We haven’t come across too many mathematics Ph.D’s who can also strum a harp, but Oregon native with Iowa roots Dave Plaehn is a man as unique as his blues/R&B sound, crafting some really great collections over the last 30 years. His blend, described as “blues/R&B orientation with a pop bent” has evolved since his first record in 1981 (Smokin) and its follow-up, Mouth Full of Blues.
He followed 
up some of his solo work by teaming up with Jeff Hino in 1990, producing more blues tunes with releases like On Your Bond in 1996 and Can’t Get My Rest in 2002 Today, we’re here to talk about Plaehn’s latest collections, Amos Got Soul and CrazyMan. Dave told us all about it: “Amos Got Soul and my previous release, CrazyMan, fall in the ‘mining the past’ category…While CrazyMan was more blues oriented, Amos is more random, more stylistically diverse…The phrase “Amos got soul” just happened. While it may seem nonsensical or unrelated it meant something to me. What that something is, is perhaps hard to define but revolves around ones notion of having ‘soul’. What it means to me is the development of character through experience. Striving to be a good person.”
Plaehn will be busy making plenty of new records on his own, with Hino, and with others. Keep an eye out and stay up to date by clicking to http://www.plaehnmusic.com/ for more details on everything Dave Plaehn. There’s still much, much more to get into, so read on for all the answers to the XXQs below.
XXQs: Dave Plaehn
PensEyeView.com (PEV): How would you describe your sound and what makes you stand out from others in your genre?
Dave Plaehn (DP): I have a blues/R&B orientation with a pop bent or I have a pop orientation with a blues/R&B bent. My lyrics may set me apart. I think I’ve written some good, memorable lyrics, typically contemplative/reflective.
PEV: Calling Oregon home, what kind of music were you into growing up? Do you remember your first concert?
DP: I grew up in Iowa in the 50s and 60s. My parents listened to classical music as well as popular music. My mother tended towards jazz vocalists such as Sarah Vaughn while my father listened to Mario Lanza. He sang like Mario Lanza as well. I liked Ricky Nelson early on and learned some of his songs. Later I listened to and liked the Beatles, Stones, Dylan, Donovan, Joni Mitchell, etc…I joined a band in high school – we played Stones, some Beatles, the Who, Donovan, Cream, Jimi Hendrix…My first concert may have been the Who opening for Herman’s Hermits, Minneapolis.
PEV: What was it like trying to break into the music scene when you first started out? What was your first show like?
DP: It seems we didn’t have that much trouble getting work. We played high school events and in small towns around us. We also played from time to time at a local pizza place. We were a popular band in our class. I don’t recall our first show.
PEV: What can fans expect from a live Dave Plaehn show?
DP: Most of what I do live these days is blues with some spirituals and folk thrown in for good measure. I perform mostly with slide guitarist, Jeff Hino, as a duo. Occasionally we’ll add bass and drums and, possibly, another guitarist. I also play as a sideman with Creighton Lindsay. While I was once more known for my vocals, nowadays I’m more known as a harp player.
PEV: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you step on stage to perform?
DP: Nothing comes to mind.
PEV: What is the best part about being on stage in front of an audience?
DP: When I give an inspired harp or vocal performance. The latter can be more powerful when the band and the audience are in sync and a lot of energy is flowing both ways.
PEV: What is the underlining inspiration for your music?
DP: Often it is pain or loss as in difficulties with a woman friend. I look at songs as coping mechanisms, a way of processing or transforming pain.
PEV: Thinking back to when you first started out, do you ever look back on your career and think about your earlier days and how you’ve arrived where you are today?
DP: Not so much. I do think back, for example, when I’m working on re-recording older material or when some of my older releases get some attention. I generally don’t get nostalgic if that’s what you’re referring to. I tend not to think in terms of time lines, chain of events.
PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about you?
DP: I have a Ph. D. in mathematics.
PEV: What do you do when you hit a brick wall in your writing? What are some methods to get over that?
DP: If I feel I’m onto something important but I can’t quite see it, I keep working, struggling. If I don’t arrive at a satisfactory place, I may let it go. If the song or theme is important it might “tap me on the shoulder” at some later time and I might find the lyric/part I was looking for.
PEV: How do you think the industry has changed over the years, since you started out or just started enjoying music?
DP: The industry has changed dramatically. Sound was “fixed” in vinyl or reel to reel tape when I started. Then there were cassettes and 8 track tapes. These were supplanted by CDs. Now the latter are being supplanted by other digital media. Of course vinyl still has a following but it is small. Another major change is the accessibility of high quality recording gear and the subsequent explosion of the number of independent artists and labels. The major labels have declined in influence/reach. Music is in some ways more democratic. With the large quantity of material and the advent of the internet and social media, the rules of the game have changed. I find it much harder to navigate the new waters/much harder to get heard.
PEV: What can fans expect from your latest release, Amos Got Soul? What was the writing process like for this album? What is the story behind the name of the album?
DP: Amos Got Soul and my previous release, CrazyMan, fall in the “mining the past” category. I’ve written many songs and am picking some of the better ones to re-record and sometimes re-imagine. While CrazyMan was more blues oriented, “Amos” is more random, more stylistically diverse. Potpourri. The song “Amos Got Soul” was one of those songs that wrote itself. Stream of consciousness. The phrase “Amos got soul” just happened. While it may seem nonsensical or unrelated, it meant something to me. What that something is, is perhaps hard to define but revolves around ones notion of having “soul”. What it means to me is the development of character through experience (read “pain and suffering with a dose of joy”). Striving to be a good person.
PEV: With all your traveling, is there one area you wish you could travel around and play that you have not yet?
DP: I don’t travel much anymore and am not much interested in it. That said, the New England states.
PEV: How have all your friends and family reacted to your career?
DP: They’re been mostly encouraging and supportive for which I’m grateful.
PEV: What can we find you doing in your spare time, aside from playing/writing music?
DP: I have a job as a mathematician/statistician and programmer.
PEV: Name one present and past artist or group that would be your dream collaboration. Why?
DP: Stevie Wonder and Joni Mitchell are two of my favorite artists. The thought of collaborating with them is perhaps too daunting. The “why” part I think is obvious. Someone more present, John Mayer. Like his melodies, bluesy slant.
PEV: Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?
DP: I’m not up to date on new artists – can’t help you with that one.
PEV: If playing music wasn’t your life (or life’s goal), what would you do for a career?
DP: As hinted at above, I might have gotten more into mathematics in terms of research. And poetry.
PEV: So, what is next for Dave Plaehn?
DP: My next goal is to finish a recording project started in the 80s. There are 8 songs in various stages of completion. Also, as part of the latter I plan to include some previously unreleased recordings. After that I have a couple more projects in mind: another mostly acoustic blues album with Jeff Hino and another record of all originals. Also, hopefully soon, a retrospective album for The Roots Band (not the current one) is to be released. I played with Roots in the 70s. We had 3 strong writers and played a variety of material though we were mostly known as a reggae band.