Queer as Folk - Anne McCue

Guitarist Anne McCue's first live performance was at a pool party in her native Sydney, Australia.

''We were so shy,'' she says of her first garage band. ''We played in the bedroom and put our amps outside the windows, so no one could [actually] see us play.''

McCue has since gone on to play guitar in a few other bands that weren't so retiring, including Eden AKA, who performed at the Lilith Fair for two years in a row in the late '90s. Eventually, McCue set off on a solo career that has seen her opening for and collaborating with Lucinda Williams.

Recently, the Nashville-based singer-songwriter has gained attention for her catchy song ''Don't Go To Texas (Without Me),'' the video of which played in heavy rotation on Logo last year.

''The song's kind of like a tribute to the '60s garage rock bands, like the Yardbirds,'' she says. Meanwhile, the song features a video to match: A Thelma and Louise-like story of a woman on the lam and her rocker girlfriend pleading with her to take her with her.

''I'd probably be more in the bi category -- the 'b' in the LGBT sandwich,'' says McCue, who recently penned a song about gay marriage. ''The gay movement to me is the only movement around that is about peace and love and equality. I'm definitely happy to be part of that movement.''

And these days she's not afraid to take a stand, having mostly overcome her shyness. ''I had stage fright for about 10 years, but I just plowed on through it,'' she says. ''I really wanted to play music."'

Anne McCue performs Monday, July 11, at 8 p.m. at Jammin' Java, 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna. Tickets are $13. Call 703-255-3747 or visit jamminjava.com'.'