Samantha Fish
Chills & Fever
(Ruf)
When I first heard the music of Missouri blues-rocker Samantha
Fish several years ago, I was blown away from the outset. The girl can rock out
minute and whip off an amazing blues riff the next. Hell, she can also shine on
some R&B, and I do believe she can play any style she wants. Samantha has a
powerful and sultry voice and her guitar chops rival those of many a “big name”
guitarist. There’s even a custom guitar named in her honor. The SF1 (short for
Samantha Fish 1) signature model by Delaney Guitars features humbucker pickups
and a swamp ash body. The sound hole in the shape of a fish is a cool touch as
well.
Her latest album, Chills & Fever was recorded in Detroit Rock
City, the city that gave us Ted Nugent. Of course the city is equally known for
it’s sweet soul music coming out of Motown, and its punk scene that gave us folks
like Iggy Pop. Samantha enlists the help of members of the punk blues band The
Detroit Cobras along with producer Bobby Harlow (The GO/ Jack White) to record
a widely varied set of songs that manage to show many different sides of the Kansas
City bombshell.
The record kicks off with a rocking “He Did It,” with Fish
singing passionately and from the heart, and seems to use her guitar as a weapon
to underline how she feels about a guy doing her wrong.
It was quite a nice surprise to hear Samantha cover the 1963
Barbara Lewis smash, “Hello Stranger.” It’s one of those songs where you
immediately recognize the words and melody, and find yourself on Google looking
for information on Barbara Lewis. At least that’s what I did.
Chills & Fever is full of amazing songs, from the
rocking “It’s Your Voodoo Working” and “You Can’t Go” to “Little Baby,”
Samantha rocks it out and turns right around to blaze up some blues on “Either
Way I Lose” as well as some mighty sweet and smooth soul on “Nearer to You” and “Never
Gonna Cry.”
Samantha's vocals and fiery guitar is backed by a great band
and full on horn section, mixed and mastered by Jim Kissling (The Crystal
Method, Fat Boy Slim) creating one of the freshest, hippest records of the
year.
- Michael Buffalo Smith
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