WICKED WORLD (Demo) + Tickets 4 VCA
Another Blend demo sees the light of day! Plus, tickets on sale now for 3/29 VCA gig!
TICKET ALERT: The early bird window has closed, and the general public can now purchase tickets for my upcoming show at Vashon Center for the Arts on March 29, 2025.
Vashon Center for the Arts is located on Vashon Island in Washington State’s Salish Sea, just a 15-minute ferry boat ride from West Seattle.
I’ll be joined by the multi-talented Elaine Summers. In addition to old fan favorites, we’ll be performing songs from my forthcoming album, Fade Away Blue.
The show will give us a chance to get our act together for future tour dates. Yeah… you heard right. We’re hitting the road later this year! Stay tuned to this space for details.
Soon, I will reveal the secret project I’ve alluded to in previous posts. Until then, I’m giving The Droge & Summers Blend project some final air time here on Love Songs Etc.
In this post from January 16, 2025, I shared the demo for a Blend outtake called “Feels Like Nothing.”
Today, I share a demo for a song that made the cut. “Wicked World” appeared on The Droge & Summers Blend Volume Two.
Paid subscribers can download this demo—AIFF or MP3—by visiting my rarities page.
I’m not mad at this demo. It’s not bad. But boy, am I thankful for the badass collaborators who brought the song to life for the record version. This track feels way too bright and zesty for a song called “Wicked World.”
For the record version, The Blending Crew—Jay Bellerose (drums & percussion), Jennifer Condos (bass), and Scott Weddle (fuzzy guitar)—gave the tune the attitude it deserved.
I’ll save you the trip to your favorite streamer. Here it is.
Scott's guitar sound is super cool. He placed a soundhole pickup in a funky old cheapo acoustic guitar and then plugged that into a cigarette pack amplifier. Yeah… that’s right. A guitar amp made from a cigarette pack! We then placed the tiny amp nearby so the acoustic guitar mic picked up just the right blend of the natural sound and the ratty messed-up tone.
Well, this should be my final Blend post. (At least until we hit a significant anniversary that warrants celebration.) It’s been a great ride. Elaine has been a terrific co-pilot. Our vocal chemistry has flourished during The Blend Years. I’m proud of the body of work we created together with our gifted collaborators.
I’ve posted links to a handful of my favorite Blend posts below.
FUN FACT #1: Jaime Wyatt recorded “Wicked World” in the early aughts. Her version was featured in the film Feast of Love, starring Morgan Freeman and Greg Kinnear.
FUN FACT #2: An instrumental of The Droge & Summers Blend version was the theme song for Chew the Bone with Dr. Woody, a podcast where cosmic dog psychologist Dr. Woody answers questions of troubled pets or two-leggeds who live with them. Created by filmmaker, author, poet—and friend of this newsletter—Ward Serrill, the podcast was a companion to his excellent memoir To Crack the World Open.
Peace & Love Songs,
Pete
Just listened to Mile Of Fence on headphones yesterday and I hate how much I forget how much I love that song AND that super-Franken-bass bridge!
I love this version too!