Photo courtesy of Steve Hefter @ www.rrb-live.com
Samantha Fish stalked the stage at the Birchmere like a woman with an inner vision, one that alternated between driving her to rock and roll madness on one hand, and to soulful blues balladeer on the other. Throughout the evening she was clearly in charge of her moment in the spotlight, and the only question left unanswered for the listener concerned which was more powerful, her guitar playing, or her otherworldly blues-soaked wail.
The show opened with Fish announcing that this was going to be a different kind of show. As it turned out, the set featured both her powerhouse power trio format, and covered nearly the entire track list of her upcoming release Wild Heart.
Fish started the fireworks with “Road Runner,” playing a burning slide guitar that rode on the rumbling rhythm provided by Go Go Ray on Drums and Chris Alexander on bass. Fish started the show with the sort of intensity that many acts end on, and she kept building on that foundation.
From there the band launched into “Blame it on The Moon,” proving that this was not going to be a quiet night of introspection. The title track, “Wild Heart” followed. Then, after another song, a slow blues rock ballad with a distinctly southern feel, Fish switched to acoustic guitar for “Lost Myself.”
Fish started the fireworks with “Road Runner,” playing a burning slide guitar that rode on the rumbling rhythm provided by Go Go Ray on Drums and Chris Alexander on bass. Fish started the show with the sort of intensity that many acts end on, and she kept building on that foundation.
From there the band launched into “Blame it on The Moon,” proving that this was not going to be a quiet night of introspection. The title track, “Wild Heart” followed. Then, after another song, a slow blues rock ballad with a distinctly southern feel, Fish switched to acoustic guitar for “Lost Myself.”
Photo courtesy of Steve Hefter at www.rrb-live.com Fish played electric, slide, acoustic, and cigar box guitar, demonstrating her superb fretwork and reveling in the exemplary musicianship of her bandmates. At times she swaggered across the stage like a badass bluesman, at other times she danced around like a whirling dervish, caught up in feverish intensity of the material.
“Black Wind Howling” was all furious attack and sonic squall, a storm of solos set against a thundering front provided by her accomplices. There were a couple of covers thrown in, but the night belonged to Fish’s own compositions. One of the best songs of the night was “Go Home,” a country soul ballad on acoustic guitar. The night closed with “Bitch on the Run,” leaving the audience with a profound sense of joy and awe at the energy and authority with which Fish and her compadres ruled the Birchmere stage.
“Black Wind Howling” was all furious attack and sonic squall, a storm of solos set against a thundering front provided by her accomplices. There were a couple of covers thrown in, but the night belonged to Fish’s own compositions. One of the best songs of the night was “Go Home,” a country soul ballad on acoustic guitar. The night closed with “Bitch on the Run,” leaving the audience with a profound sense of joy and awe at the energy and authority with which Fish and her compadres ruled the Birchmere stage.
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