Since signing in January with major label hotshots — Warner Music Canada and US-based Tommy Boy Entertainment's queer imprint Silver Label — Toronto-based rock dynamo The Cliks has officially set fire to 2007.

The foursome — Lucas Silveira (vocals and guitar), Jen Benton (bass), Morgan Doctor (drums) and Dance Yourself To Death's guitarist Nina Martinez (who came on board in early 2007, initially as tour support) — has wowed audiences and critics in music conferences from Cannes to Austin, made an L-Word soundtrack appearance and, on Apr 24, drops the remastered and remixed sophomore LP Snakehouse (initially released in October 2006 on Jake Gold's indie label Kindling Music).

Plus, Cyndi Lauper's manager just invited the quartet to swagger through four dates of 2007's True Colors Tour, featuring Lauper, Debbie Harry, Erasure, The Gossip, The Dresden Dolls, The MisShapes and host Margaret Cho. (Check out Money's True Colours for more.)

"I've spent my entire life working to get here," says Silveira. "And now it's like, 'Oh, I'm here. What do I do now?' Well, you just keep playing. It's a really weird transition, but it's just about adjusting your reality in your head."

It took time for The Cliks to get Gold on their side (the Canadian Idol judge best known for his stellar management of The Tragically Hip). Silveira solicited him shortly after The Cliks' self-titled debut back in fall 2004. After Gold and record producer Moe Berg (front man of The Pursuit Of Happiness) saw a Cameron House gig, Gold called and said he liked the music, but that the band wasn't there, yet.

The following year was marked by upheaval. Band mates Ezri Kaysen and Heidi Chan, who'd been involved since 2003, opted out to pursue other projects. Additionally, Silveira's long-term relationship was ending, his father had a stroke and Silveira was starting to confront the fact that he was trans.

Silveira quickly found bassist Jordan B Wright (who was replaced by Benton three months ago when Wright departed for other projects) and Doctor — and kept in touch with Berg. When The Cliks was set to record Snakehouse, Berg came on board and studio magic ensued. Gold heard the album and was sold.

Gold has been one of Silveira's key coming-out supporters. "We had a long conversation and essentially, it's what made me feel completely okay about being out. Jake said, 'Just be who you are. Don't pretend. Don't be dishonest — there's nothing people hate more. Just do it.' He really gave me strength and courage.

"Here's this guy in the industry, he's been doing it for years, and he's telling me to go for it. And I thought, 'That's it. I'm doing it. I don't fucking give a shit.' What's so weird is that for years, I didn't come to terms with it, and I thought it was going to ruin my music career. But as soon as I started being honest and open about who I am, everything started happening."

Having just kicked off their two-month tour, which jags across western Canada and the eastern US, with a few stops in the UK, The Cliks is poised to secure a solid spot in the rock industry.

"We're so thankful. Everything has come piece by piece. But I finally feel like this is it. This is the band. And we just want to go out there and be a rock band. We deserve to be there, in the so-called mainstream because the music is solid and because it's time people stop thinking of us as a bunch of freaks and outsiders.

"That's what this band is about — the music."