PESHTIGO – Cody Diekhoff understands more than anyone the irony of Chicago Farmer singing about the Peshtigo Fire.
“It would be cliche for a guy named Chicago Farmer to write a song about the Great Chicago Fire. So, I wrote a song about the Peshtigo fire,” Diekhoff remarked about “Peshtigo,” one of his recent singles.
Performing under the name Chicago Farmer, Diekhoff hails from the small town Delevan, Ill. As the grandson of farmers, Diekhoff’s midwestern roots have grown with him from his days of bailing hay to afford a guitar through performing on stage with the likes of blues singer Todd Snider.
Like many, Diekhoff knew of the Great Chicago Fire, which was brought to the forefront of his mind during a more recent devastation.
“This venue in Chicago caught fire, so we had a little benefit for the venue and a lot of people were talking about the Chicago fire. So, I kinda dug into that a little bit and then I came across the Peshtigo fire,” Diekhoff said.
He continued, “I had heard of Peshtigo before because I remember driving by it on my way to the [Upper Peninsula] a few times to play musical festivals, but I had no idea that this fire ever even happened.”
As he began researching more about this overlooked tragedy, he found that “it seemed like a piece of history that’s often overlooked.”
“It kind of scared me, but it also intrigued me,” Diekhoff added.
Turning away from the books and putting his own pen to paper, Diekhoff found that the song came to him quickly.
The inspiration he found from first-hand accounts served to shape the song, “The Devil’s on the loose in Peshtigo, ridin’ into town on the wind / Got em’ shaking in their boots and their halos, burning the candle at both ends.”
“Peshtigo” also adds a personal narrative aspect, kicking off the chorus with, “I’m on fire and I close my eyes, standing in the field in the pain / My baby’s over at the Peshtigo mill, praying like hell for the rain.”
The lyrics weren’t the only things Diekhoff drew from his midwestern background. He also brought in his long term love of grunge and passion for folk music, taking inspiration from Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie and more.
“I think as long as there’s a story in there that has something to say, it doesn’t really matter what the genre or the sound is like. It’s just whatever best tells the story,” he explained.
Diekhoff blends this artistic approach with the musicians who make up the Fieldnotes, including: Charlie Harris, bass guitar; Cody Jensen, keys and BGVs; Jaik Willis, electric guitars and BGVs; and Frank Kurtz, drums and percussion.
“I’m very proud that none of these songs sound the same. I’m kind of proud to still keep my roots and the storytelling in the songs, but I’ve also expanded a lot. I’ve got a band now. So instead of just me and my guitar, we’ve got a whole band to kind of put the poetry even further in motion,” he shared.
Together, Chicago Farmer and the Fieldnotes collaborated to create the album “Homeaid,” which features “Peshtigo” and other singles like “Great River Road” — both of which can be streamed ahead of the album’s official release on March 6.
The band will be bringing this album across the midwest this March, including a performance in Appleton on Thursday, March 12.
Diekhoff doesn’t just hope to bring “Homeaid” and the story of Peshtigo around the country, but to inspire those who share similar origins and hopes for artistic endeavors.
“There’s the old excuse of being in a small town, there’s nothing to do. Really, there’s plenty to do… so, find that creative spark.”
For more information about Chicago Farmer, their upcoming tour and music, visit https://chicagofarmer.com/home.
“Peshtigo” is currently available on a variety of music streaming platforms.
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