Bio
Dave Plaehn and Jeff Hino
have been performing their own distinct blend of acoustic blues, folk,
and original material since 1990. Plaehn and Hino explore the uncluttered
powerful interplay of blues harmonica, National steel slide guitar, and
vocals in the tradition of bluesmen like Robert Johnson (Dust My Broom)
and Elmore James (Shake Your Money Maker). But a typical Plaehn and Hino
set is an acoustic musical cuisinart, blending traditional blues with
with Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, the high and lonesome sound of a bluegrass
ballad, and original songs written by Plaehn.
Dave Plaehn,
an Iowa boy, grew listening to Sarah Vaughn, Dvorak, and last but not
least, Ricky Nelson. His early years in a high school rock band turned
him onto Minneapolis folk trio Koerner, Ray and Glover, and early blues
artists Robert Johnson and Leadbelly.
Devoting his spare time to songwriting and recording and plugging his
songs, Plaehn released an LP, SMOKIN', in 1981 and, then, an EP, MOUTH
FULL OF BLUES, in 1982, both on his own label, Pilot Records. SMOKIN'
featured all original, mostly pop songs.
In 1984 Dave left Iowa for Oregon, where he continued songwriting and performing with a number of local acts including the regional act, NEAL GLADSTONE & COMPANY.
Jeff Hino's
early musical experiences included run-ins
with piano and a cello, until he discovered the electric guitar. Early
blues influences came from Michael Bloomfield, Clapton, and Dicky Betts.
Tucson Arizona's country rock crowds lured Hino out of rock and into the
high and lonesome bluegrass sound.
In the mid-70's, Hino migrated to the Northwest, where he studied and
experimented with country and city swing on dobro and lap steel. He appeared
in a mouthful of Mid-Willamette Valley incarnations of bluegrass, country-western,
cajun, and hillbilly jazz groups, including the Highwater String Band,
Spontaneous Combustion, The Sophisticado Swing Band, Cow Patty & Pals,
and Waterbound. It's not uncommon for Hino to have five instruments on
stage at one time, including National steel guitar, dobro, acoustic guitar,
lap steel, and 5-string banjo. Meeting Dave Plaehn in the late
80's, Dave and Jeff played their first duo performance together in 1990.
Five years later, the duo recorded their first CD on Nontrivial Records;On
Your Bond, a mix of rural and urban blues, along with a George
Jones classic, Buddy Holly's Not Fade Away, and one of Plaehn's originals.
