By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Soraia
Thanksgiving Weekend is a tough weekend for music acts wanting to play live shows.
Many potential audience members have other plans based on holiday meals and family reunions.
On the flip side, there are music fans who are eager to get out and hear live shows.
Both groups can be satisfied on November 29 when Philadelphia-based, nationally acclaimed rockers Soraia play a special show at MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, 215- 925-6455, www.milkboyphilly.com) — A “Shed The Skin Release Event.”
Soraia have reissued the band’s 2008 album “Shed The Skin” via Stevie Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records, to coincide with the LP’s 15th anniversary.
Available digitally and on both blue and gold vinyl, the record’s 10 tracks have been newly remixed and remastered by the band’s own Travis Smith and Grammy-nominated engineer Joe Lambert.
The album features guest appearances from Richie Sambora, Lorenza Ponce, Bobby Bandiera, John Shanks and Jeff Kazee.
With every release, Soraia continues to gain experience, momentum, and strength. They have garnered the attention of many soulful rock legends in the music business, including Jon Bon Jovi, Steven Van Zandt, and Joan Jett.
The core band features ZouZou Mansour (lead vocals), Travis Smith (bass), and Brianna Sig (drums). Together, they have unmatched chemistry and passion for the music they play.
Mansour said, “‘Shed The Skin’ was our first attempt at not only a more crafted and collaborative songwriting, but also a journey to finding what we had to say and if we could say it.
“We were in a different time in life, and very green, which has brought up both a joy recalling that time and also an admiration for how far we’ve come.
“One thing is true: Soraia keeps going. And that is the greatest thing that these songs have gifted to us. We hope you enjoy hearing them live when we perform them on tour this fall. We are having the best time bringing them back into our set!”
The band recently returned from Sweden where they were hard at work on new music for release in 2025. In the meantime, Soraia will be supporting the re-release of “Shed The Skin” with a fall tour that concludes this weekend.
“Travis and I are the core of the band and we’ve been together for over 10 years,” said Mansour. “We released our album ‘The Valley of Love and Guns’ in 2013, ‘Soraia Lives’ in 2014 and ‘Less Than Zero’ in 2015.”
Soraia had just signed a deal with Wicked Cool Records to release new material as well as the band’s back catalogue
“Wicked Cool Records is owned by Little Steven Van Zandt from Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band,” said Mansour. “David Fricke, a senior writer at Rolling Stone Magazine, contacted us out of the blue and said he loved our music. He has a show on Sirius Spectrum.”
Soraia’s lineup solidified four years ago when Brianna Sig took over on drums and added backing vocals.
“A few years ago, I was playing in another band and someone told me I looked like Soraia,” said Sig, during a phone interview. “Our bands shared a bill, and I hinted that I wanted to be their drummer.
“Not long after that, Soraia needed a drummer for a tour and contacted me. I played on that tour and eventually, it turned into I was her drummer. That was two-and-a-half years ago.”
Sig grew up in Norristown’s West End and was the daughter of local jazz musician Bill Signorovitch.
“I began drumming when I was about 10,” said Sig. “My dad was a jazz guitarist, so I was exposed to music early. I graduated high school in 2007 and had my first band in 2010. It took a while.”
Sig found a home with Soraia and fit in well with the band’s veterans.
Mansour said, “I’m all about playing a fun song and throwing myself around, that’s Rock ’n’ Roll at its heart,” ZouZou remarks. “But I’m also about telling the stories of resurrection and life and hope and darkness.”
According to Van Zandt, “You do not want to miss one of the greatest of the new bands! For those of you who think rock is dead – come have your faith renewed!”
Video link for Soraia — https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=TQCA7rxUEWQ.
The show at MilkBoy on November 29 will start at 8:30 p.m. Opening acts are Bobby Mahoney and Pink Soap.
Tickets are $15.
Many entertainers are “legends in their own minds” – an idiom that means “believing that they are of greater importance than is actually the case” or simply put…being delusional about their popularity.
Kenn Kweder
Kenn Kweder is not a “legend in his own mind” – but he is a “legend in his own city.”
The veteran rocker has been a mainstay of the Philadelphia rock and folk scene since the early 1970s and is still going strong.
On November 29, Kweder will perform at 118 North (118 North Wayne Avenue, Wayne, www.118northwayne.com)
Kweder has played just about every Philly area music club at some point in his five-decade career – from historic and long-gone venues such the Second Fret, The Hot Club and Ripley’s to current favorites such as the Locks, the Living Room and Ardmore Music Hall.
The answer to the question why Kweder never became a national act can be found in his need for independence.
“I had conversations with major labels and executives like Clive Davis (president of Columbia Records and the founder of Arista Records) but I didn’t want to go along with the program,” said Kweder.
“I was a government worker early in the ’70s and quit because I didn’t like taking orders. I had played basketball in high school at West Catholic and wanted to play pro basketball — but I was too small. After I quit the government job, I decided to try music.
“Major labels wanted to sign me, but they wanted to tell me what to do – like get rid of my band. I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to do it my way.”
When he embarked on his music career, Kweder played solo gigs – singing and playing acoustic guitar. The next step was putting together a band — Kenn Kweder & the Secret Kidds.
Over the years, he formed and fronted a variety of bands including the Radio Church of God, the Men From K.W.E.D.E.R., the Men From P.O.V.I.C.H., the Employees, the Codependents, and the Enablers.
Kweder built a reputation for putting on wild and unpredictable shows featuring great music and a lot more. His fans learned to expect a good time and to expect the unexpected.
“It’s hard to explain what I do,” said Kweder. “Every night is different.”
Early in his career, Kweder was a hit with the Philly college crowd and played more than a few frat gigs and toga parties – especially at the University of Pennsylvania. His relationship with Penn and its campus continues to this day.
“I’ve been playing on the Penn campus for 30 years,” said Kweder, who was born in Upper Darby (hometown of Todd Rundgren and Tina Fey). “Every Tuesday for 29 years, I’ve done shows at Smokey Joe’s.
Kweder is a performer – not a recording artist.
“I put out a lot of records on my own over the years,” said Kweder. “Now, it’s not worth it. The younger audience doesn’t even have a way to play CDs. Kenn Kweder is all about performing live. At this point, I just keep gigging.”
Video link for Kenn Kweder — https://youtu.be/k0mw9jJCHFA.
Other shows at 118 North this weekend are Melt With You on November 29, US Rails on November 30 and Swing That Cat on December 1.
Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985,www.jameyshouseofmusic.com) will host the Dirk Quinn Band on November 29 and the Bobby Messano Band on November 30.
Quinn is the guitarist for a high energy funk/jazz band based out of Philadelphia that travels extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Learning from a decade of steady performing, Quinn has developed a unique and progressive style — one that appeals to a wide variety of music listeners with fans ranging from the jam band hippies to the jazz snobs.
Working the club and coffee house circuit, Quinn became increasingly in demand, playing as many as three gigs a day while getting the occasional call to share the stage with musical legends such as Steve Kimock, Bernie Worell, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Keller Williams, Booker T, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Kofi Burbridge (Derek Trucks Band), and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.
The Dirk Quinn Band is jazz/funk improv group featuring Dirk Quinn on guitar, Rory Flynn on bass and Cody Munzert on keyboards.
Video link for the Dirk Quinn Band – https://youtu.be/H3-lkb274gc.
The show on November 29 will start at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.
The Bobby Messano Band will take the stage at the Lansdowne venue on Saturday night.
Messano has almost always been a part of the American music scene. He has toured with STARZ, Lou Gramm, Stevie Winwood, Clarence Clemons, Frankie & the Knockouts, Peter Criss and more.
His past five releases have garnered 26 Grammy First Round ballots in eight categories. He teamed up with Queen legend Brian May for the 15 cuts that comprise his latest effort, “Bad Movie” which debuted at #1.
Messano is a legendary guitarist and contemporary blues artist who has released nine solo CDs, placed songs in many TV and cable shows and played on over 50 major label and indie albums.
Messano’s newest project, “MUSIC and OTHER SUNDRIES,” was released on vinyl in April 2022 and was released to iTunes and Digital stations on August 1, 2023.
On September 17, 2024, his song, “In the Depths of Love,” was the first-place winner for BEST BLUES SONG in the UNSIGNED ONLY MUSIC AWARDS COMPETITION.
Video link for the Bobby Messano Band – https://youtu.be/y5RAvlm7Q94.
The show on November 30 will start at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.
Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) is presenting Quick Change! with Wring Me Out on November 30 and “Charlie Brown Holiday Jazz” featuring the music of Vince Guaraldi interpreted and performed by Dave Mattock and the Taproom Trio on December 1.
Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, www.ardmoremusic.com) will host Boat House Row on November 30 and Romeo Delight on December 1.
City Winery (990 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, www.citywinery.com) will be showing some diversity this weekend with shows by Sun Ra Arkestra on November 30 and Rhett Miller on December 1.
The Met (858 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, http://themetphilly.com) will present Brett Eldredge on December 1 while Brooklyn Bowl (1009 Canal Street, Philadelphia, www.brooklynbowl.com/philadelphia) will host Dopapod on November 29 and Four Year Strong on November 30.
For an international flavor, check out World Café Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, www.worldcafelive.com) which will have “Minas Quintet – Tribute to Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66” on November 30.
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, www.utphilly.com) is presenting two nights with Marc Rebillet on November 29 and 30.
