Playing Dirty

Gay rock has a long and varied history: Melissa Etheridge‚ Elton John‚ Pansy Division‚ Imperial Teen…they have all paved the way for out musicians‚ like newcomer Adam Lambert. Now it’s time for the transgendered community to strap one on — a guitar‚ that is — and strike new chords of liberation.

Toronto trio The Cliks — that’s a combo of ‘clit’ and ‘cock’ — have everything it takes to be rock’s next great band. Pounding tunes, sing-a-long choruses and transman Lucas Silveira — that’s the band’s female-to-male transgender front-person.

On their third release, Dirty King, produced by Sylvia Massey (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tool), The Cliks wrench thrilling Guitar Hero-worthy songs from gender rebellion (“Not Your Boy”) and bad relationships (“Haunted”). Silveira stutters through the slutty surf-rock title track (and first single) “Dirty King.” And the crunchy gender-f**k “Love Gun” would melt the face-paint off of all four members of Kiss. Silveira’s an impressive rock and roll singer — more assured here than on the band’s breakthrough, Snakehouse, with an emotional heft on ballads like “Emily” that echoes the tough vulnerability of The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde. Now we just have to get the radio to — in the words of George Michael — listen without prejudice.


Dirty King is available now from Tommy Boy Records.