I thought it was a nice-sized crowd last night at The Waiting Room for Neva Dinova (I’m guessing 150?), but there were still a few people complaining that the gate seemed a little light. The band didn’t do itself any favors by playing a show just a couple weeks ago at Slowdown Jr. (I’m told it was supposed to be a “secret show,” though there wasn’t anything secret about it.). On top of that, Jake Bellows plays solo acoustic/electric quite often, and even though those sets are different than Neva sets, it’s still Jake up there. If Neva wants to sell out TWR, they have to play less frequently around here (say once every six months?) and make the show an event.

While the Neva set at Slowdown two weeks ago was good, last night’s set was arena-rock quality. The band never sounded bigger or better as they ripped through songs off the new CD. Neva has evolved from being a fun-lovin’ bar band whose performances more resembled band practices than concerts, to a highly honed, highly professional rock act that belongs on any stage. There’s really nothing holding these guys back except luck or lack of it. They just need to get that one break that’ll push them over the hump into the next level. Maybe their move to Saddle Creek will be that extra push. I suspect I’ll be seeing them perform on the Kimmel/Daly/Letterman/Conan/Leno circuit sometime in the near future…

If you missed the show last night, you’ve got a chance to catch the rerun tonight in Lincoln when Neva Dinova plays at Box Awesome with tourmate Ladyhawk and local heroes Outlaw Con Bandana. $8, 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, back here in the Big Oh, Sarah Benck and the Robbers are slummin’ it at everyone’s (well, at least my) favorite stinkhole, O’Leaver’s, with Landing on the Moon (tonight featuring a new guitarist). $5, 9:30 p.m.

Down at Slowdown it’s the YWCA Benefit Concert featuring The Wholes, Goodbye Sunday and Eustace. $10 or $7 with student ID. 9 p.m.

Tomorrow night’s marquee attraction is Back When at Slowdown (on the big stage) with Lincoln’s Ideal Cleaners, Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship and The Show Is the Rainbow. I haven’t seen Back When since, well, way back when a couple years ago. Guess it’s about time. $7, 9 p.m.

Also Saturday night, Sokol Underground is hosting a good show (a rarity since One Percent quit booking the room) with Thunder Power!!!, Dan McCarthy and AM Revival. $7, 9 p.m.

Finally, O’Leaver’s wraps up the weekend with an evening of beautiful noise featuring art math metal maniacs Fromanhole, Oregon’s Prize Country, California’s Sirhan Sirhan (featuring former members of KC’s Molly McGuire) and the world debut of Techlepathy, featuring members of Sound of Rails, Putrescine and The Monroes. $5, 9:30 p.m.

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