Sonicbutter/PDX

Mark Bowden – Producer/Writer/Guitarist

TThe back story – Moved to Boston to study Jazz Comp/Arranging at Berklee. Played around the city and all over the country for a number of years in various ensembles. Became known as a “go to guy” in the Boston area for backing singer/songwriters and for adding texture, Ebow and unusual guitar effects. Had five national college releases in the last decade. Lots of CMJ action and 100+ shows per year for as long as I can remember…

Currently located in the Pacific Northwest and operating the Sonic Butter/PDX production/recording/editing facility in Portland, OR. Live work includes national and international touring (currently Karen Lovely’s touring guitarist). In the studio we work on projects from a 360 degree perspective offering everything from full on album production to fast, efficient audio editing/restoration (Pro Tools focused but can handle any kind of platform output) to in-house or remote guitar/keys/vocal tracking on your session. We’ve played/produced everything from Rock/Pop to Indie/Alterna, from Roots/Alt-Country to Drop D Heavy Rock. It’s all good (and fun to play).

Artists we’ve worked with - a rough style guide:

Pop/Rock/Soul – Kris Deelane, Karyn Ann, Stephanie Scelza, Miriams Well, Mike Previti, Andrew James, Emily Grogan, Zoux, Ian James

Heavy Rock – Kudisan Kai

Roots/Rock – Ron Rogers and The Wailing Wind, Redwood Son, Chris Bono, Natalie Flanagan, Megan Moreaux, Karen Lovely, Wilkinson Blades

Folk/Acoustic – Michelle Lewis, Lost In Boston, Chris Elliott, Annette Farrington, Jennifer Matthews

Indie/Alterna – Laura Ivancie, Nick Blake, The Stone Strangers, The Unfamiliars

We are always open to new and interesting projects. Get in touch and let’s see what we can put together…

See the Discography page for a sampling of projects we’ve worked on.

Artists we’ve performed/shared stages with:

Booker T, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Three Dog Night, The Motels, Janiva Magness, Dayna Kurtz, Sxip Shirey (Sxip’s Hour of Charm/Dresden Dolls), Kudisan Kai (Elton John, Chaka Khan, Sting), Angie Aparo (Faith Hill), Andy Stochansky (Ani DiFranco), Sonny Landreth, Curtis Salgado, Zoux (Macy Gray), Nick Daniels (Dumpstaphunk), Kim Wilson (Fab Thunderbirds), The Delgado Brothers, Coco Montoya, Victor Wainwright, Danielle Nicole, Sugar Ray Rayford, Ben Rice, Lisa Mann

Influences - In no particular order…

Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, The Expensive Winos, James Honeyman-Scott, Pete Townshend, John Paul Jones, Ron Wood, early Rod Stewart, Long John Baldry, Eric Clapton, John Leventhal, Mike Wanchic, George Marinelli, Doug Pettibone, Ry Cooder, Duke Levine, Joe Pass, Michael Lockwood, Bruce Hornsby, Wilco, Doyle Bramhall, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Mark Knopfler, Amanda Marshall, John Shanks, Pete Stroud, Jeff Trott, David Gilmore, David Howell Evans, PJ Harvey, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Wayne Krantz, Shawn Colvin, Jimmy Miller, Steve Marriot, Charlie Watts, Daniel Lanois, Roxy Music, Peter Gabriel, Patty Griffin, Lucinda Williams, Mick Jones (and B.A.D.), Difford and Tilbrook, Jon Brion, Iggy Pop, Sly Stone, James Jamerson, Stax, Muscle Shoals, The Meters.

Anything with a pocket you can live in…..