Thornton Bowman
Seattle, Washington, United States
Music
Press
… if you like Neil Young, Bowman will have you beaming. The man isn’t a clone by any means, but there’s enough in his voice to get you harking back to old Neil’s acoustic work. As far as his writing goes, the songs are a much more slippery beast, lyrically dense, sometimes even serpentine, uncoiling soul the way a good song should and that little kernel of truth, the way the best songwriters should.
Chris Nickson
- The Rocket
For 10 years, ThorNton Creek has been a reminder of the days when Seattle clubs were ablaze with good-time country rock 'n' roll. A good song, a danceable beat and some hot licks are the recipe for all the 14 tracks on the band's new release, "Whiskey." Thornton Bowman sings in a straightforward high tenor reminiscent of Country Joe McDonald. His vocals are sweetened by MJ Bishop's harmonies. Don Miller's versatile guitar playing ranges from the laid-back swing of "Laugh Away," the roots rock of "Mind Like a Window," to "New One's" psychedelic fire.
Bill White, November 2006
- The Seattle PI
If you’ve ever hung out at honky tonks in a small western town watching locals two step and swing to music accented by clinking glasses, then you have experienced the feel of Thornton Creek. And if you listen only for the “feel,” you might miss something important: the intriguing lyrics of Thornton Bowman.... Musically, this is a fun-filled album, but take a moment to sit with the lyric sheet to appreciate the craft and the wry view of songwriter Thornton Bowman.
Char Seawell - Victory Review
The name ThorNton Creek conjures up the image of a Bluegrass band, but this band has a diverse sound that's hard to categorize - sort of country/folk/pop, but frequently with more edge; and of course this CD is 'six times stronger.' The band cranks out 11 solid tracks, plus a delightful bonus track/jam at the end....this is a tight, well produced CD, that will bring the listener back to it again and again in order to fully appreciate its many artistic levels.
Alan Kausal
- Victory Review
Discography
In the Kitchen of the Blacksmith (LP)
Songs from the Urban Watershed (LP)
Spooky Bird (EP)
Six Times Stronger (LP)
Whiskey (LP)
examples from most of these can be found at:
www.myspace.com/thorntoncreek
www.thorntoncreek.com
Photos
Bio
Thornton Bowman grew up in Virginia near the Tennessee border. He was raised on bad country gospel, folk artists like the Limelighters and Clancy Brothers, and bluegrass. After far too many years of innocence, he finally made it to puberty and quickly discovered both girls and the Grateful Dead. This ended his dream of becoming a preacher.
In the cab of a red Nissan pick up truck, Thornton travelled across the US with a frightening woman and eventually settled in Seattle. After releasing his solo work "In the Kitchen of the Blacksmith", he started a band called ThorNton Creek.
His music is eclectic and hard to pin down. Most often it is described as reminiscent of Neil Youngs older work. Victory Review in their October 2006 issue said this of the songs in ThorNton Creeks recent release Whiskey:
.While playful at times to fit the instrumental mood of the song, there is nothing ordinary about these lyrics
.capturing in an original way the feel of the aloneness that comes not from solitude but from choices made and loves lost
.that reveals a wry mind and a well-traveled soul
.
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