THE BAND
Esquela, a proud purveyor of the Bovina Rock sound, is not limited by its rural roots but grounded in them and uses its provenance as a springboard to sing about universals that fans can appreciate. War, politics, relationships and the banalities of everyday life, provide fodder for the band’s original songwriting while a talented and passionate group of musicians wrap those lyrics in a roots-rock-Americana sound that both beguiles and charms its listeners.
John “Chico” Finn
Vocals, bass
A Bovina lifer, Finn grew up listening to 8-track tapes of Merle Haggard and Buck Owens, among other country and bluegrass artists. Later influences handed down from older brother Danny, included The Ramones, The Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and NRBQ. Along the way, he discovered Bruce Springsteen, The Band...read moreRebecca Frame
Vocals
An upstater by way of North Carolina, Rebecca spent portions of her childhood summers in East Meredith, New York. Today, she counts herself lucky to call the Catskills foothills home. She and boyfriend, fellow bandmate Brian Shafer, reside in a parsonage in Richmondville. Falling asleep to the sound of her Dad playing the piano and singing...read moreBrian Shafer
Lead guitar
Brian Shafer spent many a Sunday afternoon camping out in his brother’s bedroom, listening to three-hour playbacks of an affiliated Hard Rock/Heavy Metal radio show recorded on cassette tapes. Then, along came MTV and Circus Magazine, cultural touchstones that solidified his education as a rocker. Hair bands of the 80s and...read moreMatt Woodin
Mandolin, guitar
Matt Woodin grew up in the hamlet of Andes, New York, and attended Delaware Academy where the drums became his instrument of choice. The radio was a running soundtrack in his childhood home. The Band, The Grateful Dead, Dire Straits, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and all things Motown, further informed his musical path growing up. Ever evolving...read moreKeith Christopher
Bass
Keith Christopher, born in Atlanta, Georgia, co-founded the Southern rock band, Keith and the Satellites in 1980 alongside Dan Baird, Rick Richards and Davis Michaelson. Later known as the Georgia Satellites, the band is best known for their 1986 single “Keep Your Hands to Yourself”, which went to number two on the US Billboard Top 100...read moreEric “Roscoe” Ambel
Producer
Veteran singer/guitarist/songwriter/producer/raconteur Eric Ambel—known to friends, associates and bandmates as Roscoe—is the possessor of an estimable musical resume that’s established his credentials as a deeply committed rocker as well as a witty and thoughtful songwriter. Between his current duties as producer, bandleader, song writer and studio proprietor, he’s found time to launch his own label...read moreMike Ricciardi
Drums
Mike hails from upstate New York. After a frustrating and sometimes painful experience playing trombone in the fifth grade and being told he was too small for the local fife & drum marching band, he and his brother found the baseball minor league version (the “cadets”) of the Grenadiers Jr. Drum & Bugle Corps. They practiced drums just about every day while mom and dad never complained, even when visited by police officers and neighbors, some as far as three blocks away. ...read more
(illustration by Kate Burrascano @crittercity)
Esquela is an indie-roots-Americana band featuring amazing vocalist Rebecca Frame; who holds court with lead guitarist Brian Shafer; Chico Finn on acoustic and vocals; Matt Woodin on guitar, Keith Christopher on bass; and Mike Ricciardi on drums. Fun and festive, Esquela is loaded up with rich orchestration, layered harmonies, and soaked in rural sensibilities, all produced by Eric “Roscoe” Ambel.