While the mainstream media may overlook what’s most special about New Hope, PA, those familiar with the town’s rich musical history know the real story. Amy Yates Wuelfing offers an excellent treatise on the subject in her oral history of the legendary John & Peter’s, the rock venue that since 1972 has served as stomping grounds for artists the likes of Chris Harford, Scott Metzger (Joe Russo’s Almost Dead), and the members of Ween. It’s within this vibrant scene that the Kevin Rovner Band was born, and its debut live album, Live in New Hope, is a testament to the impressive talent thriving there.
Rovner came up under the wings of Dean Ween, Michael “Kidd Funkadelic” Hampton (Parliament-Funkadelic, 420 Funk Mob), and Bill Fowler (Sound of Urchin, Dean Ween Group) as a member of the Invitational, a rotating cast of talented local musicians who have played J&P’s nearly every Wednesday night for going on 15 years. As a member of the Invitational, Rovner has learned from the best, developing fingers and ears that have served him well and allow him to play both lead and supporting roles in his music.
“We make music because we love doing it,” says Rovner of KRB, which came together almost a decade ago after an SOS call from one of the owners of John & Peter’s. “I remember back in 2016, Cribber [Christopher “Cribber” Williams, aka Mean Ween] called me up a couple days before Christmas, saying their Saturday night Christmas Eve band cancelled on them and they needed a last-minute fill-in. I called up a few buddies, and for lack of a better name, Kevin Rovner Band was born. We ended up packing the bar!”
From that serendipitous beginning, KRB became a fixture at John and Peter’s, serving as the “break in case of emergency” house band. The band’s lineup, initially fluid, has calcified over time and includes longtime collaborators Steve Amato (bass), Tyler “Big Boing” Chiara (drums), and Donald McGrath (guitar/synth).
“It feels like I’ve always played in bands with Steve on bass,” Rovner said. He describes Chiara as bringing musicality to the group and having the patience of a Buddhist monk, often knowing what Rovner is going to play ten seconds before he plays it. “Donald is the glue that holds it all together. He has an incredible way of creating entire soundscapes, to the point where you forget he’s just playing a guitar.”
All of this circles back to Live in New Hope, recorded at Dharma Bums, another local venue that brings national acts to the area that’s almost equidistant between Philly and NYC. According to Rovner, the hour-long release captures what KRB is all about: fun, raw energy, and improvisational prowess.
The recording captures the band in its element, delivering high-energy performances that showcase its instrumental talent and hive-mind-like mojo. The band opens with Booker T. & the M.G.‘s “Melting Pot”, where McGrath’s code-switching approach is abundantly clear.
“He’s a humble shredder,” Rovner said. “Playing these beautiful, rich chord textures, and suddenly going nuclear on the fretboard, sometimes in the same song. He’s really allowed me to take a step back from constantly being the lead voice, and focus on the content and delivery of the songs themselves.”
That focus is evident in the subsequent pair of instrumentals, “Sidesteppin’” and “Room Test”, evoking Circles Around The Sun and stretching out over almost half of the set. Alternating among a Suhr, Telecaster, and Gibson ES-339 (you read correctly—not a 335), Rovner demonstrates that he more than pulls his weight on guitar.
From there, the band moved into songs with words, beginning with a cover of Dean Ween Group’s “Mercedes Benz,” from 2016’s The Deaner Album, a regular in the Invitational’s set and what should be a neo-improvisational-rock standard. Two Chiara originals follow, both told from the perspective of a pig contemplating a future on the dinner table. (This may sound weird, but for context, Chiara is the same guy who leads a solo project called Big Boing’s Acid Rainbow and has written a concept album about being the house band at the Mos Eisley cantina on Tatooine.) The band closes the set with “Sputter”, a Rovner original that begins as a ballad urging listeners on, even during the hard times, and ends in an upbeat jam suggesting better things to come. In parallel to its improvisational chops, the band prioritizes and continues to lean into songwriting, both music and lyrics.
Consider Live in New Hope an introduction, Rovner’s declaration of his deep connection to the town and its thriving music scene. He also plays supporting roles with Sam Ryan Band, led by the current lead singer of Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Calla Bere & the Attitude, led by Rovner’s soon-to-be wife. With its debut studio album on the horizon, the Kevin Rovner Band is just getting started as it carves its own place in the musical legacy of New Hope.
Kevin Rover Band — Live In New Hope