What do you get when you take four good friends, all professional musicians as well as rabid golf fans, throw in three guitars, a dash of bass, a pinch of drums and season with a touch of irreverent humor? You get The Hackers, a St. Augustine based acoustic band that blends seamless harmonies with a solid friendship that goes back as far as 35 years.
The Hackers consist of Gregg Chirico, Walt Kulwicki, Woody Pernell and David Besley, four friends with a standing weekly golf date. The golf date evolved into a jam session and soon it became clear to all involved that they indeed, had a band on their hands. It was time, as they say, to take this show on the road.

That road led to the Creekside Dinery. With their large stage and outdoor deck overlooking the intercoastal waterway, it was the perfect setting for a nice relaxing dinner, enjoying some music and watching the light dance on the water as the sun sets. “We’re a bunch of guys that like getting together and having fun,” said Besley. “We enjoy hanging out with each other and I think that carries over. I think the audience enjoys hanging out with us too.” The banter between the bandmembers onstage often spills over into the audience.

“We’ll take a request but we haven’t rehearsed the song together,” explains Besley. Sometimes it does have its moments.
Each Hacker is an accomplished musician in his own right and lends his own flavor to the band. Kulwicki, Besley and Pernell are members of Those Guys , and Chirico’s group is Mr. Natural.  With a song list that covers the spectrum from Crosby Stills Nash and Young to the Rolling Stones to the Monkees, they are drawing an audience of all ages.