Dive Bar Jukebox with Sam Gellerstein
"You know I'm such a fool for you."
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Welcome back to Dive Bar Jukebox, where every Friday bartenders, writers, chefs, musicians, and a host of dynamic people answer the question: If we were hanging out together at a bar and I put ten credits on the jukebox, what songs would you punch in and why? Their answers reveal thoughts on their favorite dive bars along with a hand-picked, annotated 10-song playlist for your weekend listening pleasure.
Please welcome today’s special guest…
Sam Gellerstein
Sam Gellerstein was born in New York, grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and has called Philadelphia home since 2012. A former music teacher in the Philadelphia School District, the 29-year-old musician has become a good vibes ambassador and supernova of positivity for the City of Brotherly love through SNACKTIME, a seven-piece brass-heavy band (Gellerstein plays sousaphone) he founded with Ben Stocker, known for their high-energy performances that lean into pop, jazz, and R&B
SNACKTIME has been featured on NPR, Good Morning America, and The Today Show, and have played major music festivals and even halftime sets at Philadelphia 76ers games. But they got their start in the late summer of 2020 playing in Rittenhouse Square as a part of a “Clarion Call for Justice” for musicians to gather together to help raise awareness of issues of violence against Black Americans and voter suppression.
Gellerstein’s passion for his city’s bar and restaurant industry has also made SNACKTIME part of the fabric of the Philadelphia music food scene, collaborating on music and food events that partner with local charitable organizations. The band’s mission statement is “SNACKTIME is the party you wish you were at. Amazing food, delicious drinks, and booty-shaking music.” Who’s going to argue with that?
You can check out more of their sounds on Sounds From The Street: Live!, a 10-track, 50-minute compilation of “raw, unapologetic, booty-shaking bliss.”
I’m really pumped to have Gellerstein in the mix today on Dive Bar Jukebox. His playlist is a bit unexpected at times but is filled with passion and love. I mean, it’s the first drop of “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” on DBJ and I concur that it’s one of the best pop songs of all time. All I know is next time I’m in Philly I want to meet up with Sam over a couple pizzas and a magnum of Lambrusco (followed by some amaro) then get into trouble together at a local dive bar. Let’s make that happen, Sam.
