Our PNW Music

Rudy Giecek and Kristine Miller Cartwright

Our PNW Music is a podcast in which hosts Rudy Giecek and Kristen Miller Cartwright interview bands and musicians. Some episodes include studio only songs and others are special versions done live on the show. Listen as these songwriters describe learning to play their instruments, forming their bands and some of the meanings behind the songs they have written. Our PNW Music mostly interview bands in Skagit and Whatcom counties of Washington State or some bands who are traveling to the venues within the area.

  1. 01/10/2025

    Brett Benton Trio

    On this episode of Our PNW Music, we talk with Brett Benton and Jesse James of the BRETT BENTON TRIO. Brett Benton, originally from Tuscaloosa AL, is an extraordinarily talented young guitarist who has dedicated his art to preserving the early Delta Country Hill Blues music style, which originated in Mississippi in the early 20th century and was popularized by artists such as Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, R.L. Burnside and Lead Belly.  Jesse James, who is also an extremely gifted guitarist, originally hails from outside of Lake Chelan. When Jesse isn’t playing bass guitar for Brett, he’s playing lead guitar as the front man for his own band, Jesse James and The Mob. Listen while both Brett and Jesse give us a history lesson on the Delta Country Hill Blues style, and tell us what initially drew them to music and more importantly, what enticed them about this genre that played a pivotal role in the shaping of Rock & Roll. BRETT BENTONFacebook: https://m.facebook.com/brettbentonblues/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/brettbenton_?utm_medium=copy_link Website: http://www.brettbentonmusic.com/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCaeLgJJBhFkvha3nx0K3sYw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7g6Yz9VZkkZXNHN4DiZHQm?si=xwoig9QjSimyFF2QxNFXTg&dl_branch=1 Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/brett-benton/1335709893 JESSE JAMES Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessejamesmob/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/jessejamesmob?utm_medium=copy_link Website: https://www.jessejamesmob.com/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCg0UCot-8b1NazUeEC7PhTQSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3YwCfCqR03EmfoSczwDtDl?si=sDJyXkmfQ6GYFaXXK976DQ&dl_branch=1 Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jesse-james-and-the-mob/1381506682

  2. 01/10/2025

    Cascade Cody

    Cody Jordan was born on December 27th 1991 in the city of Yakima, WA. To father John, and mother Kelly Jordan. In 1993 John and Kelly moved their family to Selah, WA. Growing up in on a 41 1/2 acre plot of land in the most northern bounds of Selah, which is referred to by locals as the area of Wenas, Cody learned to appreciate the beauty and landscapes of the area. Quiet was prevalent, and whilst experiencing the quiet Cody began writing poetry at a very young age. At the age of 13 Cody began writing raps, and pursued hip hop / rap music from the age of 13 into early adulthood. While doing so, he opened up for various headlining artists, however, Cody was not fulfilled pursuing the dream of his younger self. At 22 he decided to reinvent himself. In 2014 Cody decided to go to school at Yakima Valley College, where he was trained in the theatrical arts. Throughout his colligate career he wrote plays and acted in several productions spanning from musicals to Shakespeare. It was at this time, Cody’s love for music began to resurface. With his new found philosophy in regard to theatre, and education steeped in the liberal arts, as well as his passion for beautiful imagery, Cody began to pick up an old guitar that his parents bought him one childhood Christmas, and play. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cascadecody Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cascadecody/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEgA1fZbvPmuGY2Yuh-hLCA Website: https://www.cascadecody.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1lGQXlpUABNgD7i2HLLVmS?si=e1c2mASKQXauaqFTzV5eRQ&dl_branch=1

  3. 01/10/2025

    Too Slim and the Taildragers

    From website-  Tim “Too Slim“ Langford is a monster guitarist and unabashed 
blues rocker whose influences run the gamut from Lightnin’ Hopkins,
 Freddy King, Duane Allman, and Lynyrd Skynyrd to Robin
 Trower. He is a prolific singer/songwriter whose songs have now 
yielded an impressive 13 studio Too Slim and the Taildraggers albums, 2 solo albums and several live CD’s all on his own Underworld Records imprint.
 Too Slim and the Taildraggers are Tim “Too Slim" Langford on guitar/vocals, Zach Kasik on bass/vocals and Jeff “Shakey” Fowlkes on drums/vocals.   "High Desert Heat” is the latest giant step in the evolution of their contemporary Blues/Rock sound that has been described as “Straight Whiskey Blues with a Southern Rock Beer Chaser”. High Desert Heat charted 11 times in the Billboard Top Blues Album Chart in 2018 and was nominated for Best Blues/Rock album at the 2019 Blues Music awards. High Desert Heat is also featured in heavy rotation on Sirius XM’s B.B. King’s Bluesville. Their Previous release “Blood Moon nominated for “Blues Rock Album of the Year" at the 2016 Blues Blast Music Awards ” and was voted Blues Rock Album of the Year at the 2016 Jimi Awards.  Blood Moon reached  #6 on the Billboard Top Blues Album Chart in 2016. The 2014 release Anthology was vote #1 Blues Album of the Year by Blues Matters Writers Poll in 2015. The 2013 release "Blue Heart" rose to #3 on the Billboard Top Blues Album Chart and was nominated for Rock/Blues Album of the Year at the 2014 Blues Blast Music Awards. “Shiver (2011) was nominated for "Rock/Blues Album of the Year" by the Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards.  Too Slim and the Taildraggers’ high energy Blues Rock has been thrilling audiences for years. The band’s ever evolving musical direction cannot easily be classified into any box or category.  Tim “Too Slim" Langford has received Lifetime Achievement and Hall Of Fame awards by three Northwest blues societies, 
as well as more than 40 regional and national music awards. Too Slim and the Taildraggers music has also been featured on MTV’s series, The Real World and Road Rules. After 30 years of knocking it out of the park on recordings and stages across the world, Too Slim and the Taildraggers shows no sign of slowing down. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7CSwswyyJWwaxmOeCkzZQe?si=B9HSdhFPSr-BfD1eHquKAQFaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/TooSlimandtheTaildraggers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tooslim.mac/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOemmGEamiBsu9nAictDB0w Website: https://www.tooslim.net

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Our PNW Music is a podcast in which hosts Rudy Giecek and Kristen Miller Cartwright interview bands and musicians. Some episodes include studio only songs and others are special versions done live on the show. Listen as these songwriters describe learning to play their instruments, forming their bands and some of the meanings behind the songs they have written. Our PNW Music mostly interview bands in Skagit and Whatcom counties of Washington State or some bands who are traveling to the venues within the area.