The Cliks

• Genre: Indie/Alternative
• Hometown: Toronto

About

You know how rock bands always relay their history as a series of rough patches, an uphill battle where one thing after another goes wrong as they "I think I can" themselves up to their big break at the summit? Well, all those other bands are wusses compared to the Cliks. Since its inception in 2004, the Toronto band has been subject to not one, but two, dramatic upheavals in its lineup, the exceptionally messy dissolution of lead singer/guitarist Lucas Silveira's six-year relationship and his subsequent breakdown. And oh yeah, between the band's Canadian debut and its sophomore release Silveira also came to terms with his transgender identity and transitioned from female (Lillia) to male (Lucas). As the story always goes, all their hard work and angst paid off for the current lineup (including Silveira, guitarist Nina Martinez, bassist Jen Benton and drummer Morgan Doctor) in the form of 2007's ballsy, passionate, critically acclaimed Snakehouse, a flurry of positive press and a prominent position in Cyndi Lauper's 2007 True Colors Tour.

- Rachel Devitt