Stringed instrument-wielding Athens foursome The Corduroy Road invokes a variety of Southern textures on Love Is a War, the group’s debut full-length. There are sharp harmonies abounding and a little bluegrass juice simmering in Drew Carman’s vocals and steady banjo runs. Though a tried-and-true bluegrass band this is not as, fer tarnation’s sake, they employ a drummer in the form of recent addition John Cable.

Instead, the group invokes the kind of swampy, barefoot Americana that made the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band a stand-alone, do-it-all act in the 1970s. Built on close vocal harmonies, countrified, back porch-friendly arrangements and a dozen original songs, Love Is a War is an encouraging and solid first outing for the group. Carman has a hefty, twangy voice suited for college bars, sawdust floor honky tonks and even country radio, which harmonizes well with that of vocalist/guitarist Dylan Solise. Drummer Cable and bassist Elijah NeeSmith form a warm and steady rhythm section, while guests John Keane and Vigilantes of Love’s Bill Mallonee contribute some sweet dollops of pedal steel and harmonica, respectively, to such tracks as “So Blue” and “Just One Drop.”

They’re a little country and a little rock… but not really country-rock. Instead, The Corduroy Road simply plays decent Southern music that’s a little folky, a little hippie and nothin’ fancy, but should certainly stick to the part of you that holds on to stuff worth remembering.

Michael Andrews

The Corduroy Road is playing the AthFest Main Stage on Saturday, June 27 at 5:30 p.m.