Stephanie Nilles is gonna hold her breath ’til you listen to her.

On paper, she's an acclaimed classically trained pianist. At first glance, she's an adorable little twentysomething. In sound, she's been compared to Ella Fitzgerald ... if Ella was tweaked out on something and punching Regina Spektor in the face. I suspect it's this unexpected sound that has earned Stephanie so much ink lately, and in music pubs of the highest regard (Pitchfork, Spinner, etc.). Her music is no-nonsense, lo-fi, piano-driven, blues-jazz. Or at least that's how I'd say it. Others hear her whiskey-drinkin' lounge style and think early Tom Waits. Others still point to her maniacal changes from sultry soul to wild yelping, her shocking political lyrics, or her beatnik whispers and howls, thinking of Jack Kerouac or Rickie Lee Jones. She's currently on the road promoting her third album, F*** Off, Grizzly Bear, with a stamped seal on the cover saying ""Hipster Quality Guaranteed" to either poke fun of a dying species (unlikely) or the indie band and its followers (quite possible). Regardless, Stephanie is the kind of hidden gem performer who would blow the roof off a blues/jazz club around here (if we had one). Instead she'll blow the roof off The Mousetrap. And that's just fine. They have whiskey, too.

Stephanie Nilles • April 14 • The Mousetrap, 31 S Barstow St., Eau Claire • 10pm • FREE • ages 21+ • StephanieNilles.com