Tom Goss returns to D.C. for a one-night only concert
L.A. musician Tom Goss returns to D.C. for a one-night concert celebrating his life's journey as a gay man
“I’m so excited to be back in D.C. and see all of the people who have helped me become the man I am,” says Tom Goss. The singer-songwriter spent more than a decade of his life in the District before heading out to L.A. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the D.C. community that supported me from the outset.”
Goss returns to the area for one night, with a show at College Park’s MilkBoy Arthouse, where he will perform hits from his seven albums, as well as songs from his upcoming album, to be released next winter.
Goss earned a cult following through viral music videos like “Lover,” “Make Believe,” and “Bears,” an ode to D.C.’s blossoming bear community. He’s known for mixing music with his own life experiences in his live shows, drawing on his journey from from college wrestler to Catholic seminarian to openly gay entertainer.
“It’s more of a cabaret show,” he says. “There’s a lot of storytelling that’s interwoven with the songs. I think my personal story is a really important part of this show. It really creates a powerful experience for listeners, in terms of connecting with me as a performer and understanding where I come from, what I write about, what I’m passionate about.”
Goss will be performing a few politically-tinged songs, including “Have We Had Enough?,” written in response to the mass shooting in Las Vegas, “Mama,” a song reacting to the election of Donald Trump, and “Gay Christmas,” which the Wisconsin native wrote after spending Christmas with his Trump-supporting relatives and reflects on the feelings of isolation and estrangement many LGBTQ people experience when they return to their childhood homes.
“I don’t consider myself political,” he says. “I consider myself a storyteller who’s telling stories from a specific perspective. I’m speaking from the heart. But I do think those songs definitely touch a political nerve.”
Tom Goss performs Saturday, Aug. 4, at 8 p.m. at MilkBoy ArtHouse, 7416 Baltimore Ave. in College Park, Md. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Opening sets by D.C.-based singer-songwriters Emily Henry and Hayley Fahey. Must be 18 to enter. Tickets are $12. Visit milkboyarthouse.ticketfly.com.
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