Holly Lang/Pine Magazine: Can you tell us some of the background on your band, such as when you came together, how long you've been a band and what you've released?

Corey Pallon/Pistolero: This current band has been together for about three years. (lead guitarist) Tom (Pollard) and I have been writing and recording tunes since around 1997, and we released two albums under the name "The Amazing Tom Machine" but we've all been friends and have played together in some form or another for about ten years. The releases we've had as "Pistolero" have been mainly EPs. We have 3 EPs and one full length to date but we are working on a double album titled "The Pink Note" and a new EP titled "Warface" that will be released soon. "Warface" is going to be a really unique surprise but I don't want to go too much into that now or I’ll spoil it.

HL: Who handles most of the songwriting?

CP: For years it had been mainly me but now the weight has been lifted greatly because (guitarist and pianist) John (Ochoa) and I have been working a lot together recently with really sweet results. And, of course, Tom always comes in and sprinkles the songs with his touch. But when it comes to Pistolero live, the band really writes the songs as a whole and sometimes the songs really do write themselves. So it's a can of mixed nuts.

HL: Where do you record?

CP: We've always recorded at home. We have a house in Turbo Town where John and I live with a full basement and we've built our studio there. It’s called Shabbey Road Studio. Shabbey Road Studio is basically anywhere I’ve lived in the past ten years. Recording at home is just the best way we've been able to put our thing across on tape. We tried going to a studio for our first full length and it didn't work for us. Only three of the songs we recorded there ended up on the record because the feel just wasn't right. I’m not blaming that other studio for that at all, but being on the clock just isn't good. It’s so nice to be able to wake up every day and walk downstairs, light a Camel, turn on the machines and let things roll. Honestly unless Rick Rubin or Tom Petty wanted to produce us... I doubt I’ll every feel any different.

HL: Where'd you guys get the name "Getting Used to Decapitation"? Can you tell us about that EP overall?

CP: Actually, that was something funny that Tom's wife Robin said once while we were eating and I attached it as the title of the song. Once we got to recording the EP, the name just sort of jumped out at us as an eye catching title. The EP just kind of came to us one night as a concept. I think mainly because of our Ray Davies influence, but there really isn't too much to say about it except that it chronicles the life of someone that has trouble inside of his human skin but anyone can really take it the way they please.

HL: You've recently been reviewed in Paste Magazine, and have garnered your fair share of local press. Does that reinforce what you do as a band? Or does press really matter?

CP: Sure, press matters. We’ve been in the unique position of not having any negative press, so it has helped us with booking and gathering a following but it really doesn't reinforce or influence what we do as a band. The Paste Magazine review was a nice score, though.

HL: In a city where bands like Deerhunter and Black Lips seem to reign supreme at times, do you feel that other bands are sometimes overlooked?

CP: We haven't felt overlooked because of those bands at all. Whether we are fans of an Atlanta band or not, if they are successful, we just feel that it brings more attention to the city's rock and roll scene and that can only help us in the long run. As long as we stick to what we love to do, we know that we'll be as successful as any of those bands.

HL: Are there any questions I haven't already asked that I should?

CP: We have been working out some shows acoustically with a couple of new members (multi-instrumentalist Chris Tuccillo and saxaphonist Dr. Todd Barnett). Also Tom (our lead guitarist) makes all of our amplification at his shop at home, which is a pretty interesting and somewhat unique thing about us.

HL: How does what you do acoustically differ from your other songs, past the obvious?

CP: Logistically, it's about half as much gear to travel with, for starters. We bring some smaller amps with us as well as a couple of the "Arthur Amps" that tom has built for us. We've added horns (Dr. Todd Barnett), mandolins, banjo (Chris Tuccillo) and different percussions and they've come off so beautifully. We write mainly with acoustic guitars anyway, so being able to perform these songs live that way has been a real treat for us.

When we play a regular Pistolero show, it's all about the power of sound and volume which is an amazing thing to me but some of the finer qualities of the individuals playing the songs get buried at times. It’s really nice to sit and play with these guys acoustically because I get to hear what true professionals they really are. I get to ease back on my rhythm guitar playing and use my voice in much sweeter ways than I can with our full-on rock and roll shows. We are heading out on the road in March and we've booked nights to play both ways.