The Pistil Whips at Encore 201

The Pistil Whips are an amazing duo and a staff favorite at Encore 201. They combine the styles of funk, blues, and jazz to make a sound all their own. Eric Dane Jaqua plays the revolutionary Farmer Foot Drums (a drum set operated with the feet only), guitar and vocals simultaneously. With William "Love" LaTournuea on sax, clarinet, keys and beatbox flute.

Will and Eric met at Bliss Fest, a roots music festival that takes place near Cross Village MI, in the summer of 2013. Will was there to perform with Boyne City's The Galactic Sherpas. Eric was also at the festival to perform with northern MI premier blues duo Hipps-N-Ricco. After meeting and jamming, it was obvious the two had something that had to be shared with the world. Funk...

Since then, they have continued to develop their unique sound. Adding various instruments to the mix with multi-tasking in mind. When you close your eyes at a Pistil Whips show, it sounds like a four piece grit-funk band is on the stage. The crowds are, more times then not, blown away with how much sound is being put out by two men. But not just the amount of sound, the quality of the music as well.      

The Pistil Whips strive to perform "unorthodox funky music for unorthodox funky people".

In late fall 2014, the duo put out their first four song ep entitled "The Real You" recorded by Eric at a friends studio in Petoskey MI. They continue to give away free copies of this ep at all of the duo's live shows.

On December 15th, 2015 The Pistil Whips released their first full length album entitled "Stache". Recorded in Central Lake MI, with audio engineer Dave Runyan. The album contains elements of funk, blues, rock, hip-hop, gypsy-jazz and spanish influences. Produced by The Pistil Whips and Dave Runyan.

The Pistil Whips have played countless shows all over Michigan gaining new friends and fans on every stop of the way. They average 250 shows a year, and have given away thousands of cds to new faces. The Pistil Whips continue on their quest of spreading good vibes of funk and friendship across the land. Contact them today and get them in a town near you!