Three solo artists singing and performing this weekend in Orlando look to provide a heartfelt splash of counter-programming to the flurry of Gay Days activities sweeping Orlando this weekend.
Tom Goss, Randal Branham and Richard Cortez all use their voices and instruments”behave!”to connect with gay audiences through the authenticity of their lives and their intimate musical approach. They arrive at the Gibson Showroom on Friday, June 1 with a 7 p.m. show.
“It's not like my lyrics are about being gay in the sense like “ooh I'm in love with a man, I'm in love with a man!'” says Goss, taking the stage Friday with his acoustic guitar at The Gibson Showroom preceded by keys player Branham from Orlando and guitarist Richard Cortez from Fort Lauderdale.
“I am a gay man, a musician and I when I write love songs they happen to be about a man and I am married to a man, a bear, and I'm really comfortable with that,” says Goss, who's songs have been featured on television and in films.
When driving a Subaru Forester to 50 performances just this tour alone in ways creates a gay musical ambassador.
“I'm often having conversations about that as I tour a lot of small towns in the Midwest and deep south,” Goss says. “They know I'm singing about a man and that's comforting for a lot of people. That living an open, honest real love between two people of the same gender might be an attainable thing to them. Someone singing openly and honestly about their husband is refreshing.”
While Goss realizes his role as being an out symbol for gay men, Richard Cortez from Ft. Lauderdale is relishing the diminishing role he's playing in that category.
“I've always stepped up and spoken my mind before because there was such an overwhelming need for musicians who were gay to be out “¦” said Cortez, who manages to weave blue humor with red-blooded emotionalism.
“Of course there are still things being accomplished, but I feel like I can focus a little bit more on the musical side of things now. Gay content lyrically doesn't have the shock factor it used to.”
The man who brought the show together is Branham, who previously played at the Gibson Showroom for his latest CD release party.
While Cortez and Goss have played together in the past and will travel through Florida during the coming month, including an upcoming show in Tampa, this is the first time “3 Gay Guys” have taken the stage together.
Owing largely to the musical networking capability of the internet, three are finally play a show together, despite knowing each other for several years.
Both Cortez and Branham had high words of praise for Goss, who's been at the forefront of the LGBT songwriter scene for years.
“Tom Goss is just a gorgeous guy with beautiful songs, and the way he delivers he's just so likeable,” says Branham.
As for the show itself in the heart of Gay Days “¦
“We're going to play to the crowd looking for something different,” Branham says. “It's a great starter for the night. Start here and go to the Typhoon Lagoon party later,” Branham says.
“That's what we're doing.”
More Info:
WHAT: 3 Gay Guys
WHERE: The Gibson Showroom, 25 E. Central Blvd.
WHEN: Friday, June 1, 7 p.m.
TICKETS: $10 in Advance at Facebook.com/3GayGuys, $14 at the door
