Album Notes

They build their own amps, they record voraciously, and they are true students of rock and roll. They are Pistolero.

Playing a style of music that can only be described as New American Rock, Pistolero can be compared to Spoon, Wilco, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with a touch of The Who thrown in for good measure. While the influences are many, the music is easily accessible. You don’t have to be cooler than Pitchfork to like the style or have a PHD in physics to follow the melody. Its just music that’s easy to listen to, yet growing more complex upon each listen.

With five releases in the past two years, including the new concept EP “Getting Used to Decapitation”, this 5 piece has proven that the music in your head can’t be allowed to stay there. Critical praise has been lavished on past releases and the trend looks to continue. Moving easily from a rockin’ summer love song drenched in Atlanta heat and humidity to an acoustic lullaby for the dead, Pistolero shows their versatility and song writing prowess.

After years of playing second hand amps and struggling to find that perfect sound, Pistolero started building their own equipment. Arthur Amps was started in early 2006 to facilitate this need. Building off the blueprints of amps like the Fender black face or a Sound City combo, guitarist and chief technician Tom Pollard has lead Pistolero toward their own personalized sound for each member.

Pistolero has been the host band on Channel Zero - Atlanta’s only Music Video Show - where their single “Endless Summer” was featured. They have also been featured on WRAS 88.5 FM’s “Georgia Music Show, and had a spotlight segment on the nationally televised Mav Music (Mav TV). Pistolero was recently invited by Creative Loafing to play the 2007 SoCo Music Experience at Centennial Olympic Park with Wolfmother.

Here what the press had to say about them:

“Pistolero accomplishes what others heartily attempt: that is successfully crossing several genres and doing it well,” - Lauren Begnaud, Performer Magazine (2006).

"The Atlanta five some cranks out guitar based pop-rock that's as informed by the mid 80's as the mid 60's." – Jeff Clark, Stomp and Stammer (2007)

“This three-song CD from Atlanta-based Pistolero is a short but sweet trek through off-center garage rock and psychedelic balladry,” - Jon Dawson, Performer Magazine (2007)

“With tracks drawing audible inspiration from The Kinks ("A Warrior's Feet") to The Velvet Underground ("This Means War"), The Last Fiore garnered praise for its unique blending of British-invasion consciousness and modern pop-rock sensibility." - Kat Amano, Performer Magazine (2007)

“It's all straight-ahead rock 'n' roll, but the precise sound varies from song to song; some psych out like the Kinks, while others smoke like popular indie group Kings of Leon. At its very best, Pistolero displays it’s distorted, rusted-out influences like a badge. The dirtier they get, the better.” Kate Sweeny, Star News (2007)

“The leading element of ’66-era garage rock is not to be denied at any moment, but as it moves, they’re also found brandishing pecks of late ‘70s power pop and mid ‘80s indie rock without so much as a tap of jive-y force.” Ben Brown, Encore Magazine (2007)

"Indie rock loaded in the chamber of a six shooter." - Ryan Kitchens (Music Director, WUSC-FM (2007)