Professional Players with Fun Attitude
Whole Shot, chaser or not, goes down smooth
Whole Shot is a dynamic band known for their eclectic musical repertoire and captivating performances. Featuring Justin Illges on vocals, Eric Horton and Tray Nichols on lead and rhythm guitars, Grant Foster on bass, and Wesley Balcomb Fikre on drums, the band seamlessly blends genres and eras. Their setlist spans from the bluesy riffs of Los Lonely Boys and Joe Bonamassa to the soulful tunes of BB King, and from the country vibes of Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean to the classic rock sounds of Joe Cocker. Whole Shot delivers a versatile and engaging experience for audiences of all musical tastes.
About the band
Poured from the same well
- Justin Sane Illges – Vocal and Conductor:
With a solid grasp on rhythm, vocal intonation and a freakish knack for remembering lyrics, Justin ‘Sane’ Illges has enjoyed being the ‘conductor’ for great classic rock, country and blues dance bands such as Kirk, Spock and Bones, Crank Case, and Cool Under Pressure since the early 90’s. As a singer, he has been in monthly rotations at popular local clubs such as Number One Broadway and Britannia Arms, bringing maximum capacity crowds on the regular, as well as delivering the goods to larger gigs during Music in the Park or the trusted musical dance to private crowds for weddings and corporate Christmas parties.In Venues small or large, long sets or short, Whole Shot has it all. As the Conductor for this great Blues, Rock and Country dance band, Justin Sane thrives on the crowd and delivers in front of an excellent line-up of extremely talented musicians that are sure to bring the shimmy out in anyone! - Eric Elric Horton – Lead/Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals:
In the 1970s, the Santa Cruz Mountains in California were a breeding ground for musicians, and among them was Elric, a guitar duelist with wide musical tastes. Born and raised as a mountain boy in the 1970s, Elric’s love for music began at a young age. He spent his days exploring the natural wonders of the Santa Cruz Mountains and his nights jamming with older blues musicians in the local music scene, cutting his teeth with some of the best blues players in Northern California.Since then, Elric has embraced any kind of music that gets his imagination going. From Rock and Metal, to Blues and Jazz, Gypsy and Latin, Country, Bluegrass, and Americana. This wide range gives Elric the ability to play just about any style and a moment’s notice, and he brings that in spades to Whole Shot. - Tray Nichols – Lead/Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals:
is a guitar enthusiast, and has been playing for the last 35 years.Tray’s influences are wildly divers, from R&B to blues, Rock and Roll, to bone crushing Metal. Tray first started playing music with Justin Sane and Elric in the early 2000’s in the original rock band, Shrink Circus – playing rhythm guitar supporting their album “No Lust for Result”.
- Grant Foster – Bass, Backing Vocals
is from Los Gatos, CA. Attending the great variety of blues jams around the Bay Area, and bluegrass jams with the SCVFA, has provided him with valuable experience as an electric and upright bass player performing with different musicians and a range of talent. He actively plays Blues, Country, R&B, Classic Rock and Pop and works in live sound engineering and recording. His favorite bands/artists/influences since high school are Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Rush and Boston. He is always working hard to help provide the groove, drive and energy that keeps people dancing! - Drummer Wanted – Drums, Backing Vocals:
We are a blues, classic rock and (a little bit) country band seeking a seasoned drummer. Currently have two guitars, bass and singer, all talented players. We have a great set list of songs that is growing, is not mainstream, and geared for dancing! We are not a jam band but might extend solos when the dancing is good.What we’re looking for – a solid, experienced drummer who is very (!) conscious of volume, owns the pocket, knows the difference between a rock beat and a true blues shuffle, can swing, and knows when to play through the turn-around versus playing the fill. We’re all super chill, easy going, and have been in various original and cover bands for decades. We’re down with having a good time, but we’re in this to maintain a very talented band who take the show, not themselves, seriously.
You – do your homework and practice at home; come prepared for rehearsal, able to continue building a solid repertoire, nail the songs, polish harmonies, and have no baggage or mental health issues. We have gigs booked. We have day jobs and some are in multiple bands, so we do have some flexibility and a working calendar. Local venues (Campbell, Santa Cruz, San Jose) and festivals are the target and… who knows!
If you’re interested, feel free to respond and we can set up a call or what have you. Cheers!