It starts with a stomp, a riff, and the unmistakable feeling that something is about to explode. Bon Boy, the no-filter alter ego of multi-instrumentalist Steve Stenholt, has just dropped his latest sonic gut-punch: a sweat-drenched, throttle-open cover of Bob Seger’s “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man.” It’s the kind of track that doesn’t ask for your attention — it grabs you by the collar and demands it.
Born in Wisconsin, musically raised in Chicago, sharpened in New York, and now cooking in the desert heat of Arizona, Bon Boy is a wandering musical vagabond — an artist whose geography mirrors the erratic energy of his sound. There’s a sense of movement in everything he does — a refusal to sit still or fit neatly into any one genre. “I love Bob Seger. I love the Silver Bullet Band. And I love drinking silver bullets (otherwise known as Coors Light in America),” Bon Boy confesses when asked about the song. “This cover and video bring all those loves together.” If that quote doesn’t already tell you everything you need to know about the chaotic spirit of the project, just hit play.
This isn’t a polished homage. This is Bon Boy tearing through classic rock with punk urgency, garage-rock scuzz, and a wild gleam in his eye. It’s dirty, defiant, and perfectly unhinged, like the track was recorded live in the back room of a bar somewhere between L.A. and a forgotten Midwestern town.
The recording journey for “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” started with a demo tracked in Tucson, then exploded into full form under the California sun with producer Justin Ripley, and finally made its way to Chicago for a gritty, no-polish mix by Mike Novak. The result? A track that feels like it time-travelled out of a 1970s dive bar and landed smack in the middle of today’s messy reality.
The accompanying video — shot guerrilla-style across the alleys, rooftops, and backstreets of L.A. — doesn’t just match the chaos of the music. It amplifies it. Director Afshin Hatami captured Bon Boy in full outlaw mode: stumbling through the city with a silver bullet in hand and absolutely no regard for permits or permission. “No permits. Too much Coors Light. And my body will never recover,” Bon Boy adds.
If the world’s burning, Bon Boy’s advice is simple: turn it up, crack a cold one, and raise hell.
