Flatland Cavalry to Release New Album “Homeland Insecurity”
The future looks bright for Texas music, and that’s partly due to the promising prospects of groups like Flatland Cavalry. Led by singer and songwriter Cleto Cordero, the Lubbock-based band gives your ears something to feast on when you’ve worn out your Turnpike Troubadours records for the moment, but want to hear something familiar. Grabbing people’s attention with their debut album Humble Folks in 2016, they’re now readying their new release Homeland Insecurity for January 18th, which finds them singing about the difficulties and insecurities of jumping into adult life.
“We’re all just out of college,” says Cleto Cordero. “We’re in our mid-twenties. We’re all told growing up that by the time you’re out of school, you’ll have it all figured out, but that’s not really how it is. You’re still out there trying to find yourself. I think at some point, you feel like you need to grow-up, but you don’t know how. You’re searching for that path though. You’re overturning every rock trying to find the secret that gets on to the next. I’m not trying to be a teacher or anything. I just wish someone would have told me earlier on and saved me the heartache of it all.”
Like a lot of Texas music, the melodies might be infectious, and the music might groove. But songwriting is always at the heart of what’s happening, as well as a tie to the musical lineage through the cut of the fiddle.
“I had a lot I wanted to say,” says Cordero. “I knew there was a better way of saying it. I didn’t want to write at the same pace I was at during ‘Humble Folks.’ And I don’t want to write at this pace in the future. Everything I’d written before, it was always just something I had to get out. It was always spurred on by an emotion, but that doesn’t mean the lyrical side was rich. I have to really say something. Everything has to be purposeful. I can’t get stuck.”
Homeland Insecurity will be the first record from Flatland Cavalry since fiddle player Laura Jane Houle left the band, being replaced by Wesley Hall. The group also includes Reid Dillon on electric guitar, Jonathan Saenz on bass, and Jason Albers on percussion.
They have released a couple of songs ahead of the new album, including “Honey Wine” featuring Kaitlin Butts on harmonies, as well as “Living By Moonlight” (listen below). Homeland Insecurity is now available for pre-order.
TRACK LISTING:
1. Come Back Down
2. Honeywine
3. Old School
4. Other Side Of Lonesome
5. Back To Me
6. Living By Moonlight
7. Ashes
8. Lonely Then
9. Pretty Women
10. Sleeping Alone
11. Years From Now
Owen
December 18, 2018 @ 10:17 pm
We listen to flatland cavalry nonstop during our UT sigma chi tailgates. Great example of good music also being cool.
Lil Dale© savin cuntry music hall of fame member class of 2015
December 20, 2018 @ 4:28 am
more like a great example of a over rated and under acheeven football program if u ask me roll tide
Kross
December 19, 2018 @ 4:59 am
pre-ordered it yesterday. looking forward to this one. Good to see some younger fellers doing it the right way.
KT
December 19, 2018 @ 5:04 am
Favorite band next to The Steeldrivers. Can’t wait for this record. Hope I can make a tour date this upcoming year too. Had a blast seeing them at Basement East this year
Jerry
December 19, 2018 @ 7:57 am
Sounds like any modern country band except he has a forced twang in his voice.
JF
December 19, 2018 @ 9:24 am
Really good band. Saw them live a couple months ago opening for William Clark Green. In person, Cleto looks like he’s about 14. Looking forward to this one.
Drew Lair
December 19, 2018 @ 3:30 pm
I saw them open for WCG this summer at JBGB. Best concert this summer
scott
December 19, 2018 @ 9:27 am
Love these guys. Really catchy songs and good songwriting. Love that they feature the fiddle so prominently.
Dobe Daddy
December 19, 2018 @ 10:01 am
The last album was excellent. This sounds great, too. Now, if I can find room in the CD budget…
Jack Humphrey
December 19, 2018 @ 10:46 am
I just listened to all the iTunes previews on Monday. Sounds fantastic!
DJ
December 19, 2018 @ 11:38 am
“We’re all just out of college,” says Cleto Cordero. “We’re in our mid-twenties. We’re all told growing up that by the time you’re out of school, you’ll have it all figured out, but that’s not really how it is. You’re still out there trying to find yourself. I think at some point, you feel like you need to grow-up, but you don’t know how. You’re searching for that path though. You’re overturning every rock trying to find the secret that gets on to the next. I’m not trying to be a teacher or anything. I just wish someone would have told me earlier on and saved me the heartache of it all.”
Life is a journey, not a destination- heartache is a part of the journey and no one or anything can prevent it. Besides that: what would you write about if there was no heart ache?
College seems to have taken the place of serving in the military, but, lacks the opportunity for experience. And no, I’m not advocating for joining the military. It’s just an observation. It seems to be a requirement for some reason and what it usually does is leave many confused about the journey they’re on having had college considered and sold as something never intended: a destination. Typically that means you’ve arrived at a specific place- at which time another journey begins- hence; Life is a journey, not a destination!
They aren’t any better, or any worse, than any other modern *country act*- IMO, which is made from the journey of life and making the best with what I had but never settling for- a destination.
Dan
December 19, 2018 @ 3:58 pm
Did you ever unearth why Laura Jane left the group/was show the door, Trigger?
Trigger
December 19, 2018 @ 4:12 pm
No, I never did. I did extend some tentacles, but in cases like this, I don’t want to go digging through trash cans to find clues about what are often very personal matters. I do know Laura is pursuing her PhD, and if I find more information in the future, I will share it. It was a shame to see her go. The new guy is definitely holding his own.
Dan
December 19, 2018 @ 4:22 pm
Her playing was terrific, so I’d doubt the rumors that Cleto wasn’t happy with her performances. And furthermore, her stage presence was *great* and really added to their stage show. Interestingly, she did a few gigs with Dalton Domino after the split, so you could read something into that if you wanted. But the simplest answer is usually the best. She grew weary of the road and decided to pursue a more “normal”, stable life. Maybe we’ll all find out the truth someday. Who knows.
Wes
December 20, 2018 @ 8:37 am
From what I understood most everyone in the band was still perusing degrees until this year and she was still the only one in school getting her PhD. Flantland as a group decided they wanted to make touring a full time thing instead of just weekends like they had been doing because their members still had class. Laura was the only one not able to make the full time band commitment because she was still going for her doctorate.
JerseyBoy
December 19, 2018 @ 4:49 pm
Love the new song, looking forward to the release, I have their other two cds, which are both great. I’m so proud and encouraged about great bands and music coming out of Lubbock, Texas Tech, and the Panhandle in general. Listening now to Comanche Moon , just came in the mail today,
Thanks Trig