For the first time, Samantha Fish brought a six piece band with her to Homer's Center of the Arts here in Upstate NY. The result was an electrifying experience but still showed how Samantha is still and always will be an incredible guitarist and blues singer.
The concert this past Friday night saw Oklahoma City native Samantha Fish returning to Homer's Center of the Arts once again, although this time, to a sold out show. Some people in the crowd waited several hours to be in the front, and it's clear that Central New Yorkers, both young and old, know what kind of great live music there is out in the world today, because they were more excited than ever with both Samantha Fish and opener Jonathan Long.
Long proved to be a great opener for Fish, and truly got the crowd ready for her show. This was also the first time Fish had an opener at the Center of the Arts, but it proved to be a success for everyone that was in attendance in the Arts Center that night. Long wailed on his guitar and he clearly presented himself with his long beard, being extremely humble as a southern blues man, an equal counter part to Fish.
Of course, there's nobody like Fish but Samantha Fish. As she graced the stage around 8:30, the crowd cheered as she kicked things off with several songs from her Chills and Fever album. "American Dream" was a great choice for an opener for the night, given the state of political turmoil the country is in today. Fish continued with "Chills and Fever" and "Don't Say you Love Me" from 2017's Bella of the West. With having two new albums released in the same year, most of the set list were songs from that double release that surprised even the die hard Fish fans at how an artist can tour as much as she can and still release two records in one year.
The most unique thing about Friday night's show was Samantha's six piece band, something of a surprise. "Was anyone here when there was just a trio?" Samantha joked to the crowd. However, the band proved to be good, with a treat horn section and pianist. However, bringing a band can have its disadvantages as well.
While Samantha Fish did play a solid two hours, and the music was great, it could have been better if it was just her and her cigar box, something that she truly has unique and amazing talent with. Friday night, unfortunately Fish only brought out the Cigar Box for a song or two, and it would have been nicer if she would have played longer, like she had the previous times she was in Homer. With a band, there was of course less focus on Fish and more so then on the other musicians. Fish is one that truly commands the stage, and while it's clear that she enjoys playing with a band, let her do what she does best and play the blues and let her command the stage.
Aside from that, the show was great as always. The new music from Chills and Fever and Belle of the West sounded great of course, and Sam never shies away from playing some true covers.
Perhaps the best moments of the show was when she played "Blood in the Water" from Wild Heart, and "No Angels" in which Fish was in complete control, and her vocals were spot on.
The Center of the Arts itself is always a beautiful place to see a show; it's small, intimate room provided great acoustics and sound for Fish's performance, in which sometimes it was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
It wasn't the same Samantha Fish that use to come through a few years ago, but like music itself, all artists change. Fish has changed for the better, and with most dates sold out on her new North American Tour, it's worth it and more to see this amazing performer, no matter what she plays.
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Setlist March 23, 2019 Center of the Arts:
1) American Dream
2) Chills And Fever
3) Don't Say You Love Me
4) You Can't Go
5) Either Way I Lose
6) Blame it on the Moon
7) Lost myself
8) Little Baby
9) Blood in the Water
10) Never Gonna Cry
11) Need You More
12) Somebody's Always Trying
13) No Angels
14) Nearer to You
15) Crow Jane Blues
Photos by Leo Pareti:
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