Carl Creighton – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Drums
Blake Luley – Electric Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Piano, Drums, Background Vocals



At the feet of songwriter Carl Creighton sits the bearded, severed-head of multi-instrumentalist Blake Luley.

Various anonymous sources say that the story begins in 2010 at a basement in Brooklyn, NY where Minnesota native Creighton and Luley had created a makeshift recording studio for their second collaboration. Over the course of a few months, the duo known as Howth remained in the dark basement channeling the symptoms of cabin fever into a vital collection of songs that would showcase Creighton’s genuine songwriting craft and Luley’s complimentary skill for subtle yet articulate arrangements. Heartbreaking songs of desire, disillusion, and detachment began to take form with Creighton proving to have all of the earnestness and wit usually found in far more seasoned songwriters. Luley added nuance and inspired depth with a sophisticated, subtle everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach.

In that basement they remained until the 11 tracks of Howth’s self-titled debut were completed. On what would be the final night, Creighton and Luley lit the Yahrzeit candle for Creighton’s lost loved one. Moments after drifting off to sleep, the basement studio was engulfed in flames and the building burned to the ground. Carl Creighton successfully escaped with the recordings while the other half of Howth was tragically bitten by the horrors of the fire leaving only a head. Creighton fled the city for the green pastures of Idaho, taking Blake’s head along for good measure.

Howth is indeed a genuine folk pop record unaffected by trends and gimmicks. Deeper than you may originally perceive at the surface, songs such as “Idaho #1,” “Timelessness Square” and “Alexander Hamilton” grow with age with the same qualities that have made the songs of Elliott Smith and Simon & Garfunkle timeless.