With its speakeasy-in-the-backwoods kinda vibe, the Barking Spider should make a perfect home tonight for Matt Harmon. With only a guitar, the 33-year-old singer-songwriter takes over the joint to strum tunes from his debut 10-song album, Wondering Why. The title track even has him musing about the world to, of all things, his mutt. "It's just a dude trying to explain what the meaning of life is. Which is an interesting topic, since we all just recycle the same notions. So it's nice to try and throw something different into it," says Harmon. "In this case, it turned out the guy is just talking to his damn dog." A sound engineer by day for Tri-C's Corporate College system, Harmon will also perform covers of Paul Simon, Randy Newman, and Tom Petty songs in his driving rhythm-and-bluegrass style. "As I've been playing more and more, the songs all seem to flow," says Harmon. "It's not too loosey-goosey." Harmon takes the mic at 8:30 tonight at the Barking Spider, 11310 Juniper Road. Admission is free. Call 216-421-2863 or visit www.barkingspidertavern.com.
Thu., March 27, 8:30 p.m., 2008
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