Vashon Island Pet Protectors Fundraiser
I’ve donated a rare item to VIPP’s online auction. Click HERE to bid on a 60 minute lesson via Zoom with yours truly. Choose your topic: Songwriting, guitar, voice or recording.

Other items up for auction include a ukulele signed by Eddie Vedder, Almost Famous swag signed by Cameron Crowe and VIP tickets to see Band of Horses at Seattle’s Paramount Theater. See all auction items HERE.

Almost Famous 20th Anniversary Soundtrack
If 15 year old Pete was told he’d have a song on an album alongside The Who, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, Simon & Garfunkel, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Cat Stevens, The Stooges, David Bowie and a bunch more of his heroes, that kid would have been beyond thrilled. Well, thanks to having my song “Small Time Blues” in the now-classic film, Almost Famous, that happened. (Or should I say, “It’s all happening!”)

Turns out, middle-aged Pete is just as thrilled as that young rocker would have been. What an honor to be included in this incredible collection of music! Kudos to Cameron Crowe, Andy Fischer and Greg Mariotti and their team for putting together such a mind-bogglingly awesome deluxe package. Get yours HERE.

Co-Producing Chris Ballew
He’s made music for families as Caspar Babypants. He’s gone multi-platinum as front man for The Presidents of the United States of America. He’s even been nominated for Grammys. (Three-time loser!) And now Chris Ballew is releasing music under his own name for the first time ever!

Mark Heberleine and I have the honor of serving as co-producers on this new musical incarnation. It’s collaboration pandemic style. It goes like this: Chris sends tracks and I listen. I make notes and then share my thoughts over the phone. (A chronic fatigue-friendly gig if ever there was one.) I’m loving the music so much that I’ve joked that my credit should read “Chief Executive Cheerleader.”

The first album, I Am Not Me, was released in July. Buy it HERE.  Or look for it on your favorite streaming service.  The follow-up, Soul Unfolded, will be released in early 2022. Listen HERE to Chris speaking with Voice of Vashon’s Jeff Hoyt about the project.

Chew the Bone with Dr. Woody Podcast
An instrumental version of “Wicked World” from The Droge & Summers Blend Volume Two is the theme song for filmmaker Ward Serrill’s new podcast Chew the Bone with Dr. Woody. This “dogcast” features a hilarious segment with world-renowned dog psychologist Dr. Woody as well as readings from Ward’s new memoir To Crack the World Open—Solitude, Alaska and a Dog Named Woody. Check it out HERE.

Songs Are Piling Up
As I tend to my health issues—backstory HERE—I continue to chip away at writing and demoing new material. I recently finished “Fading Fast,” a jangley folk-rocker chronicling life on the road. And fans of my early days in Ramadillo will dig the old-school, classic country stylings of “Memory Off My Mind” and “Easy Country Living.”

And speaking of Ramadillo…

Ramadillo on Vinyl?
There’s talk of Ramadillo appearing on a 7” vinyl split single in 2022. This prompted me to dig out old boxes of tapes. Talk about a trip down memory lane! Among the unearthed highlights, the original four track cassette demo of “Staylin’ Street” that I recorded when I was just 19.

And speaking of rarities…

The DrogeHead Lounge?
I’m considering creating a digital space for sharing both rarities from the past as well as current works-in-progress. If this sounds like something you’d like to see happen, send us an email with your vote of enthusiasm via the contact form HERE.

Well… I think that’s all the news that’s fit to print.

Peace & Love,

Pete