By JASON TRACHTENBURG

The spotlight is once again shining on North Seattle and this month we will focus in on two bands who are in the thick of it.

First up we have the instrumental surf stylings of a band called Crystal Forest. Based out of their Wallingford headquarters, Crystal Forest churns out surf music that has been influenced by the old '60s Northwest rock. Band leader and chief songwriter Michael Dowers cites vintage rhythm and blues, as well as soul, as sources for inspiration.

The current lineup of Crystal Forest has been together for five years. (A lofty accomplishment by any means.) Michael Dowers plays the lead guitar. He is joined by Chris Kemmish on bass. Mike "Van" Hollebek is on the rhythm guitar and Tom "Thumper" DeBartlo handles the drumming duties.

All four members of Crystal Forest graduated from Shoreline High School in the late '60s. "We were all a part of the Northwest rock scene in the '60s," recounts Dowers. "We caught the tail end of it and we still look back on those ideals of bands like the Sonics and the Kingsmen. We're exploring soul."

In addition to the band, Dowers is also the publisher of Starhead Comix. He has published alternative comics for the past 17 years. Dowers has published "Stick Boy," "Acid Boy" and works by Ellen Forney and Pat Moriarity. In fact, Pat Moriarity did the cover art for Crystal Forest's release, "Northwest Surf."

Crystal Forest have played such North Seattle venues as The Tractor and the Ballard Firehouse. If you would like to see Crystal Forest's original brand of "reverb rock," check them out Saturday, July 17 at the historic Blue Moon Tavern. They can be contacted through e-mail. Their address is http://members.aol.com/Thumper128/crystalforest.html.

From surf to turf. The turf of Northeast Seattle's Thornton Creek, that is. Thornton Creek is also a band of the same name. The question is this: was it coincidence, circumstance or both that brought Thornton Creek, the band, and Thornton Creek, the watershed, together?

I don't know the answers to those questions, but this much I do know: Thornton Creek, the band, have a 1998 CD titled "Songs from the Urban Watershed." I also know this: Thornton Creek, the band, play Neil Young-ish original music that is refreshing to hear.

This well-produced production features band leader Thornton Bowman heading up a full ensemble of players. This band is easy to listen to, especially if you feel like relaxing. (And who doesn't feel like relaxing once in a while?)

In addition to Thornton Bowman, who plays guitar, Thornton Creek's lineup includes Don Miller on lead guitar. For the purpose of the recording, Don also played the chapman stock, which basically serves the part of the bass. It is something like a 2-by-4 with 10 strings. Both hands hit the strings to create a bass-like sound.

Thornton Creek is rounded out with Steve Miller on bass and Ian Larson on drums. Laura Callahan has recently joined the band to sing backup vocals.

Thornton Creek, the band, recently played a fundraiser at the Fiddler's Inn in Wedgwood to benefit the Thornton Creek Alliance, a volunteer citizens group dedication to the preservation and restoration of Thornton Creek - the Watershed. The event was a success, so much so that the Fish Brewing Company in Olympia has brewed a special Thornton Creek Ale (now available in local pubs) which will also help the Watershed with donations of a percentage of the profits.

Upcoming Thornton Creek performances include July 3 at the Latona Pub in Green Lake and July 31 at the Old Town Ale House in Ballard. They can be reached on the Web at www.wolfenet.com//~thornton.

Attention, North Seattle bands! For consideration to be featured in an upcoming installment of Jason's Eye on Music, send your CDs and/or tapes to: Jason Trachtenburg, c/o The Jet City Maven, 12345 30th Ave. NE, Ste. H-I, Seattle, 98125.