Slick Fitty
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Slick Fitty

Band Rock Americana

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"07/22/2004"


recently called us the best exported band in capital-land. Here is the text:
Best Band (Exported)
Slick Fitty

It’s said that, in this business of music, you have to go where the work is. For rockabilly revivalists Slick Fitty, that means regular trips overseas—to Germany, to be specific. We’re not sure whether they’re getting a sweet money deal or if they’re just über-fond of wheat beer and bratwurst, but our rockabilly boys have been spending an awful lot of time over there this year—in fact, they’re currently in the midst of their second six-week German tour in six months—and we’re right proud of them. Wir gratulieren, boys!

- Local weekly, The Metroland


"This export is music to the ears"

Last year, the band only played four Albany shows -- at Valentine's, Savannah's, the Larkin and the now-defunct Elbo Room. Don't think, though, that the members of Slick Fitty are a bunch of slacker musicians.

Quite the contrary.

They've actually been very busy lately, churning out their brand of vintage American roots rock at such nightclubs as the Rattlesnake Saloon, Mad 'n' Crazy, the Voodoo Bar and the Sonic Ballroom.

Of course, there's a reason that you probably haven't heard about those gigs -- all of those clubs are in Germany.

Last year, Slick Fitty hit the road for three tours of Germany, playing 65 gigs. And that's not counting the other shows they played in Switzerland and Austria.

"When we go back over again later this year, we're going to break into the Netherlands, too," said saxman Justin "Evil J" Birk.

How did it happen? Well, as the adage goes, luck is when preparation meets opportunity.

"I was hosting an open mike night at Savannah's," said guitarist Scotty Mac, "so I invited the rest of the band to come down and play. There was a woman in the audience who owns a hotel in Sweden, and she said, 'You guys should really come over and play at my place.' We took it with a grain of salt, but we decided to pursue it."

Early last year, they began e-mailing booking agents in Europe to see if they could stir up any interest. "We got three responses, picked the one we liked best and went with it," Mac said. "It was just kind of willy-nilly, and we didn't know what was going to happen."

The band members -- including drummer Mickey King, bassist Brian "Bri Bri Two Hammers" Springfield and vocalist "Crazy" Joe Domingo, as well as Birk and Mac -- are all longtime veterans of the Capital Region music scene, formerly playing in such bands as the Erotics, Can't Say, the Rockin' Bonnevilles and F-Timmi. But this was the first time that any of them had embarked on an international tour. And none of them speaks German, either.

But as it turned out, the language barrier was no problem, and Slick Fitty was a hit in Germany. "At our first show over there, there were 250 to 300 people going crazy for us," Springfield said. "We were like, 'What is this?' They just love rock 'n' roll over there."

"And they pay a lot better than here," King said. "For a regular club gig, we got paid 500 euros, which is about $630. Plus each club provided us with free beer, two meals and put us up in a hotel every night."

They're not getting rich yet, but it's more than just a free vacation. "We actually ended up with money at the end of the tour," King said.

Originally booked for a dozen gigs on their first tour, they made contacts and did enough legwork that by the time they arrived home five weeks later, they'd played nearly twice as many shows.

"I think that part of our appeal is that we're exotic -- we're American," Birk said
- Albany Times Union Sunday, March 20, 2005


Discography

Live At Candytime Junction- 2004
Where the Chrome Shines Bright- 2005
Chin Music- 2007

Photos

Bio

Well, we've been playing with this line up since late 2003. We spent the better part of 2003-2006 touring Europe; namely Germany but including the Netherlands, Austria and Sweden. While having record label success, our bass player was called back up to duty in the US ARMY to serve in Afghanistan. Upon his return this year, we have been preparing to take over the stages of America as we once had done in Europe.
As far as style goes, we come from many different backrounds including punk, blues, ska and glam! But, we found ourselves all in love with classic American artists and those artists who try to express that sound of musics good times. Little Richard to Hank Williams III; Hank senior to Buddy Holly, to Chris Isaak, to the Ventures, to the munsters (The Television show).