On his latest CD,
There's No Love in This War,
the Gunshy refers to letters his grandpa wrote from the battlefront during World War II to a girl back home in Pennsylvania. And with titles like "Jule, I'm Not Ready to Die" and "I Shot a Man," the songs speak for themselves about the harsh reality of wartime. "These songs are his, though they may not do him justice," says the raspy-voiced Gunshy, aka Matt Arbogast. "I've never fought in a war and hope to always be able to say that." Now on his 19th cross-country tour, he swaps stage time tonight in Cleveland with fellow rockers Coffinberry, the Luxury Flats, and Joe Anderl. But if the Gunshy had his way, he'd be more at home in, well, your home — where his musical storytelling can be better appreciated. "It's sad and frustrating that the most popular form of art is so often restricted to those of drinking age," says Arbogast. "I drink plenty, but would prefer to play a living room of 10 people listening to songs than a bar of hundreds too drunk to listen." The Gunshy takes the stage at 9 tonight at the Beachland Tavern, 15711 Waterloo Road. Tickets are $6. Call 216-383-1124 or visit
www.beachlandballroom.com.
Fri., March 21, 9 p.m., 2008
