There will be no classes for the rest of the week because of the Thanksgiving holiday, so don't expect any biology lectures in Happy Valley for the next few days.

But Philadelphia-based band Natural Selection will offer a lesson in the science of soul at 10:30 p.m. Saturday at Zeno's, 100 W. College Ave.

The seven-piece band started performing in State College in September, Jose Perez, the band's manager, said.

This will be its fourth show at Zeno's.

Each time the band plays at Penn State, it seems to attract high-energy audience members, Topaz Wise, background vocalist for the band, said.

"It's more mellow of a crowd in the big cities," Wise said. "The energy is not as high as it is at Penn State."

Korey Riker, music director and saxophone player, defines the genre of music Natural Selection plays as "original soul." The band plays some cover songs, but about 80 percent of its live material is original music, Riker said.

"There's a lot of different stuff in there," Riker said.

Perez said that each show Natural Selection plays is different.

"Some people call it a sort of jam-band style, but [the band] enjoys improvising, and everyone kind of puts their own feel and touch and ideas on the songs," Perez said. "With little things, each show isn't identical. Each time, there's just a little something that's thrown in. [Natural Selection] prefers live music and likes being in the midst of the audience."

Riker said the band will have another performance at Zeno's in January and about one show each month through May.

He also said that the band is interested in playing other concerts at Penn State college functions.

Natural Selection started out in 1997 as a jazz trio and is now a seven-piece band that plays mostly in club-type bars in Philadelphia, Perez said.

One famous venue they have performed in is the Five Spot, where artists such as Jill Scott, India.Arie and Erykah Badu originated. The group has also played at various arts festivals throughout the Philadelphia area.

The band recently took its talents to the studio and recorded an album entitled Come On Over, which is set for release Dec. 2.

"[Live performance] is more personal. I can interact with the musicians, which makes for a better show," Alesia Dessau, lead vocalist, said. "You can't really interact with a track."

Dessau reflected on an experience from Natural Selection's last performance in State College.

"The last time we were [at Zeno's], there was this girl that kept coming up to the microphone," Dessau said. "She was a little annoying, but cool because she was into it."

Natural Selection has played at a few colleges in Philadelphia and is excited to play for the students of Penn State this Saturday.

"To be blunt and honest, it's a long drive from Philly," Riker said. "The fact that the crowd has always been so good makes the trip worth it. We look forward to it every time."