Texan quintet brings locally-assisted evening of ‘MERICAna to Bozeman
At some point between Lubbock and Midland, the land shifts from endless cotton rows and rich farmland into pump jacks and mesquite tree filled pastures. Lubbock roots-country outfit Flatland Cavalry straddles that line between the Panhandle and the badlands of West Texas with their bright, earthy country ballads and gritty folk ramblers. Vocalist and chief songwriter Cleto Cordero’s honest, smooth songwriting revolves around the vernacular world of West Texas that he’s constructed with dusty, sun-soaked character sketches, brooding self-evaluations, and candid love songs that all have the ability to turn into singalong anthems.
Formed in the fall of 2012, the quintet was rounded up by Cordero after stretches of acoustic outings around the Panhandle town of Lubbock. Guitarist Reid Dillon, fiddler Laura Jane, bassist Jonathan Saenz, and drummer Jason Albers join Cordero, Flatland’s frontman and guitarist.
In anticipation of the upcoming Bozeman and other Montana performances, The Rolling Zone got Cleto (pronounced “Cletto”) on the horn to talk the band’s Southern influences and maturing sound.
RZ: Flatland Cavalry is leaving the confines of its home state of Texas for a Northwest tour of sorts, coming to Bozeman’s Rialto in a few short weeks. What can concertgoers expect to experience at the June 14th show?
CC: Good stories, a good night of songwriting and a little bit of storytelling in between the music. We have the live show [here], but it’s fun to get out of state and be able to talk about the songs to fans and others who’ve never heard us. It should be a welcoming kind of vibe – at least from us. [laughs].
photo by Natalie Rhea
RZ: The word “‘MERICAna” has been thrown around to describe the genre to which Flatland contributes. How would you describe the band’s sound?
CC: It’s country-based Americana, but you can’t really put your thumb on it – some of the songs are groovy and some are little bit more rockin’. I tell people as simply as possible, it’s “easy on the ears, heavy on the heart.” If you like good, easy listening music and lyrics, we might be for you.
RZ: Flatland got its start and is still based in the Lone Star State, where you’ve toured extensively, but the band has also had the opportunity to showcase its music elsewhere. How do you compare the Texas music scene with some of the other places you’ve visited?
CC: There’s a lot of places to play here and everyone’s really supportive of the music. We’re starting all over at shows outside of Texas – the crowds might be a little bit smaller and the shows are a bit more intimate, but the people gravitate toward the need for music. There are venues like that here in Texas, but there’s also a lot of beer drinkin’, honky-tonk stuff. There seem to be more clubs and venues up there with people really listening to the lyrics. I’d say that’s the biggest difference.
RZ: You’ve of course toured in support of your original releases including the Come May EP and 2016’s Humble Folks. Seems like it’s about time to add some new Flatland tunes to the collection. Have you guys been working on anything?
CC: Absolutely. We’re in the studio right now working on our new album. We haven’t announced a title or release date yet, but it’s definitely a fall record. It’s a little bit more mature with a darker sound and subject matter than the previous ones. You know, growing up and everything. That should be out before the year’s over.
RZ: Are we going to hear some of those songs at the Bozeman show?
CC: Yeah, we’ll play some full band versions and also take an acoustic section to focus on the songs.
RZ: What progression have you noticed in Flatland’s music since its earliest days through the most recent music you’ve been working on? What have you managed to retain?
CC: As far as the craft goes, the biggest thing is really diving into not wasting any lines. It’s a little bit more saturated, artistically. The spirit’s always been there – the genuine love for the music and the desire to create, putting everything you have into it, telling the stories. But lyrically, the subject matter is broader, less youthful and a little bit darker. I’m not 19 anymore, or summertime lovin’ as much as I used to, but it’s still stuff people can relate to. You hope you grow up with your music, you know.
RZ: You’ve got to be a music fan. What artists influence and inspire your own tunes? What have you been listening to recently?
CC: The first concert I ever went to was Randy Rogers. There was a lot of country starting out, Texas and Oklahoma bands like Turnpike Troubadours and Jason Boland & The Stragglers. When you’re growing up, you’re still kind of finding your sound. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot more Americana like Cody Jinks and Paul Cauthen, Sturgill and John Prine. I’m also a huge fan of Jason Isbell, as far as his ability to paint a picture.
RZ: There’s a story behind each Flatland song. Is there one you find particularly noteworthy?
CC: One’s that’s kind of an anomaly on the record is “Coyote.” Down here, they call people that smuggle people across the border ‘coyotes.’ I was in college, living with my roommate Roy Johnson, and we got drunk one night as college kids do. He put on the cowboy hat I’ve been known to wear, and someone took a picture of him. I missed all the fun, but the next morning we were going through our phones and found that picture. Someone said, “Man, you look like a coyote.” That was what started it – I just thought that was so funny, this suburban kid dressed like a coyote. I skipped class and wrote the song that day. People seem to really like it, at least down here. That song’s like an anthem, which is kind of funny because it was never meant to be anything but a good time.
RZ: Musicians are storytellers. During the initial creative stages, when do you decide a story or subject is song-worthy?
CC: I’ve been a lot more lenient lately. I used to be so particular and not waste time on this subject or this song because I didn’t think anyone would want to listen. Now, I’ve grown to love the craft so much, to really dig in and try to figure out as much as I can about songwriting and the English language. Any song’s got a chance, whether you have a hook and write to that and the music comes later, or you’re just sitting there with a guitar and you’re kind of in a trance state feeling what the chords sound like. I think you should just write and whatever’s going to come out of your heart is going to come out naturally.
RZ: What’s the significance behind the name of the band, “Flatland Cavalry”?
CC: People have mispronounced my name my entire life, so I never wanted to have a ‘Cleto Cordero Band’ – no one would know how to say it. We lived out in Lubbock, and if you’ve ever been to Lubbock or ever get the privilege to, they say you can watch your dog run away for three days. There’s nothing but horizons out there. So, I thought ‘Flatland’ would be cool, ‘Flatland’ something. My buddy was like “how about ‘Cleto & the Texas Cavalry’” and the two just stuck together – “What about Flatland Cavalry?” It didn’t sound cheesy or generic, it just worked.
RZ: Flatland has already made a name for itself back at home and is now taking the national stage. Where does this Texan quintet go from here?
CC: I think if you just put your heart and soul into it, music is the universal language. It’s bigger than Texas, it’s bigger than Oklahoma and Arkansas. I’d like to get out and play all over the place – I’d like to still play in Texas, I just want to spread it everywhere. People are genuinely hungry for music that has a heart, and everyone’s got their own taste. I’d like to go as far as we can out there. If we play in California and 20 people show up that’ve heard of us, that’s great! I want to play to people that genuinely love the music, love the message. I’ll be grateful if that means stadiums or 200-people rooms all across the country. Spreading the love is what it’s really all about.
Flatland Cavalry takes the Rialto stage on Thursday, June 14th with local help from Ian Thomas & The Band of Drifters beginning at 8:30pm.
Based mostly in Montana and Tennessee, the Drifters play modern American roots, keeping the music varied in arrangement, instrumentation, and regional influences. Their sets draw from country, folk and blues traditions with an emphasis on original songs, done in the old style. The band’s latest release, the full-length Live in 2016, was recorded throughout Montana with 14 original songs deeply rooted in the classic country and American folk sounds.
Advance tickets to this all-ages ‘Night of Country’ are $10 at www.rialtobozeman.com, $12 in-store at Cactus Records, and also available at the door depending on availability. Guests under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian through the duration of the show. Doors at 7:30pm.
Following their Bozeman performance, Flatland Cavalry will make additional Montana stops in Helena (June 15th) and Whitefish (June 20th). Further details can be found at www.flatlandcavalry.com or check them on Facebook for updated tour details and band announcements, @FlatlandCavalry. Their debut album, Humble Folks, is available now. •
