Simeon Peebler

Guess what folks...the work continues. Been a while since I posted here, but I'm still making guitar strings rusty and writing new songs in creaky notebooks with the ink that's left in my next to last felt tip pen. 

Heading into the second half of 2021 soon, and I don't have much on this site to show for what I've been up to, but that's kinda what life is like anyhow. When the eulogy comes, and the epitaph is etched, lots will be left on the cutting room floor. And this is a cutting room floor kind of…

Read more

When I started songwriting in earnest and learning how to play guitar, sing, and get on stage, way back in 2011, I had one constant goal: don't suck. As it happens, I've managed to do that from time to time, and have seen constant improvement in my art. But the steam ran out a bit in my engine recently, and it's a struggle to get the cars back on the track. 

Despite improvements to my skills, and some very receptive crowds, I have found myself haunted by the nagging question: why are you doing this?

Of…

Read more

It has been forever since I've posted a blog entry on this site. I have plenty of excuses. I have a very select audience, so it's not like I have requests pouring in.

Anyway, I've been writing a lot this year and doing it more privately than I have in the past. What i mean by that is in years gone by I'd eagerly write a song on Monday, record it on Tuesday, and post it online on Wednesday. That's no way to craft something that is the kind of work I want to be known for. Sure, a few times, here and there…

Read more

Despite my best attempts at turning back time, 2018 proceeds with abandon. I have shows coming up that are going to be highlights of this calendar year.

Just wrapped up writing fourteen new songs in February as part of February Album Writing Month, which is a self-appointed collective of artists around the world who try to write 14 or more songs in February. This year nearly 12,000 songs were written!

In two weeks, on 3/21, I'll be returning to Uncommon Ground (Clark Street location) to be a part of a…

Read more

Earlier this month I released my new album "Fire and Steam" on bandcamp and also made a limited run CD availalable for order. I'd like to walk through the tracks a bit to give more background on the inspiration behind the songs themselves. After making my first two albums way back in 2011 and 2012, I've written dozens and dozens of songs, but I really wanted to collect a set of distinct thoughts and ideas that would work well in tandem. When I sat down with John Abbey at his studio in Chicago to talk…

Read more

Streaming exclusive! Here on my website only you can listen to the entire Fire and Steam album now before the full-album digital Bandcamp.com release on October 2, 2017! So many people to thank for making this possible -- the support of my family (Kirsten, Luke, Doyne and Lynne and all of our furry pals past and present), and the Chicago folk and independent music community in particular: John Abbey, Gerald Dowd, Scott Stevenson, Dave Nelson, Shelley Miller, Rachel Drew, and so many others along the way…

Read more

Well, the it's been a long time since I've updated entries to this blog but it's certainly not a reliable sign of inactivity. I've been writing new songs, doing local shows, traveling, and preparing for my third solo album to finally get out into the world.

This year has been one of great change, but aren't they all? Sure, I'm an outspoken critic of politicians, and continue to be activist in my art, but we certainly have a gold leaf frame to wrap around our current serious complaints. Finding peace and…

Read more

So many exciting adventures in store for 2017; can't wait to tackle the projects I have in mind, and make some traveling dates happen as the year rolls on by! So many songs to record, wondering if this will be a two-album year!?

Right up front, here are the first few shows and dates:

Acoustic Explosion Silvie's Lounge Monday January 9th Doors: 8:00 pm, Headlining Set: 10:30 Folk Alliance International 2017 Feb. 15 - 19th folkconference.org My Private Showcase Schedule for FAI 2017: 1. Wednesday… Read more

It surprises some of my friends that I have not written a song about Edward Snowden. I wrote a song a few years back called "Who Will Tell Us The Truth?" about Chelsea Manning, and after all, here in Snowden is arguably a much bigger whistle blower: why have I been quiet on the Snowden front?

By contrast to Manning's reveal that military operations gone wrong were being buried, Snowden effectively shined a bright light on the inner workings of the secret parts of our government that were not even visible…

Read more