S E N S O RY ST I M U L AT I O N … F O R T H E E Y E S A N D E A R S
ART&CULTURE
EMBRACEMAGAZINE.US
78
New Hard Rock/Heavy Metal band, APEX, made up of two gay musicians and two straight musicians have the fortitude and courage to make waves among local hard rock fans through their bond – a brotherhood, really – that is creating major buzz in the North Central Florida music scene. STO RY BY J O H N SOTO M AYO R
F
PHOTOS BY CONAN SEGREST
orecasted with heavy rain and wind, with high probability of thunderstorms, the weather changed unexpectedly on October 19, 2019 by early afternoon, allowing spectators at Ocala Pride, the largest annual LGBTQ oriented event in Marion County, Fla., to cheer on a new Hard Rock/Heavy Metal band, APEX, as they took center stage. It was only their third performance as a band. Their first performance was at High Dive Bar & Venue in Gainesville on September 25, only a month earlier, followed by Hangar 7 in Lake County on October 12, only days earlier. Ready to rock, the band did just that, earning a new group of fans in the gay community, just as they garnered straight fans in their two previous concerts. To the four bandmates composed of two gay members and two straight members, resonating with a diverse fanbase, bringing Metal to diehard fans and introducing it to new ones, is what they are all about. Based in Gainesville and Ocala, Fla., APEX is composed of vocalist/frontman Caleb Velez-Rager (36), guitarist Andy Gifford (33), drummer Christian Caro (30), and bassist Joseph Harp Jr (29). They are managed by Kyle Boyd (23), who is in a long-term relationship with Harp. They describe their sound as Hard Rock with Progressive Metal Influences. The band started in early 2018 with the hopes of bringing original music to the local area. Having set up a band of four, bonded by shared experiences, diverse musical background, and love of music, combined with an unshakable determination to stay true to their sense of openness
and inclusion, APEX is achieving their goal. Formed as a phoenix rising from the ashes of previously disbanded groups, the members of APEX are keenly aware that their success depends on their bond with one another. Rock Bond To Velez-Rager and Harp, representing the LGBTQ+ community is important to them, yet at the same time, it doesn’t matter at all. “Our sexual lives do not have anything to do with our music, unless we decide to make it so,” said Velez-Rager. To Velez-Rager and Harp, until there is complete acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, they understand there remains a social responsibility to discuss their sexual orientation to demystify it. Yet to their straight bandmates, there is no issue, so there is nothing to demystify. That should be the norm, and they hope that the rest of society catches up to the dynamic APEX adopted within their group. The sexual orientation of Velez-Rager and Harp never came up prior to the band formation, primarily because everyone already knew. Harp was out when he performed with Kings of Awesome, and both he and Velez-Rager were out when they performed with No Komply. To Caro and Gifford, the only factors that mattered were their talent, personalities, and ability to work together. “For me, APEX band is all about openness, inclusion, and the feeling of being able to express ourselves,” said Caro. “Whatever we do, whether it is practice or hanging out, musically or per-
Band Members from left to right, guitarist Andy Gifford, bassist Joseph Harp Jr, vocalist Caleb Velez-Rager and drummer Christian Caro
PHOTO BY:
ANNUAL
2020
Heavy Mettle
