Biography
Rooted simultaneously in the current era and earlier decades, the Cordovas channel classic Americana and country-rock traditions under the sway of the Band, the Grateful Dead, and the Allman Brothers Band, emphasizing tight vocal blends and interlocking guitar lines. Fronting the ensemble is bassist, singer, and composer Joe Firstman, who had previously issued solo recordings and served as musical director for Last Call with Carson Daly prior to assembling the Cordovas during 2011. Partnering with guitarist Toby Weaver, the outfit put out an independent self-titled album that same year and built an audience via constant touring. Firstman issued another solo project, Love Bravely, in 2014 yet soon shifted primary focus back to the group. Growing popularity led to a deal with ATO Records, which brought out That Santa Fe Channel in 2018 along with its stylistically linked follow-ups, Destiny Hotel in 2020 and The Rose of Aces in 2023.
Songwriter and musician Joe Firstman, born in Charlotte, North Carolina, during 1979, originated the Cordovas. He took up piano at age twelve and performed with area groups through his mid-teens. The act Firstman, also recognized as Isabel Sol, cultivated strong local support; after relocating to Los Angeles he secured a solo contract. Atlantic Records issued his first solo album, The War of Women, in 2003, which drew favorable notices even though commercial returns remained modest. In 2005 he assumed leadership of the house band on Last Call with Carson Daly. Firstman kept releasing music throughout his television tenure, and upon departing the program in 2009 he intensified live performances.
During 2011 Firstman moved to Nashville and renewed ties with Jaron Lowenstein, formerly of the country duo Evan & Jaron. Seeking to explore vintage Americana and country-rock in the vein of the Band, the Grateful Dead, and the Allman Brothers Band, the pair established the initial Cordovas configuration featuring Lowenstein on vocals, Firstman on bass and vocals, Toby Weaver and Johnny Gray on guitars, Jon Loyd on keyboards, and Caleb Gilbreath on drums. The group commenced extensive touring and completed its self-titled debut album before the close of 2011.
Although Lowenstein departed shortly afterward, Firstman and Weaver maintained continuity amid subsequent lineup shifts. A live recording, Cordovas Live from Nashville, appeared in 2012, followed in 2014 by another studio album under the Cordovas banner, Love Bravely. The members began splitting time among Southern California, Todos Santos in Mexico—where they performed regularly and Firstman curated a concert series—and Madison, Tennessee, near Nashville, where they maintained a shared residence and rehearsal space.
Persistent road activity generated a dedicated audience that drew interest from the artist-oriented ATO Records. The label signed the band in 2017; the current roster—Firstman, Weaver, guitarist Lucca Soria, keyboardist Sevans Henderson, and drummer Graham Spillman—then retreated to Todos Santos to compose the subsequent record. ATO issued the group’s third studio album, That Santa Fe Channel, in June 2018. Two years afterward came Destiny Hotel. For the following project the Cordovas enlisted producer Cory Hanson, previously responsible for albums by Ty Segall. Released in August 2023, the resulting The Rose of Aces sustained the ensemble’s engagement with the Grateful Dead while placing greater emphasis on songcraft.
Songwriter and musician Joe Firstman, born in Charlotte, North Carolina, during 1979, originated the Cordovas. He took up piano at age twelve and performed with area groups through his mid-teens. The act Firstman, also recognized as Isabel Sol, cultivated strong local support; after relocating to Los Angeles he secured a solo contract. Atlantic Records issued his first solo album, The War of Women, in 2003, which drew favorable notices even though commercial returns remained modest. In 2005 he assumed leadership of the house band on Last Call with Carson Daly. Firstman kept releasing music throughout his television tenure, and upon departing the program in 2009 he intensified live performances.
During 2011 Firstman moved to Nashville and renewed ties with Jaron Lowenstein, formerly of the country duo Evan & Jaron. Seeking to explore vintage Americana and country-rock in the vein of the Band, the Grateful Dead, and the Allman Brothers Band, the pair established the initial Cordovas configuration featuring Lowenstein on vocals, Firstman on bass and vocals, Toby Weaver and Johnny Gray on guitars, Jon Loyd on keyboards, and Caleb Gilbreath on drums. The group commenced extensive touring and completed its self-titled debut album before the close of 2011.
Although Lowenstein departed shortly afterward, Firstman and Weaver maintained continuity amid subsequent lineup shifts. A live recording, Cordovas Live from Nashville, appeared in 2012, followed in 2014 by another studio album under the Cordovas banner, Love Bravely. The members began splitting time among Southern California, Todos Santos in Mexico—where they performed regularly and Firstman curated a concert series—and Madison, Tennessee, near Nashville, where they maintained a shared residence and rehearsal space.
Persistent road activity generated a dedicated audience that drew interest from the artist-oriented ATO Records. The label signed the band in 2017; the current roster—Firstman, Weaver, guitarist Lucca Soria, keyboardist Sevans Henderson, and drummer Graham Spillman—then retreated to Todos Santos to compose the subsequent record. ATO issued the group’s third studio album, That Santa Fe Channel, in June 2018. Two years afterward came Destiny Hotel. For the following project the Cordovas enlisted producer Cory Hanson, previously responsible for albums by Ty Segall. Released in August 2023, the resulting The Rose of Aces sustained the ensemble’s engagement with the Grateful Dead while placing greater emphasis on songcraft.
Albums
Singles
Live
