SINGER / SONGWRITER:
Eric Wennerstrand (AKA Epic / Mr. E) studied flamenco guitar at age and this accounts for the percussive and pummeling portions of his guitar style. Eric was exposed to broad variety of Classical Music and Modern Music by his father and brother which lead him to study classical music composition in college. Eric says that this early exposure lead him gave him a broad musical pallet. After college, Eric played in various bands in Northern California including The Grunge Band, N.U.G. and Surreal Humans in Tune.
After moving to Brookfield Wisconsin, he helped form the Rock Bands Benzona, and Von Din. His Bass playing with Benzona gained him recognition by the music blog The Rhythm Authority; among great artists such as Barry Sparks of the Band Dokken. In recent years Eric sharpened his metal guitar skills with band Beer Fish. He gained experience performing on large concert stages at the Milwaukee Summerfest, opening for Foghat, with The Freddie Band and with Von Din at the Milwaukee Germanfest.
In 2011 Eric began work on his acoustic Alt. Rock project E is For Epic, when he drew upon musical influences from Psychedelic, Punk, Metal, Hard Rock and Grunge genres. Influences sighted include Radio Head, Bob Dylan, and early Pink Floyd. Eric says he also borrows musical ideas from classical, folk and pop music. He says, " I try to keep the music I write sounding fresh and current. I do so by listening to new and modern music and integrating those sounds into my own music palette." In 2013 Eric created the band E is for Epic and in 2014 teamed up with the very talented Chris Ulbrich, on drums. To amazement of their audiences, the duo delivered a sound of 4. There combined contribution drives the band down a path of epic proportions. Today the band is composed of Chris Mandel on bass. Chente Medina on bass, and Mr. E (Eric Wennerstrand) on guitars.
ON DRUMS:
Chente Medina
Cholo Chente (Vicente "Chente" Medina) is a local musician and songwriter based in the Waukesha, Wisconsin area. A Kettle Moraine High School alumnus, he plays piano, guitar, bass, and drums, and writes original music that can be explored on his Cholo Chente SoundCloud Profile and Cholo Chente Spotify Artist Page. For over a decade, Vicente has been involved in local music scenes, previously playing as a drummer for Bam Bam & The Gigolos and a guitarist for Adorable Vandals. His personal music projects are a blend of his multi-instrumental skills and songwriting talents
ON BASS:
Chris Mandel is an active, gigging freelance bassist based out of the Greater Milwaukee area. Known dynamically in the local circuit by his stage name, "Smokin' Chris Mandel," he focuses primarily on live rhythm-section performance, low-end groove construction, and regional collaboration. Chris Mandel. Hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, his Musical Specialization includes Pocket playing, groove anchoring, and rhythm sections. Genre Competencies: Blues, funk, classic rock, and surf rock. Performance & Style Focus Mandel's playing style emphasizes a tight, rhythmic pocket designed to drive live dance floors. He serves primarily as a foundational "low tones" player, prioritizing the collaborative groove. He officially stepped in to anchor the low end for The Deep Blue Crew in late 2024, debuting his first full live showcase at The Garage in Milwaukee. Outside of his main lineup duties, he collaborates with local Wisconsin players for venue bookings and seasonal festivals.
