by Hilary Stohs-Krause
Looking to see some lady music?
Check here every Thursday for the best shows of the week featuring lady musicians — whether it's a CD release show, tour kickoff, a national act's first time in town or simply a great lineup.
Want your show to be considered? Post your event in HN's statewide music calendar, then shoot me an email at xrated@hearnebraska.org with the who, what, when, where, how much and why.
Photo courtesy of Mates of State
Bold denotes female artist band with female member; * indicates if those bands or artists are not from Nebraska
THURSDAY, NOV. 10
Kelsey Nord, The Whipkey Three, Edge Of Arbor
Kelsey Nord isn't particularly my style — sort of twangy pop with a 70s flair — but she's got a top-notch voice and lush production. Edge of Arbor, headed by Jessica Errett, offers a new spin on traditional songwriting, drawing influences from a variety of sources: you never know what genre the next song will tackle. Down-to-earth, unpretentious tunes. And they're just fun to watch. Should make for a solid night of music.
The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. in Omaha
8:30 p.m.
$5
Kelsey Nord:
Edge of Arbor:
Hear Nebraska/ KRNU Present: Talking Mountain, *Arrah and the Ferns, Pharmacy Spirits
Philly band Arrah and the Ferns' sound is wildly different depending on what track you listen to — and their style has greatly evolved since their inception. But overall, they're a sort of blend of alt-country and … dare I say … pop-punk? Spunky, a little brash, a little sweet, and thoroughly enjoyable. Omaha band Talking Mountain is equally so, though in a very different way — dancey, synthy, cheeky and earnest.
The Bourbon Theatre, 1415 O St. in Lincoln
9 p.m.
$5
Arrah and the Ferns:
FRIDAY, NOV. 11
Down With the Ship CD Release w/ *Arrah and the Ferns and Bazooka Shootout
See above for more on Arrah and the Ferns; this show is special for several reasons. Omaha group Down With the Ship is releasing their second EP, AND it's fronman Django's birthday!
The Sydney, 5918 Maple St. in Omaha
9 p.m.
$5
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16
*Mates of State, The Generationals
I've been a fan of Mates of State since their debut album, "My Solo Project," was released in 2000. I've always had a large, warm spot in my heart for pop music, and I was particularly drawn to their infectious, DIY jangles … and there was male-female harmony to boot! Their style has grown more polished and smooth over the years, but their most recent release, "Mountaintops," sees them returning to form. I've only seen them once – five, maybe six years ago – and I can't wait to see them again.
The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. in Omaha
9 p.m.
$13
Mates of State
*Ra Ra Riot with Yellow Ostrich and Delicate Steve
I hadn't listened to Ra Ra Riot before doing research for this week's calendar, but I was hooked by their hooks: indie-chamber-pop hooks, to be specific. I'd love to hear more – it's a shame this show is the same night as Mates of State.
The Bourbon Theatre, 1415 O St. in Lincoln
9 p.m.
$13 ADV / $15 DOS
Ra Ra Riot:
Hilary Stohs-Krause can't wait for Husker season to be over so she can have her Saturdays back. She gets her local music fix through HN and as a cocktail waitress at Duffy's Tavern. For more on Nebraska ladies making music, tune into the "X-Rated: Women in Music" radio show every Thursday from 1:05 to 3 p.m. CST at 89.3FM KZUM in Lincoln or streaming live at kzum.org. Find it on Facebook at facebook.com/xmusicnebraska. Or, if Tumblr is more your style, check out xmusic.tumblr.com.