Samantha Fish – Paper Doll Live
This is a live performance that gets off to a fiery start with the classic MC5 rocker “Kick Out the Jams.” It’s a typical rock ‘n’ roll fest with all the trimmings, but Samantha (electric guitar) has appeal along with tight leather duds & gutsy guitar playing. She has pipes, a bold style, & satisfies the expectations of a testosterone audience that knows how a rock performance should percolate.
She slides into “Paper Doll” with ease, & the plodding beat is infectious, with the audience’s hearts beating along with the percussionist. Fish stimulates the audience with her sultry performance, not vulgar, just generating the necessary sparks, smoke, & predatory stage presence.
This showcase captures the live energy. Recorded at the Bijou Theater in Knoxville, TN, there are 15 cut-outs to Paper Doll Live (Drops June 12/Rounder/Concord Records/73:58) & produced by Michelle Aquilato. Sam paces herself with skill throughout the show & introduces her special guests, the Nashville gospel greats, the McCrary Sisters, who provide soulful harmony vocals on several tunes (“Don’t Say It” is the most soulful). They’re vocalizing on “Lose You” punctuates unfailingly.
While Sam has a powerful voice, it’s not raw like Janis Joplin, but nonetheless it projects with authority in a pure rock ‘n’ roll tradition & her guitar supports every nuance of her performance. It’s not a distinctive guitar sound, but it’s aggressive & smokes enough to get the job done with taste. Even Sam’s slower pieces (“Bulletproof”) are performed with an acute sense of rock sensibility. Her vocal tonality is ambitious throughout. Even without seeing her, you can imagine the excitement she exudes on stage.
With “Miles To Go,” there’s an obvious borrowing of the Delta-blues classic “Rollin’ & Tumblin” dating back to 1929. I guess the melody may be in the public domain now, so all is forgiven. With “Fortune Teller,” Sam goes into a bluesy narration before sliding into a Genya Ravan (Ten-Wheel Drive) sultry scorcher of a blues voice — slinky & steamy. Nice for a live program. Seduce an entire audience. Confession is on Saturday, open until 5.
The small band is tight & unrelenting. Nothing on stage drags, & the sound is captured wonderfully right up to the last note on “Black Wind Howlin’.” There are some moments of guitar pyrotechnics & not actually tasteful blues picking, but it’s an exciting recording. Sam puts on a great show, & “Dream Girl” has sparks.
Highlights – “Kick Out the Jams,” “Paper Doll,” “Lose You,” “Sweet Southern Sounds,” “Bulletproof,” “Fortune Teller,” “Better Be Lonely,” “Dream Girl,” “Don’t Say It,” & “Black Wind Howlin.”
Musicians – Ron Johnson (bass), Mickey Finn (keys) & Jamie Douglass (drums).
There’s a folded lyric insert enclosed. CD cover courtesy of Cora Wagoner. Color image courtesy of Alexis Interiano. CD @ Bandcamp & https://samanthafish.com/ & https://rounder.com/products/samantha-fish-paper-doll-live-at-the-bijou-opaque-apple-red-vinyl
Enjoy our interview here: Interview: Samantha Fish and the Last Honest Noise