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Review: Samantha Fish, Tramshed – ‘non-stop breathless blues’
Singer, songwriter, and lead guitarist Samantha Fish is known first and foremost for her fretwork.
Since 2009 her debut album Live Bait, she has wooed fans around the world with her dynamic stage presence and charisma.
In that time, she’s proven herself to be not just a prodigious blues singer and guitarist, but one who has refined her unique sound – pulling from rock’n’roll, Americana, country, soul and pop with every passing record.
is needed now More than ever
Samantha Fish and her band electrified the Tramshed stage in Cardiff with her signature blend of blues, rock, and soul.
Samantha Fish and her band electrified the Tramshed stage – Laurie Monk
Fish wasted no time in showcasing her mesmerising guitar skills.
Her fingers danced effortlessly across the fretboard, turning out soulful licks and searing solos that seemed to pour straight from the depths of her being.
It’s always a must-see show when Samantha Fish comes over to the UK.
This was one of those nights when it was worth braving the elements to journey across the bridge into Cardiff, to catch this captivating performer deliver a blistering performance.
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After an over 20 year and seven solo albums, Fish has racked up accolades and awards aplenty through her resolute and adroit application of blues-craft.
Tonight, her playing was stratospheric, and her vocals have gone to another level entirely – without a doubt she is the full package.
Bursting onstage with her version of MC5s Kick Out The Jams, Sam and her band gave us almost two hours of non-stop breathless blues of the highest order.
We got fan favourites Wild Heart and Better Be Lonely early on, lifting the feel-good factor instantly.
Fish has racked up accolades and awards aplenty through her resolute and adroit application of blues-craft – Paul Gainey
Other early highlights were Watch It Die and the sublime Chills And Fever.
Perhaps it’s because she is gearing herself up to shortly join the Experience Hendrix tour in the States but the guitarist played like a demon all night, knocking out extended solos left right and centre.
Her live playing is typically inventive and rocky, with short, explosive solos that are distinctively her own style.
I also must give a shout out to Zac Schulze Gang for a top class support slot.
Samantha Fish’s support act, Zac Schulze Gang, gave a top class performance – Paul Gainey
A high-energy power trio with more than a nod to Rory Gallagher in style, they gave us a no-holds-barred blues rock barrage.
Returning to Fish, the focus when she hits the stage seemed to be all about having a good time.
The guitarist really dug into her fretboard repertoire and expressed herself with complete freedom.
Belters like Better Be Lonely and Bulletproof with its pounding cigar box slide and hypnotic beat.
Samantha Fish gave us fan favourites like Better Be Lonely and Bulletproof – Paul Gainey
A frenetic version of Miles To Go from Black Wind Howling epitomised the electrically charged vibe of the evening.
Samantha’s voice has never sounded better and was especially effective on the few occasions when the temperature was dialled down from a fast boil to a hot simmer.
She gave a superb rendition of Chills & Fever and a lovely version of Dream Girl where the band took it right down and her voice soared.
Fish’s gleaming white Gibson SG howls at the full moon, paying reverence to Hendrix, and there’s an undercurrent of the late, great Aretha Franklin in those vocals.
Samantha Fish’s voice has never sounded better – Paul Gainey
Like a mix between Aretha Franklin and Amy Winehouse, Fish’s music evokes a very 21st century feel and gives the musician a clear identity in what can sometimes feel like a cookie cutter industry.
Partway through the gig she straps on an acoustic to play the old Charley Patton number Miles to Go.
Seeing Sam onstage alone at that point, holding the large audience silently spellbound by her performing a 1930s old Delta blues so deftly, is further evidence of the confidence and star quality she possesses.
After that, we go back to full electric blues mode for a couple of numbers before we are treated to some Mississippi Hill Country blues.
Dream Girl and Black Wind take us swirling to the end of the show but, fear not, the encore follows quickly and is worth admission by itself.
I Put A Spell On You was the first of two encores and again featured an impressive torchy vocal performance as well as a long, mesmerising solo that built and built.
Sam played a long, superb rendition of the Screaming Jay Hawkins classic.
Special mention must go to Sams’s band, who provided no histrionics and no fuss but just world-class musicianship allowing Sam to do her thing.
Kudos to Mickey Finn (keys & Hammond), Ron Johnson (bass) and Jamie Douglass (drums).
Fish punched with a heavyweight force for sure.
For the last number she was joined by Zac Schulze, and the guitar duo played a raucous version of Going Down South, trading solos and rinsing every note of the blues scale out of their instruments.
Samantha is unique.
She isn’t the next version of someone else but the first Samantha Fish! She’s just brilliant.
Main photo: Laurie Monk
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