All By Himself

After Jeff Guhde plays songs from his debut CD tonight, he'll pass around a hat to collect tips, as is customary at the Barking Spider. "They don't guarantee you any money, but you always walk away with a pretty good amount," says the 25-year-old Cleveland Institute of Art grad. "And it's a great way to build an audience."

An accomplished sculptor, Guhde began writing folk music after returning from a study-abroad program in Ireland a couple years ago. There, he played guitar and harmonica in a small-town pub with guitarist Robin Turner. "He would ask the bar if there were any other singers who would like to perform," recalls Guhde. "I got into that with a little peer pressure." Back home, he solos in coffeehouses and small clubs. He wouldn't have it any other way, he says. "You can take yourself a lot of places that a whole band generally can't go. You're seen as being more adaptable and maneuverable when you're solo. That opens a lot of doors."
Wed., July 26, 8:30 p.m.