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, and The Replacements. Chris Knight, Todd Snider, and Keith Christopher make up some of his more recent influences. Chico has never been too far from the stage. Playing in local bands for the past 12 years has been a way to blow off steam from a busy job and a long commute. Starting with Pispoure in 2001, he has lent his bass guitar to Fate Denied Us Victory, Future Farmers of America, and Disciples of Agriculture. He was also founding member and bass player of other acts such as The El Mighty Chicos, Tony Clifton Revival, and Rule of Three. In all of these bands the one consistent and constant companion was Keith Christopher, who either played guitar or drums in the various outfits. After having worked with the above acts, performing strictly as a bass player, Chico ventured out to start his own endeavor writing his own material, and along with Christopher they formed Esquela in 2008. When not noodling around on the guitar or jotting down lyrics to his next jaunty anthem, Chico is running the show at GreenSlate, an entertainment payroll and software company—that serves the entertainment industry. Upstate he lords over his gentleman’s farmstead where he lives with his wife, Wendy, and his two young daughters.