Samantha Fish is probably the first superstar to have come out of Kansas City. Her guitar playing is fierce, fast and powerful, she has a voice that could cut steel sheets, and she writes songs that will have you up and dancing like a loon. One of her finest features is her slide playing – completely original but classic at the same time. Her live performances are memorable and, as she has been touring for years, her stagecraft is superb.
‘Paper Doll’ is one of her best albums to date. Produced by long-time-collaborator and Detroit garage-rock luminary Bobby Harlow (The Go). Her band are all New Orleans based and bring a great sense of loose swing to a tight sound. She combines some fierce playing with subtle and emotive numbers, and any of the 9 songs here would make a fine single. The one that has is ‘Can Ya Handle The Heat’ – funky and powerful with a riff that just demands an air guitar.
Or then there is ‘Sweet Southern Sounds’. Gentle and steamy with a sweet backbone.
An excellent album, really up to her usual standards.
Fish will be touring in May and June and, based on seeing her in the near past, she will be one of the live highlights of the year. May.28.2025 - Cheese & Grain - Frome, UK May.29.2025 - Red Rooster Festival, Thetford, UK May.30.2025 - Arts Club - Liverpool, UK May.31.2025 - The Brook - Southampton, UK June.1.2025 - Academy 2 - Oxford, UK
