Greg Sover Band holds a blues rock master class at Free At Noon

The first Free At Noon concert after Thanksgiving is always a banger. Fans can (usually) attend without skipping work, fired up on early morning shopping runs. The energy was high this week, and acclaimed Philly guitarist and singer-songwriter Greg Sover harnessed it, delivering a master class on blues, rock, and soul for a packed house at World Cafe Live.

As we heard in his Key Studio Session this week, Sover uses his latest album, HIS-STORY, to reflect not only on his personal journey, but the musical history that fuels his craft, and the styles he’s proven to excel at. Today’s Free at Noon set touched on electric blues brawlers (“Heroes,” “Temptation”), Philly soul homages (“Tonight”) and moments that mix technical skill with pop sensibilities (“One-Way Train”) — with a cover of Bill Withers’ classic “Ain’t No Sunshine” for good measure. Sover was backed by his current band of Kenny Aaronson on bass, Tommy Keifer on drums, and Wally Smith on keys, and they went hard for an eight-song set that left the audience screaming for more.

Fortunately, this was just the warm-up act for Sover’s winter run. He and the band proceeded to Jamey’s House of Music in Lansdowne last night for a Friday night show; over the next couple months, they’ve got gigs lined up at the Philadelphia Christmas Village (December 9), 118 North in Wayne (December 13), and the Sellersville Theatre (January 28th), with more brewing on the horizon for 2024. Get details at Sover’s website and check out photos and a setlist from this week’s Free At Noon below.