Snacktime: 2024

This  FUV Live session is also available as a podcast, "FUV Live Sessions." We're elevating WFUV's long history of live sessions and interviews via a podcast that you can find on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Podcasts. New episodes drop every Monday.

We busted out the big brass when the Philadelphia septet Snacktime came to Studio A, welcoming Yesseh Furaha (vocals, alto sax) Sam Gellerstein (sousaphone), Austin Marlow (drums), Larry Monroe Jr. (guitar), Eric Sherman (trumpet, guitar), Ben Stocker (tenor sax), and Michael Spearman (trombone, keyboards).

Snacktime is gonna start a party wherever they go. Their music beams with positivity and their infectious grooves will get you moving and shaking whether you want to or not.

They’ve got a great live record called Sounds from the Street that they put out in 2022. Starting with a live album makes a lot of sense for the seven members because they started out playing in Philadelphia's streets and doing free shows in Rittenhouse Square in Center City. That led to parties, venues, festivals, and this year, a tour with Portugal. The Man.

Their band name is apt too because aside from music, food has bonded these musicians — they know the cool, affordable places in Philly — and you can see a bunch of restaurant reviews on their Instagram feed including a great Philadelphia Food Guide.

Snacktime just finished recording their savory studio debut and for this FUV Live session, they dipped into some of their new material. I also spoke with Yesseh and Sam regarding their fantastic voyage so far, the critical tamale connection that's part of their backstory, and even their wedding band cred.