The Northeast corridor that runs from DC through Baltimore and up to Philadelphia brings with it a kind of groove to the music that has an undeniable goal of making the listener feel the need to get up and dance. And Tuesday night at the 9:30 Club that musical language was felt in the floor-rumbling tones of Philly’s own SNACKTIME.

On tour with Fitz and the Tantrums, the line getting into the 9:30 Club was electric as fans took advantage of the nice weather get there early to get prime spots at the famed club.

The first thing I noticed right away was how so many members of SNACKTIME were out and about mingling with fans and taking selfies. And that hometown feel – only separated by those miles along the I-95 corridor – extended into the band’s performance as they kicked things off with their trademark “SNACKMFTIME.”

“So at each of our shows we take a poll of our audience to see what they’re into,” singer Nico Bryant told the crowd. “So who here likes to smoke… who here likes to drink… and now who here likes to talk some shit.” With an enthusiastic response, he continued. “We took these three vices and turned them into one smokin’ ass song.” As the band went into the bouncing (and appropriately titled) “Smokin’ Drinkin’ Talkin’ Shit” this capacity crowd waved their collective arms back and forth, dancing along to the groove.

And the party was just getting started as the septet – Bryant; Sam Gellerstein on bass/sousaphone; Austin Marlow on drums; Larry Monroe on guitar; Eric Sherman on trumpet and guitar; Michael Spearman on trombone and keys; and Ben Stocker on tenor sax – rolled right into a cover of the Kendrick Lamar song “Not Like Us.”

The band reworked an older tune, “The High Life” from their debut record This Is Dance Music. The tune was a more traditional straight ahead rocker with a blistering solo by Larry Monroe.

To say that a SNACKTIME show is a participatory event is an understatement as the whole place was up and dancing, singing along, and waving their hands to the sounds.

Highlights included the up-tempo, old school funk of “Space Love” from that debut EP and their new single “Sunshine” with a beautiful tenor sax intro by Ben Stocker.

I got the distinct feeling watching this band that SNACKTIME is already on their way up, and to have a chance to catch them on their next go around is a must. The band does stop play theWXPN XPoNential Music Fest in New Jersey in September.

The setlist included:

SNACKMFTIME
Smokin’ Drinkin’ Talkin’ Shit
Not Like Us (Kendrick Lamar cover)
The High Life
Space Love
Enough.
Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff (Shut up and Move)
SUNSHINE
Together

Here are more photos of SNACKTIME bringing down the house at the 9:30 Club on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. All photos copyright David LaMason.