Meet Peter Wile of Hanover, PA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Wile.

Hi Peter, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up in an almost non-existent town in Lake County Ohio, we rented VHS tapes from the gas station and bought our groceries, cassette tapes, and cold pops at the family-owned market store. I got my first harmonica at the age of 6 with my parents’ advice of “you might need this one day.” Music was mainly supplied by the radio and road trips with the car cassette deck. It wasn’t until my father drove out to Cleveland and brought back a stack of CDs for our newly purchased stereo that I really started to fall in love with music, albums, artwork, liner notes, and the entire culture of bands and songwriters.

My family moved to Carroll County Maryland and I took my guitar and harmonica to Baltimore. Through playing barrooms and various stages, I formed the alt-country band The Herd of Main Street. We released 5 albums and made a significant impact on the local music scene with strong support from local FM radio. When that group went on hiatus, I wound up near York, PA and helped to form the blues/rock band Copper Bets. We released one album and went on to win a Central Pennsylvania Music Award in 2022 which was incredibly special since our plans and recordings were drastically changed during the chaotic confusion of the 2020 pandemic restrictions.
In 2023 I released my first solo album, “Steam Show” followed by a live EP “By a Thread” in 2024. Through the writing, recording, and performing of these recent solo projects, I have been able to help build upon a very meaningful musical community in the Gettysburg, PA area; meeting new folks and reconnecting with those from previous projects.

I continue to go crate digging for used LPs and build upon my always growing record collection. I am currently working on a new recording project and busy playing shows under my own name or with other bands in the area looking to hire a harmonica player. Afterall, I still need that harmonica just as my folks predicted I would.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Is anything a “smooth road”? I think if performing and sharing my music was a “smooth road” then it wouldn’t feel as important or as meaningful as it does to me today. It’s the struggle or the rough patch that makes you question yourself and your motives…”I’m playing to a room of twelve people that didn’t know there was live music tonight while they eat their dinner…why am I doing this?” And then you make that connection with somebody listening or you make a connection with your bandmate or you just dig up self-confidence that you forgot was inside of you.
I think for songwriting that is also true. Without struggle, how can we create and share a story of conflict or triumph, joy or sadness, strength or weakness? When my mother died and then my sister died just 5 years later, it was music and the community of folks that came with it that truly helped me. Getting lost in a performance on stage or finding the right words to share in a song as I grieved and mourned my family’s loss became strangely satisfying at a time when I needed help the most.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. I am heavily influenced by blues, roots, folk, honkytonk, and Americana music. I take pride in my dedication to creating and performing original music for audiences rather than relying on cover tunes to fill the time. Storytelling is a large part of my performance and I always try to share an experience or sidenote that might bring the listening audience closer into the material. Whether alone with just harmonica and guitar or leading a full band, I put my entire self into every song.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I host a weekly open mic / jam session at a neighborhood bar that invites players of all sorts to share their talents. Some of my favorite musical moments and favorite people come directly from those weekly sessions. Online networking is one thing, but to actually make music with new folks live and on-the-spot, week after week, while sharing gig stories and swapping venue recommendations…that’s unmatched when building a supportive music scene.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterwilemck/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeterWileMusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@peterwilemusic
• Soundcloud: https://peterwile.bandcamp.com/
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4maiPw2oTZZ7c9Rh3G7j9B?si=OEpfeFCNSxq32eOAW0Dx0A