JANUARY 19. 2W7 jUStlOUt;41
Imusic
Crunk Rock Girl
One-woman electro-synth act spreads the word
about queer politics and feminism
I
“Can’t Say I Do” is a feisty polemic that
digs in bravely and names names, making
clear its distaste for the current regime
in Washington and others who would deny
gay couples what many see as a basic right.
- Eric Bartels, The Portland Tribune
by West Duncan
runk isn’t dead because Nicky Click says
With rhe advent of music by Mac, the electro-
so. Her independent record label, Cmnk’s
synther is a one-woman and one-computer kind of
Not Dead, bears testament to her electro
band. Performing solo onstage with only a laptop
eccentricity, while her albums leave her
to back her up, Click can rock the room like ’80s
legacy all over the stage.
hair bands in their heyday.
Click will be plugging in at two Portland shows
“I think technology makes music more accessi
with female-to-male rapper Katastrophe, both of ble for me,” she says. “I’d love to perform with a
whom rock the same indie label. Their Lil’ Twin
band, but I think being a solo artist, it’s easier to get
Star Tour will also feature Show Me the Pink and DJ
my message across this way.”
Beyonda, covering both coasts and all that is queer.
Staying in touch with her roots, Click looks
“This tour is gonna blow people’s minds!”
toward recording a country-folk album with her
exclaims Click via phone from New Hampshire.
father, a musical inspiration to her both in and out
Before moving to the East Coast, Click lived in
of the studio. Keeping it all in the family, her
Olympia, Wash., then
Northeast Portland, find
ing her musical path after
graduating from Evergreen
State College. Now an
underground diva, she
wears her shabby-chic
tiara and ruby-red smile
unabashedly.
Having done her act
for the past 2 l/2 years,
Click has found her place
behind the mike and in
the forefront of speaking
out about sexuality. The
26-year-old queer per
former realized the instant
audience among the gay
community as her new
best friends in the' music
industry.
Click’s first album,
You're Already a Member,
was released one year ago
on her self-owned label
and was received well by
a fickle hipster following.
Now, with many tour
miles logged and more
studio time under her
jumper, her second disc,
Nicky Click uses a postmodern style and pro-femme approach on her
I’rfi'On My Cell Phone,
new album, I'm On My Cell Phone.
will be released in the
coming weeks. Both albums explore Click’s alter
upcoming album features Papa Click on five tracks.
egos and follow a string of character developments,
While the indie music scene rapidly approaches
arriving at her present state of funk.
a midlife crisis, Click promises to add a fresh, young
“It definitely feels good to do this totally on my
dose of vibrancy to pick things up: ‘Tm really trying
own," she says. “I really talk about queer politics and
to empower women and people, and help them to
feminism, and ultimately I’m trying to represent just let go during the show. I decided consciously to
different facets of myself onstage.”
discuss being femme and being queer. Thankfully,
Growing up, she found music to be intimidat
the queer community has been really open—and
I feel really lucky to be part of it.” •
ing and geared toward men, giving her the perfect
platform to launch from in developing Nicky
NlCKY C lick headlines a free all-ages show with
Click. Using a postmodern style and pro-femme
approach, her music is made for the ladies, about
Katastrophe 8 p.m. Jan. 17 at Reed College,
3203 S.E. Woodstock Blvd., followed by a $5 show
the ladies.
Click is also no stranger to the eclectic, warp 9 p.m. Feb. 3 at Berbati’s Pan, 231 S.W. Ankeny
ing her own sounds into a funky beat that the most
St. For more information visit
hip can hop to. In the vein of Peaches and Tracy +
www. my space. com/nicky click.
the Plastics, her sound can most aptly be called
queer electro pop, with a bold aftertaste of politics
Portland freelance writer W est IX jncan can be
for queer visibility.
reached at westofaminor^iyahoo.com.
C
Tickets $20 - Benefit Tickets $25
For Information Call 503-781-3464
Presented by
BUY online @
euPDX.com
Key Productions
Music & Lyrics by Peter Alexander
Directed by Troy Lakey
Books & Lyrics by Kevin Yell
Musical Direction by Chrisse Rocca t o
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