Various permutations of the Flapjaw experiment morphed into the Whale’s Knees with Wally Barnick, Bo Dugger, and Scott Jeffries. Combining the best original songs from the previous incarnation band we started adding cover songs to the pot. Here at The Spindle, a primo downtown San Luis Obispo, CA outdoor cafe, we would pack them in on the weekend afternoons. Four hours of this and we would pack up the gear and go down the creek to The Cigar Factory where we played happy hour and then the 9-2 night gig downstairs. Altogether a total of 10 hours playing netted us $75 each, two meals, and all the beer we could drink…plus an extensive amount of notoriety and ego massaging. The bliss of the 70’s was building a foundation of musical styles, confidence, experience, and yearning for something of greater substance. And, yes, the hair is a perm…

Mark’s Musical Journey