The 525 Records Podcast

David Ballantyne is an award winning actor and musician who runs the indie label Cascadia Archives, a record label dedicated to resurrecting lost music from the Pacific Northwest originally released on CD ONLY and pressing it on vinyl for the first time. He fronted The Widgets from Salem-OR who played all around the PNW scene in the 90’s and 2K’s and are rumored to be performing at the 25th anniversary show for the legendary Salem band CAC cool as cucumbers vinyl release.

Links:

https://www.cascadiaarchives.com/

https://cascadiaarchives.bandcamp.com/

https://www.525records.com/

http://www.slyrecords.com/home.html

Recorded @Maple Lane studio - Milwaukie, OR Sep 2026

Eric Bush is the owner of Sly Records, which has an extensive collection of some of the best indie and underground records ever released. He fronted the legendary Portland rap group CAC with his brother Brad “Wockenfuss” and was a member of the Salem, OR based band Pretty to Look At, with Matt Fargo. His appearance on the podcast coincides with the recent limited release of hand pressed vinyl from Cascadia Archives featuring the classic underground record from Pretty to Look At Hostile Faction in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Links:

Sly Records

http://slyrecords.com/discog.html

525 records

https://www.525records.com

Cascadia Archives

https://www.cascadiaarchives.com

Wockenfuss YT channel

https://www.youtube.com/@wockenfuss

Recorded in Tucson, AZ Dec 2025

Jesse J Stratton is an American author and screenwriter known for his work in horror and weird fiction. Raised in Westfield, New York, his passion for the genre was ignited at a young age after discovering a paperback of Spawn of Cthulhu at a local library sale. Influenced by Cosmic Horror and Weird Fiction, Stratton crafts nightmarish yet plausible stories that delve into the complexities of the human condition, characterized by realistic settings and psychological depth.

Stratton co-wrote the feature film 37: A Final Promise alongside actor Randall Battinkoff. Along with his writing career, he works in the film industry as a Key Grip. Currently, he resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife, two stepchildren, and their dog.

His debut horror novel, Birdie, centers on a single mother haunted by a traumatic past as she confronts both human and supernatural threats targeting her daughter. Through his works, Stratton continues to explore the dark and mysterious aspects of human experience, engaging readers with his vivid storytelling.

Links:

https://www.jessejstratton.com

https://www.525records.com

Recorded in Los Angeles APR 2025

Tony Breit is an American bass player best known for his work with Lenny Kravitz. Notably, he played bass on several tracks from Kravitz’s acclaimed 1993 album Are You Gonna Go My Way. Breit's bass work is recognized for its funky, retro-inspired style that contributed to the album's sound. In addition to Lenny Kravitz, Tony Breit has also performed and recorded with other artists, including Doyle Bramhall and the Dan Dyer Band. He also contributed piano and bass on the new Andrew Leach record Sentimentally Ill, just released on 525 Records.

Jerry Leach is the brother of Andrew Leach, who sadly passed away last October before his new album was finished. This episode is a tribute to Andrew. We play his new record (sentimentally ill) which has just been released after 2.5 years in the making, and talk about his life and art.

Less Cash is an Americana rock band out of Milwaukie, OR. The current members are Mark Breitenbach, Seth Gibson, and John Rasmussen. We sat down to review footage of the last show they played at Old Gilbert Road Tavern in Portland, OR.

Recorded live in Milwaukie, OR March 2024

Links:

Web - http://www.cashlessmusic.com

https://www.525records.com

Johnny Gibson is currently the head engineer at The Tone Factory studio in Las Vegas. His vast knowledge and expertise in outboard gear was the main topic of conversation.

Recorded at Tone Factory in Las Vegas.

Johnny Gibson IG -

@real_johnny_gibson

Tone Factory IG -

@thetonefactorylasvegas

Tone Factory Website -

https://www.thetonefactory.com

525 Records -

https://www.525records.com

Jared Richard is the frontman for The VRBS, a band out of San Jose, CA. The band recently put out a double record and has live dates coming up through the summer months. We talk about the new record, Reverend Guitars, and NorCal vineyards.

Links:

The VRBS official website -

https://www.thevrbs.com

525 Records -

https://www.525records.com

Recored at the Tone Factory Las Vegas April 2023

A rare solo episode after 5 months off.

Links:

525 Records:

https://www.525records.com