Attendance Bias “You Never Know,” 10/31/13 @ Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ w/Kevin Rovner
Hi everybody and welcome to today’s episode of Attendance Bias. I am your host, Brian Weinstein. Several guests have come on the podcast to discuss Phish’s famous Halloween shows, and there’s always plenty to say. Today’s guest, Kevin Rovner of the Kevin Rovner Band chose not only the most controversial Halloween show in Phish’s history–the infamous Wingsuit set from 2013, but he also chose to zero in on one specific song from that set: “You Never Know.” The last song from that set, and it hasn’t been played since that night.
When it comes to Phish Halloween shows, the discussion always reveals a lot about the guest, and today’s conversation is quite refreshing. Although today’s episode really focuses on the fall 2013 tour and the unprecedented step of Phish playing a brand new album in front of an unsuspecting audience, there’s also a deep discussion of how the Wingsuit Halloween was a turning point for the band. Looking back 12 years later, it’s easy to see how the playing playing “an album from the future” changed the very concept of a musical costume, and helped direct the band to more recent Halloween sets that break from tradition.
But there’s more to it than that. Kevin brings our attention to one of the lesser-known Phish songs, “You Never Know,” that gives us a brief lesson in Phish history, and also provides a notable contrast between the music and the story that inspired it. In other words, one could argue that it proves how Phish was still pushing themselves even within the premise of that unbelievable set of all new music.
So let’s join Kevin to talk about Spongebob SquarePants, SPAC, and Abe Vagoda, as we discuss “You Never Know” from October 31, 2013 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.