below i’ve posted a few photos from a story i was working on in Albuquerque in late 07. “Mariachi Orgullo,” which is Spanish for “Pride Mariachi,” was Albuquerque’s only gay and lesbian mariachi group…and the first of their kind, according to band leader Adan Branchal. around the time i was leaving for Austin after graduation, they were breaking up…or fizzling out to be more accurate, Branchal said (lack of continued interest and paying work). but while it lasted, it was an interesting interaction between traditional Mexican culture colliding with modern, non-traditional culture — and actually working pretty well — these folks sounded great. actually, aside from the member’s work with Mariachi Orgullo, many of them played in larger groups regularly, under renowned mariachi directors. i haven’t been able to do anything i’m really happy with, regarding an edit of these photos, but some of them are kind of fun images so i thought i’d post them here. if not a blog, then where!?enjoy
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Xavier Mascareñas; Mariachi Orgullo is a gay and lesbian mariachi group based out of Albuquerque, N.M. They are led by Adan Branchal, Mr. Pride 2006 for the Albuquerque Gay Pride Pageant, who also played with the New Mexico Highlands University Mariachi band in Las Vegas, N.M. His father, Nick Branchal, started New Mexico's first high school mariachi group in 1981 at Taos High School, and their family has always been involved with performing. In this photo, Anthony Ortiz, a violinist with the group, gets ready to practice at Adan Branchal's house in Albuquerque. Branchal's partner, Joseph Gutierrez, applies makeup in the background for his on-stage personality, "Anastasia," before performing at a local bar for the Kamikaze Drag Queen competition.
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Xavier Mascareñas; "Anastasia" is tipped during a performance at the Albuquerque Social Club on Sept. 22, 2007.
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Xavier Mascareñas; Adan Branchal, left, and Joseph Gutierrez relax shortly after Branchal sang a love song in English to help raise money during a fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2007. Before performing, Branchal said "I'm shaking. I get more nervous before shows like this than I do before performing for a whole lot more people. The smaller the crowd, the more personal it is, and the more I worry about what people are going to think of me. It's not easy for me to do this."
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Xavier Mascareñas; Adan Branchal's partner, Joseph "Anastasia" Gutierrez, left, and Anthony Ortiz prepare for their own types of performances in Branchal's Albuquerque Westgate home Jan. 21, 2007.
Xavier Mascareñas; The Martinez family listen to Mariachi Orgullo perform in their home.
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Xavier Mascareñas; Timoteo Serna plays a trumpet solo Jan. 21, 2007, during Mariachi Orgullo's performance for about 20 people gathered in a small living-room. The group performs at a wide range of events, from AIDS benefits and drag shows to religious events and family celebrations.
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