Featured Musician: John Bonoan

In passing, I actually met John a number of times when I was a groupie for his band Bochek back in 2019. But our paths never truly crossed to the extend they are at now, until 2024, when we both were employees at a local coffee shop. When the idea to write an article about John was put on my radar, I jumped at the opportunity. In this article, you will certainly see why.

John's journey as a musician started at the ripe age of 7, around 2005, when his obsession with Guitar Hero sparked his love for the real thing. From there, he encouraged his parents to sign him up for lessons. This was the right move, as in 2012 (when everyone thought the world was ending,) ignited his career in the local scene, as the formation of Bochek was born. As 14 year olds, founding members: Nevin Kosinski on vocals, Dante Krystman on bass, Zack Davey on drums, and John on guitar of course were slowly becoming breakout stars in the Providence music scene. As their career progressed, they added Lucy Mangelson on drums to replace Zack, as well as Joseph Rebelo on keys and second guitar. Through this experience of collaborating with his friends, John was able to fully express himself.

John at one of his first gigs on Acoustic Guitar

Now, I am not sure what the original sound of Bochek entailed, but for those unfamiliar, and as listed on their Bandcamp, they portray themselves as follows, "bochek’s esoteric brand of indie rock is an alchemical fusion of the tastes and interests of its contributors. and they’re a bunch of fuckin freaks." Bochek built quite the fanbase in both local and national communities, playing frequently at local venues such as Dusk (RIP,) News Cafe, AS220, etc to heading on various tours. Now, here comes the sad part, Bochek is actually on a live show hiatus, right now. But rest-assured, they anticipate the release of their third album, engineered by Chaimes Parker of Big Nice Studio. To follow the status of their album, follow Bochek on Instagram!

Recent photo of Bochek, featuring Dante Krystman (left), John Bonoan (center left,) Joseph Rebelo (center), Nevin Kosinski (center right,) and Lucy Mangelson (bottom right) Picture by @lizvecchione

John describes, the Providence music scene is "tight-knit," which led him to cross paths with Rhode Island based, Luthier Nick Holcomb, of Holcomb Guitars, located in North Providence. John has always been fascinated with the ins-and-outs of guitars as his mentors Chris and Greg Farias pushed him to do so; and he eventually became a Shop Assistant to Nick in 2022. As for the present, John runs his own guitar / bass repair business out of his Studio in Tiverton. He has worked with various clients from local to touring musicians. Reach out to him here for any instrument related inquires!

Sarah Greenwell on vocals and lead guitar, and John Bonoan on bass. Photo by @alexilyadis

John's career as a local and touring musician does not end here. He is actually in three other bands. They are as follows: Gymshorts, led by Sarah Greenwell, Jimsobbins / Cindy 7 led by Adam Howe and Lucy Mangelson, and finally Cheap City led by Clover Nahbahdi. His role in each band varies. Gymshorts is heading on a West Coast tour in March, where John lays a solid foundation on bass. He also gets wild on the bass with Cheap City. And lastly, he rips guitar lead in Jimsobbins / Cindy 7.

John Bonoan's journey is a testament to his passion, talent, and relentless dedication to music. From his early days of Guitar Hero to becoming a key player in the Providence music scene, John has left an indelible mark as both a musician and a luthier. Whether he’s on stage with one of his four bands or crafting and repairing instruments in his studio, John continues to inspire and contribute to the community he loves. As he juggles his many roles, it’s clear that John’s influence is key in the scene. Keep an eye on this multi-talented artist, as his story is far from over!