Chasing the sound, through Isla Vista and beyond

Breaking away from their pre-show huddle, the band Cordoba took to the stage dressed in white button-ups and black slacks, stylishly equipped for their debut. After weeks of practice, the dreams of their first performance culminated in a sweaty backyard oceanfront show, atop a makeshift wooden stage.

“This was the beginning of something special, and we felt like we had a great opportunity,” said Gabriel Cohen, guitarist and keyboardist for Cordoba.

As they prepped their instruments, the crowd waited anxiously for their show to begin. One strum of a guitar turned into a cohesive clash of fluid jams. Cordoba’s jazzy flow kept their audience buzzing while pushing the boundaries of backyard band music: their alternative music formulations meshed indie and jazz into one digestible package. And the crowd took notice that night, creating an instant fan base eager for more.

Cordoba at their first Isla Vista show.

Weekend shows in Isla Vista are consistently filled with the rowdy resonance of high distortion guitar riffs and muffled singing. Many bands have their start at these backyard shows, and Cordoba —named after the street where they lived when the band formed as UCSB students in 2022— is no different.

Cordoba consists of four key members: Wally Corngold on drums, Charlie Silver on lead guitar, Marlowe Kushner on bass, and Gabriel Cohen on keys and guitar.

The group’s ethos over the last three years has been to work through ideas and creative battles by playing together as a tight-knit friend group. “Above all else, we are friends before bandmates, and that's why it works so well,” said Corngold, drummer and vocalist.

After their first show, Cordoba took a year-long hiatus when a few members landed in international study abroad programs. This put thousands of miles between the group, but the memory of their magical first performance was still on their minds.

“Once we finally found our way back, we knew it was time to take it seriously, and we started booking shows nonstop,” said Cohen.

Cordoba is ready to take it seriously in Isla Vista.

As each show passed, the quartet’s motivation grew, bedroom jam sessions quickly turning into original songs. During the band’s early stages, Cordoba found it vital to write original music whenever they had free time. This process went hand in hand with their live performances, as they were able to fine tune songs in response to the crowds’ reactions.

“It’s important to strike when the iron's hot in songwriting, and this can turn into a lot of half-baked ideas,” said Corngold. “[Writing]’s the plight of every band, but you will know when a song is ready.”

Cordoba’s strengthened chemistry and more defined sound propelled them into recording in a professional studio. Cohen admitted that the recording sometimes proved difficult, as original songs are often very personal to their creators, and it can be hard to rework them based on the advice of outside artists. “It was an exciting feeling being in the studio, apart from the sweltering heat and the strong ideas to rework songs from our producer,” the drummer and vocalist said.

Cordoba at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley.

Also passionate about the creative process is Charlie Silver, the Cordoba frontman and lead guitarist. He quickly learned the value in letting some of the creative control go and establishing trust with their producers to refine their songs.

“Each song is its own case, and you have to leave your ego at the door,” said Silver.

After graduating and saying goodbye to the noise-ridden Isla Vista, Cordoba entered a challenging transition period. A constant flow of backyard shows became one planned trip per month. While this made progress difficult, the band’s growth was still tangible — these monthly shows were now at legitimate venues.

Going on a mini-tour down the coast of California, flying to New York for a late-night live show and finalizing this post-grad stretch with the Shabang Music Festival, Cordoba has made the most of their new chapter. Going from the shabby wooden frames from their debut performance to the Shabang stage has acted as a key reminder of the band’s growth.

Cordoba takes on the Shabang stage.

From Isla Vista's electric backyards to New York City's collaborative pulse, Cordoba’s journey reaches beyond music, rooted in a deep friendship and love for performing. Looking ahead, they remain grounded in optimism and practicality. “Doing my favorite thing with my favorite people is all I could ask for,” said Silver.

And as the band navigates their next chapter, one principle holds especially true:

“As long as we stay Cordoba, we’ll be alright.”

Cordoba in late night New York.