On Monday, Oct. 20, at Red Rocks, the Americana band Flatland Cavalry performed a lively show for fans from all over the country. Traveling around the country on their “Flatland Forever Tour,” the band’s personal performance touched everyone in the amphitheater. Easy on the ears and heavy on the heart, Flatland Cavalry brought a folk-rock performance to Colorado, making everyone feel at home.
Originating from Midland, Texas, the group was created by former college roommates, lead singer Cleto Cordero and Jason Albers on drums. Eventually moving northeast to Lubbock, Texas, the band formed into what it is today.
Flatland Cavalry blends folk-rock and Texas country to create music perfect for backcountry roads and connecting to your roots.
The band is best known for their hit song “A Life Where We Work Out,” which earned them their first Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Gold certification. Their reputation grew with the release of their first full album, “Humble Folks” in 2016.
Flatland Cavalry has also been featured on the soundtrack for multiple hit movies. Their best-known track from the film industry is the song “Wool” from “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.” This song differs from the rest of their music as it is extremely vulnerable and embodies the emotional darkness of the film.
They have also written and recorded songs for the 2024 movie “Twisters” and the hit TV series “Yellowstone.”
On-and-off touring over the past 10 years has built up a strong fan base made up of all ages and backgrounds. During the concert, people from all over the U.S. had come to support the band and connect with their music on a deeper level.
Most of their songs are about emotional honesty, love and storytelling. Being at one of their shows feels like they are walking you through West Texas landscapes, searching for love, self-reflection and growth, all through catchy melodies and poetic lyrics.
“I like when they played the song ‘Sleeping Alone’ because it was wholesome to see the crowd sing all together,” said Eileen Jamie, a sophomore at the University of Denver.
Rising country artist Kaitlin Butts opened for the band, bringing a classic country sound to the amphitheater. Butts sings stories that can be silly and fun with a soulful sound, rooted in dirt country and Americana. She also happens to be married to Cordero, linking the night’s performances through both music and marriage. ?
Cordero brought Butts back out to perform their song, “A Life Where We Work Out” towards the end of the show. This romantic ballad brought a feel-good energy to the amphitheater and some warmth to Morrison on a chilly Monday night.
“The band worked so well together. My favorite part of the show was the song ‘Parallel,’” said DU student Abbey VanValkenburg.
The song “Parallel” was a fan favorite, showcasing what it feels like to chase a dream while loving someone from afar. Long-distance love is something a lot of people can relate to and Cordero wrote this song based on his own experience. He and his wife are often both performing and on the road at different times. They live a parallel life but are often apart. The song’s deeply personal lyrics have touched many listeners with its warm, emotional tone.
Flatland Cavalry is known for their down-to-earth and country aesthetic, which the audience could see before the band even came out. The stage was set as a living room, making the band and the audience feel right at home.
They catered their show towards the audience by featuring covers by other artists.They covered John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High,”which caused the audience to sing loudly, expressing their love for the state of Colorado.
“I loved how the band showcased each of its members with solos. They have a lot of talent,” said DU sophomore Taylor DeNitto.
With Reid Dillion on guitar and Wesley Hall on fiddle, the band can create a loud folk-dance sound, getting the audience up on their feet. Dillion soloed with Cordero, riffing off each other with different guitar sounds. Hall would jump into most of the songs with a fiddle solo, leaving jaws on the floor with a new lick each time he was in the spotlight.
Finally, the band gave the audience an encore after leading fans to believe the show was over before playing “Sleeping Alone.” The encore included more solos and amazing turnarounds to end the show with a bang.
Flatland Cavalry invited the crowd into their living room for the night, leaving Colorado’s hearts full and people humming the songs of West Texas soul.
