Joe Firstman, drummer Graham Spillman, keyboardist Sevans Henderson, guitarist/vocalist Lucca Soria and guitarist/vocalist Toby Weaver.