Biography
Michael Sackler-Berner - Vocals
Henry Geller - Guitar
Liberty Devitto - Drums
Kevin Jenkins - Bass
Only in the computer age can a band come together the way The Slim Kings have. Two elementary school friends reconnect on Facebook by “liking” the same YouTube links to Black Keys tracks, Kinks B-sides, and obscure Hendrix bootlegs. Inspired, one friend, guitarist Henry Geller, known for sharing the stage with Etta James and Johnny Winter, starts sending the other friend riffs recorded on his iPhone. The other friend, singer-songwriter Michael Sackler-Berner, best known for being a featured artist on Sons of Anarchy and Law & Order, sends the riffs back weeks later with melodies and lyrics. Text messages about tracking a record ensue.
Michael puts in a call to drummer, Liberty DeVitto, whom he connected with for a session via MySpace two years prior. Liberty, a drumming icon, known for his 30 years of hit making with Billy Joel, signs on for a couple days of recording based on the iPhone mp3s of Henry’s playing. Session ace Kevin Jenkins is emailed to see if he’ll play bass in the band between tour dates with blues star Shemika Copeland. He agrees.
One month later the band assembles in Brooklyn at Michael’s home studio, The Social Club. (The studio is named for the building’s previous exsistence as a mobbed up number running club.) Over the next two weeks the band completes basic tracks for their entire debut album, titles the record “Fresh Socks,” writes half the material for their second album, and agrees on calling themselves “The Slim Kings.”
Inspired by the fluidity of the collaboration, the band decides to investigate having the tracks professionally mixed. Stems are emailed to England to producer/engineer Tom Elmhirst’s management company. Hot off the success of Adele’s “21″ and Black Keys “El Camino,” the band has limited expectations given their non-existent budget, label, and track record. Three days after the band watches Tom accept the Grammy for record of the year on television, Tom emails the band a mix of his favorite Slim Kings track, “Need Me Too.”
Liberty posts “Need Me Too” on YouTube and within two days the song has over 2,000 plays and fans begin asking to see the band live. Facebook groups are created and twitter accounts activated.
The remaining tracks are sent to California, where mixer Brian Scheuble, known for his work with Stone Temple Pilots and Stevie Nicks, spends a couple weeks putting the finishing touches on “Fresh Socks.” Meanwhile the band starts receiving requests for radio interviews and TV licensing as the YouTube clip of “Need Me Too” continues to spread.
On June 21st, 2012 the band took to the stage for the first time under the red lights of New York’s most promiscuous burlesque club, The Box.
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