Sat. Dec. 12

You may have seen Brian Viglione with World/Inferno Friendship Society at the Paradise last spring. You've certainly seen him with Amanda Palmer when the Dresden Dolls were going full-tilt. And now you can see him behind the drum kit when the Cliks (not to be confused with the Click 5) roll into down Saturday Dec. 12 at the Middle East Downstairs. The trio is led by the transgendered (female-to-male) Lucas Silveira, (in photo)  the singer-guitarist who began this Cliks thing in Toronto in 2004. It's gone through a few lineup shifts and it now includes bassist Toni Parks, as well as Viglione. Comparative points: Early '70s glame rock, Joan Jett, the Pretenders. Melodic, gutsy, powerful kick-ass stuff.

Says Viglione: "I'm really drawn to people who have a strong work ethic, who love to play, and who can roll with every aspect that this bizarre lifestyle demands, and I've been buzzing off the energy of the new line-up since we played our first show in DC in September.  There's amazing chemistry live on stage, and a real sense of teamwork and proactivity when we're apart and blazing trails of emails setting up work projects for 2010.  As a power-trio, the energy is tight and focused. Tobi and I form a deep, hard hitting, driving rhythm section, with Lucas' Gibson SG and powerful voice roaring over the top of it."

"The timing for all of three of us, Lucas, Tobi, and myself just happened to be perfect," continues Viglione. "Over the course of 2009, each of is felt frustrated and wanted different things than our respective band mates. Lucas invited Tobi and myself to join the band and I was thrilled, as I had been a friend and fan of the band
since we all met on the True Colors Tour in '07.

   
"We're planning on releasing a new live EP and doing a relaunch of the latest album Dirty King on Tommy Boy Records this spring. Then hitting the road for as much of the year as possible.  Everyone in our camp has got a strong sense of purpose now and we're out to give it back to the audience with everything we've got."

With Hunter Valentine and Mrs. Danvers. (Why do we just know Mrs. Danvers is a tribute to that eerie/evil maid in "Rebecca"?) Starts at 9. Tix: $10.

472 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-864-3278 www.mideastclub.com