TALKIN’ TICKETS & VIDEOS
West Coast tour on sale now! Plus, new video update and old video stories!
TICKETS! TICKETS!
After four gigs close to home in the past year, Elaine Summers and I are primed to take the show on the road.
Tickets are available now for a few West Coast dates this June.
06/08 - Portland, OR • Mississippi Studios • TICKETS
06/13 - Los Angeles, CA • McCabe’s Guitar Shop • TICKETS
06/14 - Ojai, CA • Ojai Underground Exchange • TICKETS
Our recent gig at Vashon Center For The Arts whetted our appetites. Before we hit the road, we’ll have a couple more opportunities to take the stage when we perform at a pair of benefit concerts in Seattle this Spring. For more on the SMASH Benefit and Dreaming in Analog event, check out this post from April 1, 2025.
VIDEOS! VIDEOS!
Thanks to everyone who submitted photos for the “You Called Me Kid” video. The response has been amazing. We extended the deadline, so there’s still time to get in on the action.
My fearless director, John Jeffcoat, shot my performance footage on Tuesday. He sent over a rough edit of the opening sequence yesterday and it looks fantastic. I am in awe of his skills. He makes it look easy. And his energy on set is relaxed and chill. He makes it fun.
Making videos can be stressful. It was especially so back in the 90s when labels spent vast sums of money on them. One would wonder, “Is this concept going to come across?” “Is this a colossal waste of money?” “Will MTV put this in the Buzz Bin and make me a rock star overnight?” And perhaps most importantly, “Am I having a good hair day?”
On Necktie Second, we made four videos for just two songs. Yep. Two complete videos were scrapped entirely. In both cases, Clark Eddy came in for the save. Clark was—and is—a top-shelf editor. So by hiring him to direct, we got a twofer.
For “If You Don’t Love Me…” we shot on Super 8mm, stealing shots around Los Angeles. That means we worked guerilla-style with a small crew and no permits. The video turned out great and made it into regular rotation on MTV.
When I get back to my multi-part series on Necktie Second, I’ll share the full story of the night it premiered on MTV’s late-night alternative show 120 Minutes. Here’s the Reader’s Digest condensed version. It was the very last video played on the two-hour show, and by the time it came on, I was shitfaced, face down on a tiki bar in Modesto, California. Elaine had to lift my head up and say, “Look! You’re on TV, Pete!” (Eddie Money’s Jack Daniels is partly to blame. But that’s another story for another time.)
While “If You Don’t Love Me…” got plenty of love from MTV, Clark’s video for “Northern Bound Train”—shot in New Orleans on 16mm film—barely saw the light of day.
After our set opening for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at Jones Beach in New York, the president of VH-1 told me that he thought “Northern Bound Train” sounded like a hit. I said, “Great! We just finished the video. Why don’t you play it?” And sure enough, he added the video to their playlist the very next week. They promptly dropped it the week after that. So it goes.
When I get back to the Necktie Second series of posts, I’ll dig up a copy and share it.
NO RECORD STORE DAY
Speaking of Necktie Second, a reminder that the deluxe reissue LP will NOT be available tomorrow for Record Store Day as planned. Due to vinyl production issues, we missed the deadline. Stay tuned to this space for a new release date.
Anyway… I’m excited for you all to hear “You Called Me Kid” and see the video.
For those in Portland, LA, or Ojai, “We’re coming to your town / We’ll help you party it down.” For everyone else, follow me on bandsintown to be alerted of dates in your town.
Check out the video for “Lonely Mama” below for a taste of John Jeffcoat’s directorial prowess.
Regular readers of Love Song Etc may recall that “Lonely Mama” was released digitally and as a 7” vinyl single last year on Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready’s HockeyTalkter Records. It will also appear on my forthcoming LP. More on that soon. Until then…
Peace & Love Songs,
Pete
See you at McCabe's! It's my wife Janets birthday, so fell free to give her a shout out if you're feeling it.
💓😀