Edgy, raucous and country

Between playing bass and writing songs with '70s mega-rockers Boston, pursuing a solo musical career in folk/country/rock music and raising two children, Kimberley Dahme is a busy woman.

She wouldn't have it any other way.

"I was always a musician from the day I was born," said Dahme. "At the age of 3 I was in singing lessons because they couldn't shut me up."

And like any musician who wants to make a career out of the craft, Dahme must heed the call of the road.

"You have to leave town to survive. As a musician, in general you have to hit the road to make a living."

Tonight Dahme's road will lead her to Cape Girardeau to play in the third Tunes at Twilight concert of the season. And Dahme won't be the only one hitting the road -- fans from around the region will be following her into Cape Girardeau.

That's another key to Dahme's success as a musician: she knows the fans are the ones who really keep the show going.

"I really shouldn't even call them fans," she said. "They're more like friends."

Dahme has built a strong following as part of the vibrant Nashville indie music scene in her eight years in the city. She moved to Nashville, Tenn., from California because "every time I got here it just felt like home."

Which is understandable given the sound of her music. On her latest album, "Let's Sleep on it Tonight," Dahme focuses in large part on the kind of I-am-woman power country most notably practiced by Wynonna Judd.

There's a country twang with a steady rock beat. The music is carried by Dahme's powerful vocals and fueled by overdriven blues-rock guitar. It's the kind of music that fits the Nashville scene.

"It's edgy, it can be raucous at times, it can be country at times," Dahme said of her newest effort. "The music is just whatever came out at the time I was writing it."

Of course, living in Nashville has exposed Dahme to plenty of country music -- she's immersed in the style. But for the past few years, she has been rocking out on the bass with Boston, not only playing but helping in the songwriting process and even belting out some lead vocals as the group's first female member.

Boston found Dahme playing in clubs in the Northeast. At the time, she didn't even play bass, and Boston was looking for a drummer. Founding member Tom Scholz saw Dahme playing electric guitar in another group.

"Tom Scholz comes up to me after the show and introduces himself and I say 'I know who you are. I'm a huge fan.'"

In fact, the first cover band Dahme ever played in was a Boston cover band.

Scholz asked her if she knew how to play bass, which she didn't, but she quickly bought one at a pawn shop and set about learning the instrument.

Of course, playing with one of her favorite rock bands has been a great experience but Dahme has seen the added benefit of a boost to her solo career, which boasts four albums in addition to her new one.

Dahme has also opened for big-name headliners like Dwight Yoakum, Joan Osbourne, Jonny Lang and George Thorogood.

As she awaits the release of the next Boston album and tours to promote her own work (tomorrow night Dahme is opening for Shawn Colvin in New Hampshire) Dahme's thoughts are often with the 9-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter she has to leave behind.

"It can tug on your heartstrings," said Dahme. "It's a blessing and sometimes a curse. I have to go because that's how I make a living."

But with the support of her family, Dahme has been able to raise her children without neglecting them. And the children even get some benefit out of it, like when Dahme's son gets to bring his mother to his summer music academy to perform or when he gets to go on stage at a Boston show.

Much of her new material that will appear on the next solo album will relate to the parenting experience.

"I'm trying to incorporate that a lot more into this particular album. A lot of women and men are going to identify with the songs."

Without a full band to back her in her Cape Girardeau performance, the more intimate atmosphere will probably give Dahme a chance to relate some of that personal experience to her audience.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182

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Want to go?

• What: Tunes at Twilight featuring Kimberley Dahme
• Where: Common Pleas Courthouse gazebo
• When: 7 p.m. today (June 10)
• Info: 334-8085