Looking at Eric Himan, you don’t really see a sensitive guy. Sporting a tough exterior, complete with tattoos on both forearms, you probably would never have guessed such introspective material would flow from his bad-boy façade.

Himan’s voice flows like Dave Matthews and his vocal stylings have been compared to a modern day Cat Stevens. In past interviews he’s said he wanted to connect with people, and is definitely not trying to be a rock star – he just wants to be himself, and that’s exactly what comes through in his music.

Himan was obsessed with The Beatles growing up, and learned to play the guitar from his father. Those very early years of musical exposure shaped him into the dynamic and inspiring musician he is today. His guitar technique mirrors Ani DiFranco, but Himan has his own distinct style that is rooted in rock, with hints of blues and jazz. There aren’t many openly gay male singer/songwriters in modern music today, and that’s what sets Himan apart.

“When I was starting out, nobody knew what to do with me,” he said. “I would play, like, a Pride [festival], and it would be me with all lesbians or me with all drag queens.”

Himan picked up a guitar for the first time when he was 8 years old. At first he didn’t like it too much, but his father urged him to give it a chance. By his early teens Himan immersed himself in music and became inspired to sing and write original songs. Never having any formal vocal training, he got the hang of it from belting out the lyrics to his favorite CDs alone in his bedroom.

“My parents would be hearing me yelling in my room at the top of my lungs. Never knowing whether it would hinder me to tell me to shut up or what,” he said.

It was a good thing Himan never kept his mouth shut.

Influenced by many of the bands that made up the Seattle’s alternative grunge-rock scene of the early to mid ’90s, especially Pearl Jam, Himan was fascinated by those bands’ own influences, identifying with groups from the Woodstock era and other singer/songwriters from the late ’60s and ’70s.

“I would say that it was a lot of the Pearl Jam/Seattle grunge stuff that made me want to play music,” said Himan. “It was people like Ani DiFranco who made me want to write music – more poetic kind of people.”

Himan, who got his start playing in lesbian bars back at Penn State University, said he was greatly influenced by acclaimed female singer/songwriters like Melissa Etheridge, Melissa Ferrick and DiFranco.

“The gay community has been incredibly supportive to me and I can’t begin to tell you how appreciative I am of that,” said Himan.

As a student at Penn, Himan released his first album, Eric Himan, in 2000, a year before he graduated. Word spread and he gained a diverse following – not just with lesbians, but also with lovers of edgy folk rock. His stripped-down acoustic renderings seemed to have an effect on people.

Much of Himan’s songwriting focuses on the tumultuous nature of relationships, dealing with love, loss and heartache. His potent and poetic lyrics belie an earnest soul liberating itself from the pressures of the daily life of a 26-year-old just trying to do what inspires him.

Himan played countless gigs on weekends throughout college to coincide with his first album’s release, leading to his second, I Go On, in September 2002. Gaining national exposure through various magazines articles, he happily quit the radio advertising sales job he landed after college to focus solely on his musical career, and has been a touring machine, averaging about 15 shows per month across the U.S. for the past two and a half years.

December 2003 saw the release of his third studio effort, All for Show, and that’s when a promotions staff member from Borders Books and Music took notice of Himan at a festival. Borders booked him for in-store performances nationwide, and legendary guitar maker Fender endorsed him soon after.

Himan now has a distribution deal with Goldenrod and his CDs are available at all Borders locations. He’s played stores from Jacksonville, Fla., to San Diego, and last month he opened up for Steven Page of the Bear Naked Ladies in an in-store performance.

Himan’s song “No Urgency” recently appeared on the Human Rights Campaign’s Love Rocks two-CD compilation album, which also featured music by Pink, Christina Aguilera, Etheridge and the Dixie Chicks.

This past March he released his fourth studio album, Dark Horse, on his own record label, ThumbCrown Records. The album marks the first time he has incorporated a full band sound, combining rock, pop, country, folk and even a little funk to the mix.

“I just wanted to take a different step. I liked all different kinds of music and I wanted to work with a producer,” said Himan, who had previously produced his other three albums himself.

The recording process for Dark Horse was quick: It got mixed, recorded and mastered within a week late last year. Himan found Mike Osca to co-produce the album, and Osca also added guitar to most of the tracks.

“He was just fun; laid back… I wanted to step it up and challenge myself,” said Himan.

Part of that challenge was adding piano into the mix. Himan only learned to play about a year and a half ago and it marked the first time he wrote songs specifically on that instrument. The haunting ballad “Clyde,” a narrative about an accomplice left at the scene of a crime, features intimate, barren piano sounds. Himan also pounds the ivory in a blues- and gospel-inspired piece called “Listen.”

Himan said he does not believe being open about his sexuality has negatively affected his musical career or future.

“I think it has never hurt me to be honest with who I am. I think it has only hurt me to not be honest with who I am, which is what everybody goes through during that whole process,” he said.

Himan has multiple San Diego appearances starting this weekend. On Sunday, Aug. 14, he’ll perform at the Gay Softball World Series opening ceremonies, which start at 6:00 p.m. at Embarcadero Park. The event is free. Then on Tuesday, Aug. 16, Himan plays the Adams Avenue Studio of the Arts at 8:00 p.m. Call (619) 584-3593 for $10 tickets.

On Wednesday, Aug. 17, Himan takes the stage as part of the San Diego AIDS Walk fund-raiser “Activation,” which takes place at the 500 West Hotel from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A suggested donation of $10 will go directly to AIDS Walk. The 500 West Hotel is located downtown at 500 West Broadway. Call (619) 297-0009 for more information.

For more information about Himan, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to his Web site.