Unless you have roots in Michigan, chances are you don't know who Jeff Pianki is. And that's a shame because he's quite the gem of modern folk and deserves more attention than he's getting. But everyone has to start somewhere, right? Pianki, for one, is starting by self-distributing cds and mp3's of his lovely songs and youtube-ing a buzzworthy cover of Fleet Foxes' White Winter Hymnal.
He seems like the archetypal sensitive indie guy - Laid back with a sense of humor and quite proficient with his guitar, how can anyone not be charmed by a gentleman who writes a love letter to the perfect girl he hasn't met but knows is out there?
Playing small venues throughout Michigan, Jeff brought his delicate acoustic songs to Schuba's on the 17th opening up for Dick Prall with his cohorts, JT Royster and Kiersten Holine. Harmonizing on the aforementioned Fleet Foxes cover and three of each parties original songs, Jeff played the adorable Margaret, a love song almost as darling as Josh Ritter's Kathleen, and the dreamy Throwing Coins which was just as evocative as the original recording even without Christie DuPree's otherworldly, lilting vocals backing him up.
It's only a matter of time before more people take note of Pianki's music and he's signed to a Midwest indie label and swept away to a world of non-stop touring and recording. Until that happens, Jeff Pianki remains, more or less, a great buried treasure.
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