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Matt Arbogast has that barroom growl that only belongs in a saloon, a combination of heavy-dosage cigarettes, whiskey and a lot of Tom Waits records. Couple this with his aggressive play of the acoustic guitar, and you got yourself a hero. On “There’s No Love in this War,” Arbogast’s newest, the songwriter interprets the letters of family member Paul Arbogast, those he sent to his love while he fought in WWII oversees. It’s chilling, the nature of these themes, documented by Arbogast’s voice. The Gunshy’s literary-rock has always been moving and intelligent on the surface, but never like this. There were seventeen letters. There are seventeen songs. Each are dated, beginning May 14, 1943, ending October 11, 1945. “Julie, I’m Not Ready to Die,” “I Shot a Man” and “The Armchair Advisors” are a few titles. I won’t tell you how this ends. Arbogast’s made another very good record, one that stands up to his previous solid efforts like “To Remember/To Forget” and “Souls.” (Tom Lynch)
Saturday, October 13 at Ronny’s Bar
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