You can't live in Atlanta and not know Tom Cheshire. Even my mom has met him (Seriously. And she still asks about him sometimes.). He’s easily one of the more prominent members of the Atlanta music scene and has been for some time both through his bands (All Night Drug Prowling Wolves, County Hell, Rent Boys, West End Motel) and through his steadfast enthusiasm and devotion to all the other bands that make up our ever-changing sonic landscape. But maybe most of all, everyone knows him because he’s a lot of fun and does things a bit different, such as with his newest project: a musical.

Called The Last of the Blue-Eyed Devils, the musical is based on the journals of his grandfather, a Chilean sailor who died before Cheshire was born. To pull off this feat, Cheshire has brought together a group that will set to the formidable task of relaying through music those writings. Included in the band is Cheshire’s longtime partner in crime, Marlow Sanchez, as well as Rent Boys band mate Mike Shina, newcomer Meredith Erdmann and the infamous Brent Hinds (Mastodon, West End Motel). Shina wrote a few of songs, and the others worked in close collaboration with Cheshire and Shina to make it all happen.

The show recently went down at Atlanta's EARL, and we hear it was pretty bad ass. Did you miss it? Here's your chance to see one of the songs.

And listen here for a track called "Highwaters," which will make for good background while you read the interview!

Holly Lang/Pine Magazine: I want to hear about this musical... why'd you want to do something like this?

Mr. Tom Cheshire: I've been wanting to do this for a while, it was about time and it just made sense. I wrote these songs as a musical based on a journal I found of my grandfather Thomas Kirkwood. He was a Chilean sailor and just a plain badass. I was named after him; I was born right after he passed away. My mother said we were very much alike: him being a sailor, me a musician … we were both gypsy like. My mother translated the journals from Spanish to English and I learned a lot about the man. He was very worldly and I mean that in the highest regard.

PM: How long has it taken to pull it together?

TC: The songs have been in my head for a minute. We actually recorded it pretty quickly, and getting the band together was so quick. I was shocked; everyone was on board, everyone played well together. We are all friends and enjoy each other's company (and) I think we all wanted to do something a little different.

PM: How different will it be? Is it a show with songs that are related, or are there more common threads than that?

TC: It is very much a musical, with a story line, an intro, a body and a conclusion. I think it will be a treat for all. I've also been very intrigued by vaudeville the past couple of years so it’s a throwback to that.

PM: Did you write all the songs or was it more of a collaboration?

The first half was written by Mike Shina (County Hell/Rent Boys), the second half myself, but we have several guests: Brent Hinds (Mastodon) is playing, Jeff Moore on pedal steel guitar, the singing debut of Meredith Erdmann. Marlow Sanchez is on mandolin - we call him Marlow Mandolin Sanchez now.

PM: Speaking of names... Why "Blue Eyed Devil?"

TC: I kinda thought Thomas Kirkwood gave me his blue eyes, and that we are the last of the good old dogs, you know? (And) I think I’ve been wanting to put devil in there for a while. You know, we are underdogs and that is all we have. So I want my voice to be for them. And the devil gets a bad rap. He's a genius, you know?

PM: I think we've all seen the devil work his genius a time or two. And I like you as that sort of voice. Do you feel that, as a whole, this musical is a sort of song for all of us underdogs?

TC: Oh yes, they are all songs and stories that we can relate too. It’s not too cheesy, but it kinda has a happy ending, you know. It ends on a waltz we can feel good about it, kinda gives us a bit a hope.

PM: How does Brent work with a waltz? Is he a natural?

TC: He is so amazing, I mean really amazing. People are gonna flip. He really shines. Everyone, though, is amazing. I have to say it is really pretty and sexy music and it just makes sense. I honestly think these are the best songs I have ever written, but I guess everyone says that. But most folks don't have a Chilean sailor as influence.

PM: But now we probably will. Awesome.