Simeon Peebler

This week I had two gigs in Chicago, and I had planned on playing a song I wrote in February about drone strikes called "Executive Order" -- but on Monday that all changed in an instant. I realized that my song was a bit graphic and the imagery it conveys was too close to what had just happened in Boston on that day, April 15th, when two brothers deployed terrible bombs at the finish line at the marathon. 

In trying figure out what I was going to play in its place, I ended up writing down lyrics on Monday night to a song I wrote called "Brave in Boston" -- I ended up using some simple music, and played the first version of it the next day in Chicago at Uncommon Ground on Clark as part of the Chicago Songwriter Alliance.

Let's catch up!

As a songwriter I immediately felt challenged to respond to the difficult news that came out of Connecticut last week. Almost everyone I know had some sort of reaction to the terrible story and its aftermath which will haunt us all for some time. I wrote some music and lyrics that I am going to sit on a little while longer, but my new song "Healing Hearts" might be an appropriate song to share in the meantime.

What a journey this has been!

I decided in early 2011 that I would write songs and make an album. Since then I have released two albums and performed at venues throughout Chicago, had radio airplay, attended Folk Alliance conferences, and am continuing to write almost daily. I've made lots of new music friends who are among the smartest and most genuine people I've met. I aimed high, threw myself into the fire, and ended up doing things never imagined I would have the courage to do -- conquering fears, or at least facing them. A level of courage I truly didn't know I had.

Check out this holiday song, "Cold Zoo Winter"!

Upcoming musical adventures...

I'm really excited to share this news...at the end of November I will be recording a podcast with Chicago Acoustic Underground! Check out http://www.chicagoacoustic.net to hear scores upon scores of amazing episodes helmed by Michael Teach. So many musicians and songwriters I admire and respect -- many of them have become very supportive musical friends -- have been on Michael's podcasts or have been a part of his label CAUDog Records.

In December I will be performing at the Chicago Fine Arts Building "A Night at the Fine Arts" -- I'll be one of many performers during the evening, but I play at 6:00 pm. Dec. 14th. 410 South Michigan Ave. http://www.nightatthefab.com/

I'll be performing at "Folk You!" on Friday, January 18th. 8:00pm at the Horseshoe in Chicago. 4115 N. Lincoln Ave.

Here's the latest on my musical adventures, and some thoughts about what's ahead!

Thanks to the most excellent Chicago composer and performer Kyle Greer (his website is http://www.kylegreerrocks.com), you can now get some music from my new album as sheet music!

Kyle's interpretation and production is excellent, and I hope to get several of the songs from my new album Missing Anchor arranged by Kyle in the weeks to come. While this comes as a part of the album (as a bonus item), please feel free to download the sheet music for "I Will Not Leave" here:

I_Will_Not_Leave_Piano.pdf

...Now that I have posted this music, I would love to hear your own version of this song! Please use the contact form on this site to let me know if you've done a version of any of this one or any of my songs and I'll be glad to share them.

Pre-order the new album starting NOW! Get the track "I Will Not Leave" now as part of the purchase. This first song available from the new album is all about the Occupy Wall Street movement. It was inspired by those protests that now celebrate its first year anniversary. The full album will be available in late October.

 I wanted to share with you what the cover is looking like these days! ...

Hey, check out this working track list for my new album! As many of you know, I'm busy working on my second album "Missing Anchor" (release date TBA!) -- Last week I played with a stellar Chicago-based drummer, Andrew Sole, to give seven of these songs a heartbeat I could never give them on my own. This week and next week I'm doing some more tracking to put the finishing touches on these songs, and then we'll start the process of getting them mastered and prepare them to go out into the world. I'm doing all the work at Handwritten Recording in Chicago under the supervision of studio owner and sound engineer Jedi, Rick Riggs.

I've been spending time trying to really pinpoint how to describe my music and really think about what it means when I use genre labels. In analyzing what I like to write and what I like to record and perform, I think I've got the answer. 

Well, the next chapter begins! I released my last album, Follow the River Bend, in November of 2011. And here we are at the start of summer in 2012 and I'm getting in gear to record my second album, Missing Anchor. I'll be doing the recording with Rick Riggs at Handwritten Recording in Chicago, but this time around I have six musicians (more about them later!) who will be assisting at various points along the way for a fuller and more complete sound as we record this summer.

Ready for an early listen to two of the tracks? I just performed the first one at the First Friday Songwriter Group at Old Town School of Folk Music on Friday, June 1, and had some feedback which will likely lead to a title change, but here's a VERY EARLY demo version of this song...(follow the link to play the song!)

http://soundcloud.com/simeonpeebler/stand-your-ground-demo

Here's another!

http://soundcloud.com/simeonpeebler/what-remains-demo

Lot's more to come. Thanks for your interest and support and encouragement along the way! I'm writing a lot of new music and I can't wait to share it with you this year! Please join the mailing list (on the right part of the this page), follow @SimeonPeebler on twitter, or visit my official facebook page. You can also find me on ReverbNation.

Best,

Simeon

Hello friends!

Monday night, May 14th, I will be playing at Silvie's Lounge in Chicago. I'll be playing at 9:00 pm (9:10 to be more precise), and it would be great if you could come by! I'll be playing some new music (written this week!) and some Simeon Peebler classics...from last year.

I recently recorded a song I wrote during February Album Writing Month called "Twenty Lifeboats" -- 2012 is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and although thousands of songs have been written about the disaster, I decided to do my take on the tragedy by focusing on the numbers. My research culminated in this simple song.

You can get the song on iTunes or through Bandcamp! Thanks for your interest and please share it with friends.

or get it here:

I attended the Folk Alliance Midwest Region (FARM) one-day conference in Fayette, Ohio this past weekend. It was called FARMette. Usually the regional Folk Alliance conferences last a few days and accommodate a sizeable crowd. FARMette was a one-day event (held on Saturday April 28th, 2012) that handled a smaller group of musicians and music professionals from all over this part of the country.

I'm interested in doing all kinds of writing and songwriting. While I am focused on writing short-form music at the moment, I thought it would be a great challenge to write the script for an opera after I noticed Neil Gaiman Tweet about this project where people submit opera scripts for consideration. Learn more at: http://www.minioperas.org/ Here's my working script for the challenge! 

Last night I attended the first Open Mic Night at El's Kitchen in Chicago hosted by Leigh Evin McCullough. I walked into the door with my Breedlove on my shoulder, signed up to play and ended up going third.

Tonight (March 26th, 2012) I have a show at Silvie's Lounge -- music starts at 8 pm, but I'll be playing a short set sometime after nine. This is a busy music week for me...on Sunday, April 1st, I am doing another show at the Elbo Lounge where I'll be performing with seven other musicians (Chris Quigley, David Kav, Dawn Xiana Moon, Jeff Brown, Kyle Greer, Shelley Miller, Dan Clingman!) and playing some of our best work from songs written during the 2012 February Album Writing Month (http://www.fawm.org).

While I was doing the FAWM thing I noticed somebody mention on fawm.org that they were doing some songs for something called Sing Me A Story. It turns out that a former Chicago musician (Austin Atteberry) who moved to Nashville started this cool non-profit organization that matches kids in need who write down and draw stories, to songwriters who then craft some music for them. I HAD to jump in and try that! It just sounded cool.

Here's the latest! I recently played a show at the Elbo Room in Chicago, on 2/12/2012, and had a great time! The room was crowded and the crowd was appreciative. The metal band downstairs was an interesting challenge to overcome, but frankly it wasn't all that terrible. Coming up in March, 3/26/2012, I will be playing at Silvie's Lounge in Chicago as part of the regular "Acoustic Explosion" (thanks for the heads up to fellow musician Peggy Walker, who I met while taking a class last year at the Old Town School of Folk Music). That should be a fun time for sure. 

One week from today in Chicago, on Thursday January 26th, 2012 come by the Heartland Cafe up in Rogers Park! -- I will be playing a set as part of the Chicago Songsalive! Showcase. Music begins at 8 pm (there are several great performers excited to kick out the jams that night, so if you come by please help support ALL the songwriters who are playing!). There is a $5 suggested fee at the door. I will be playing music from my album Follow the River Bend and some new tunes as well that night!

I played two new songs last night at the Hidden Shamrock in Chicago (at an open mic night held there every Wednesday -- I've been there three times now in the last two months and I've learned a lot each time I played there!). I'm making some tweaks on them for my show at the Heartland Cafe. One is called "I Can Do This" and another is called "Abraham" (it's a song about Abraham Lincoln). 

Please take a moment to join the mailing list to make sure you get all my updates and information about new music adventures I am undertaking in 2012!

...Since I have a show coming up on President Lincoln's birthday, I decided to challenge myself to write a song about the man. He is considered one of the greatest leaders of the United States -- and with great reason...

Please join me on Thursday evening, January 26th, 2012, starting at 8 PM at the Heartland Cafe, to hear three singer-songwriters perform sets as part of the Chicago Songsalive! Showcase. The lineup also includes Susan Picking and other talented performers. $5 at the door.

I need help promoting my independent music. Can you give me a hand? Here's how you can help out! 

...Join my mailing list

...Mention the music, this site, or one of my upcoming shows on twitter and include my twitter address @SimeonPeebler

...Share my website on your Facebook or Google+ status (http://www.simeonpeebler.com)

...Listen to my music on Spotify and share that on your social outlets (search for Simeon Peebler or Follow the River Bend)

...Tell one friend about my music and direct them to http://www.simeonpeebler.com

...Like me on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/SimeonPeebler  

...Review my album, Follow the River Bend, on your blog/site/status update

Last night I performed three songs at the Open Mic Night at the long-lived, wonderful bar in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood called the Hidden Shamrock (http://www.thehiddenshamrock.com/).

The open mic was completely packed -- with regulars and fellow students from a class I just took at the Old Town School of Folk Music called Open Stage 101. We had a blast, drank, ate, sang, and applauded each other through a wide variety of great tunes -- covers and original alike. I played two songs from my new album Follow the River Bend plus a new one I've been working on for a few weeks, but not before listening to my great new friends from Old Town -- Keith, Sheila, Peggy and Paula totally kicked out the jams, and everyone was smiling all night long.

The open mic at the Hidden Shamrock is hosted by Chicago musicians Leigh Evin McCullough and Scott Besaw. All evening they energetically and enthusiastically set each performer in motion and provided the ideal audio levels to best capture the qualities of each performer. I highly recommend attending and performing there!

A few weeks ago I reached a critical milestone as an "Artist". I released 30+ minutes of original music in the form of a ten track album called Follow the River Bend. I believe that I somehow managed to create something raw, acoustic, authentic, and worth listening to in its entirety. Despite its imperfections, I think the album stands quite well on its own two feet as a first effort. As I breathe a sigh of relief -- that I actually went through with it, and added my own songwriting and tunes to the modern continuum of music -- the inevitable question is...what next?

I immediately found myself craving the goal of making new music (and as a result I picked up a mandolin and ukelele so that I can have different tools to use to write more songs!). Of course, I don't want to abandon the baby I've put out on the street, so in addition to writing new music, I am wanting to promote Follow the River Bend to the world in every way possible. I'm also taking a class on performance called Open stage 101 at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago to help me better able to perform my music live. I've played out before, but this gives me a chance to learn from true masters in Chicago and take that experience out with me "on the road"!

So after releasing the album, I'm not sitting down and listening to my album every moment just to experience a great sense of accomplishment. Rather, it is better to say that I'm feeling like I have just started to climb a very tall mountain.

When I started this musical journey in earnest, I had no ambitions for my work. I just loved the process of writing and wanted to eagerly learn how to record and ultimately learn how to get something I made out into the world for people to easily get on the Internet. I put a little bit of my soul and spirit into each song, and I have no problems saying that this music is part of how I communicate with the world. But the journey, and process of writing, performing, promoting, recording, is such a challenge and the process of doing it brings such fulfillment, that I realize that the mountain I am climbing doesn't really have a top. It has nothing to do with success. Success is inherently committing and doing it each and every day in some small way.

So the question, "What's next?", can be partially answered by the fact that I can remove the quotes around the word Artist when I refer to myself. That feels great.

Thanks for your support and encouragement! Perhaps I have a holiday single in the works!?!?! :) Yes I do!

Stream Follow the River Bend here: http://simeonpeebler.bandcamp.com

"Follow the River Bend" represents a year of songwriting for me. This year from one end to the other, I wrote music and words almost daily. I learned how to play guitar a bit better than I did before. I took songwriting classes as Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music (with instructor and extraordinary songwriter Shelley Miller). I went to a great recording studio (Handwritten Recording) and played and sang, and played some more.

I've been watching with great interest the Occupy Wall Street movement. I've been irked in particular by the "media" coverage I have not seen, which contrasts with the quite newsworthy activities unfolding through the eyes of YouTube postings, and grassroots Tweetcasting through social media. The spirit of these Occupations seems to be peaceful, but aggressive. That aggression -- and courage -- is very inspiring.

Here's my take: In the United States, our system of term limits and political service, which was intended to bring about peaceful, regular revolution, has dramatically changed in recent years. The act of voting for some positions has become more of a corporate game of cards behind the scenes. At this time, at this moment, coming out of a very low place emotionally, a group of common people have determined that through action, and courage, they can make a difference -- as long as they don't give up, they don't go home, and they don't walk away.

As a songwriter, I wanted to honor that spirit. I spent a few hours on Saturday October 15th creating a song called "I Will Not Leave".

Here's the deal. I'm getting really close to wrapping up the production of my album "Follow the River Bend" (...release date: 11/1/2011!).

I've learned a lot more about recording music in the last two months since I've been doing regular visits to Handwritten Recording Studios in Chicago to get the album recorded. Working with Rick Riggs (sound engineer and studio co-owner who has helped record over 85 albums there!) has been a huge help in me achieving my goal of producing an album this year because of his great enthusiasm and expertise in the studio. In looking back, I can summarize our strategy and one of the things we did from the start was decide that we were just going to be authentic as possible. Essentially, we would do this: embrace imperfection. 

This was a handy strategy because I am a passable guitar strummer-person, a fairly inexperienced vocalist, and an untested songwriter. Rather than worry about being perfect, and having a recording that was "ready for radio", I needed to face reality. That kind of music is exactly the opposite of the spirit of what I wanted to do. I wanted to take some of my songs and render decent versions of them for me to get out into the world. I had no plan to redefine the speed of light, but rather, take music I had written throughout the year and make it into something I could share with people.

At the studio, every time we started a new song, that was the most anxious moment. On a few occasions we stepped away from something that wasn't working, but it really helped that I was prepared and somewhat rehearsed. So when it came to laying down the first track -- let's say just plain ole guitar -- I didn't strive for perfect. We did several takes, of course, but all in all, we embraced the imperfections of the moment. The buzz in the strings (due to my playing). The momentary timing issues here and there. My singing perhaps not quite timed right at the end of a line. All kept. Not looked at as disaster, but as opportunity. Not something to necessarily be fixed using software. Rick's first-class work with microphones, wiring, studio sound proofing -- and wizardry with digital audio workstation software -- allowed us to quickly move through songs and embrace the writing, or at least the attempt to do something completely human, completely authentic -- and spiritually, my music. 

"Follow the River Bend" will be released on November 1, 2011.

In August and September of this year I spent some time getting some of my new music recorded, and I am very excited to share this great news...My ten track album called "Follow the River Bend" will be released on November 1, 2011 (11/1/11). A more formal news release will be forthcoming with more details. Thanks for your continued support and interest!

I will be performing at the Songsalive! Chicago Songwriters Showcase at the Heartland Cafe (www.heartlandcafe.com) on September 22nd, 2011 at 8:00 PM. I will perform a 45 minute set alongside some other really talented musicians. I am in the middle of working on a new album, so I will have a chance to play almost all of the songs from that project!

Let me know if you are coming by that night (there's a $5 suggested donation at the door) -- the Heartland Cafe is a gem in Chicago and is in the heart of Rogers Park. They have a really great menu and the venue is nice for just relaxing and enjoying live music.

Find more information at http://www.songsalive.org/ and http://www.heartlandcafe.com and of course http://www.simeonpeebler.com.

This year, 2011, has been the year of songwriting for me. Despite a crazy life, and busy work, I managed to get out over two dozen songs during those "in-between" moments we all have throughout the week. I've figured out a few things that are helping me write more music than I ever have before, and I thought this would be worthwhile to share on the site, especially if you are interested in the process another artist uses. I'm sure it will evolve over time, but this is what works for me now and it has become a habit. ...

The truth is that I write music because the it's the cheapest form of therapy out there. Well, if you start buying really expensive instruments, perhaps not. But really, when it comes down to exploring your own reaction to what is going on in your life and in the world, writing music and playing it is quite a release.

I also write music because I think it is a great creative challenge. Like real mountain climbing can be -- you have to be fearless on some levels and just get it out there. Thankfully, I don't spend much time worrying about what people think or will think about my songs. This came in handy because recently I spent time at a songwriting class at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music where the other participants were really accomplished professional or semi-pro musicians and had excellent skills with a 6-string and killer voices to boot. Even in that company, every week I showed up with a new song and played what I had using my own special brand of awesome. What I learned, above most anything else in those workshops, is to not be afraid of just putting it out there. I should also note that while I don't spend much time worrying about what other people think, I do care if I get critical remarks, suggestions, changes, or ideas from my audience, because in general, that can only help improve what I'm doing.