Concert Review – Samantha Fish, Koko, London – 6th October 2024

Concert Review – Samantha Fish, Koko, London – 6th October 2024

By Simon Green

It’s always a must-see show when Samantha Fish comes over to the UK. This was one of those nights when it was definitely worth braving the elements to journey into deepest Camden Town, London, to catch this captivating performer deliver an energetic performance. I don’t know whether 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.

In recent tours she has been promoting specific solo albums, like Kill Or Be Kind and Faster, as well her superb collaboration with Jesse Dayton, Death Wish Blues, where the focus was on showcasing new songs, as well as peppering the set with live favourites. Without ever approaching the pedestrian side of blues rock, her live playing is typically inventive and rocky, with short, explosive solos that are distinctively her own style.

On this evening, and presumably on the whole tour, the set list, chosen from across her albums, comprised one song after another with a heavy groove, starting with MC5’s ‘Kick Out The Jams’ on a wild ride that barely paused for breath. The focus this time seemed to be all about having a good time, the guitarist really digging into her fretboard repertoire and expressing herself with complete freedom. Belters like ‘Better Be Lonely’ and ‘Bulletproof’ followed from the aforementioned albums, the latter track notable for its pounding cigar box slide and hypnotic beat.

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 dialed down from a fast boil to a hot simmer, starting with a superb rendition of ‘Chills & Fever’ and, late in the set, a lovely version of ‘Dream Girl’ where the band took it right down and her voice soared through the venue, which, needless to say was packed to the rafters. ‘I Put A Spell On You’ was the first of two encores and again featured an impressive torchy vocal performance of this standard as well as a long, mesmerising solo that built and built.

For the last number she was joined by Zac Schulze, who’s band, The Zac Schulze Gang had been the evening’s opening act. They had played a totally blistering set at 100 miles an hour and are a dynamic act well worth seeing in their own right. The guitar duo played a raucous version of ‘Going Down South’ trading solos and rinsing every nuance of the blues scale out of their instruments. Just brilliant. Grab ‘em while they’re hot!

Samantha Fish UK Tour Dates HERE