Will Rainier – Smoke ’em If You Got ’em
Americana Highways presents this premiere of Will Rainier’s album Smoke ’em If You Got ’em, set for release on September 12. Smoke ’em If You Got ’em was produced by Chad Yenney and Will Rainier; recorded and mixed by Chad Yenney at Earth to Emma Studios in Olympia, Washington, with additional recording by Raymond Richards, Kevin Suggs, and Will Rainier. It was mastered by Rachel Field of Resonant Mastering, and hosts artwork and design by Chad Yenney.
Smoke ’em If You Got ’em is Will Rainier on acoustic and electric guitars, bass vocals, organ, piano, trumpet, drum machine programming, drums, percussion, xylophone, bells, keyboards, and melodica; Raymond Richards on pedal steel on “Smoke ‘em if You Got ‘em,” “Thundering Railroad,” and “Old Cat”; Kevin Suggs on pedal steel on “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “Dance With the Dead,” and “Perfect Imperfections,” and dobro on “I’ll Show You What Too Much to Drink Looks Like”; Jen Garrett on vocals and Wurlitzer; Christine Hager on piano; and Chad Yenney on synth on “Tidal Wave.”
Will says about the album, “Chad Yenney, who co-produced, engineered, and mixed the album, is a long-time friend and collaborator. He has contributed in some way to almost every recording I’ve done since the late ’90’s. After recording my last two solo projects at home, I was really excited to record this album with Chad at his studio in Olympia, Washington. He has a way of keeping things light and fun, but is also focused on getting great sounds and doing what’s right for the song. He’s also a talented collage artist and his work appears on the cover of Smoke ‘em if You Got ‘em. My wife, Jen Garrett who sings on the album, suggested “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” as a potential cover. She thought the lyrics felt like a sad country ballad. I decided to slow the tempo down from the original upbeat dance version and then with the addition of pedal
steel by Kevin Suggs it really took on a whole new feel.
“I’m really pleased to be able to release the album on vinyl. Long live physical media!”
Will launches the album nice and easy with “Dance with the Dead” – a song about folks in the dive bar, melodious pedal steel and “Dance With the Dead” “the night is closing fast on you / just want to disappear without a trace / you are the stranger you let yourself be.” The album weaves in out of tales and introspective observations, with smorgasbord of instruments all nicely arranged in turn, and a great version of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” An all around great album.
Find the music here on his BandCamp page: https://willrainier.bandcamp.com/album/smoke-em-if-you-got-em
Upcoming live shows:September 13th // Seattle, WA // Jules Maes Saloon
September 19th // Olympia, WA // Olympia Timberland Library
September 20th // Portland, OR // Arbor Beer Lodge
November 20th // Seattle, WA // Conor Byrne
All songs were written by Will Rainier ©2025 except “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by George Merrill & Shannon Rubicam; and “I’ll Show You What Too Much to Drink Looks Like” by Will Rainier & Hollerin’ Jimmie B.
