Tucked away in the heart of Sussex County, New Jersey is a local gem we all know and love. The historic Newton Theatre is a 605 seat venue that attracts talent from all over the world. On March 17th we were graced by the one and only Samantha Fish along with Sgt. Splendor for a completely SOLD OUT performance. This was definitely one for the books!
Starting off the evening were the alt-rock troubadours from New York, Sgt. Splendor!
Consisting of Kate Vargas (vocals/guitar/flute) and Eric McFadden (guitar/vocals), the chemistry on stage was undeniably electric and mesmerizing. This was my first time seeing this dynamic duo and I was completely blown away.
The whole crowd was really getting in to the vibe with songs like Don’t Blame the Buzzard, Death of the Hoochie Koo & Blue & Her Strawberry Balloon. Vargas and McFadden both have very warm and inviting vocals that melt together in perfect harmony. With the addition of their superior guitar playing and heartfelt lyrics, there’s no doubt they will be your new favorite band! You can check out their latest release, Death of the Hoochie Koo, available everywhere via Buena Vista West Records.
The moment we were waiting for had finally arrived as the lights went down and Samantha Fish took the stage. With her Stogie Blues Cigar Box guitar in hand, she wasted no time launching right in to Bulletproof from her album Kill or Be Kind. My jaw was already on the floor as she put on an absolute blues rock master class and this was only the beginning!
Fish seamlessly blends her love of the blues with roots rock flair on songs like Wild Heart and the powerhouse tune, Better Be Lonely. Her voice is like no other, going seamlessly from silky smooth to bluesy grit, and her guitar tone is out of this world.
The word lifeless will never be used when describing Fish’s playing style because each note is packed full of emotion as she owns the stage. I really enjoyed hearing Settle For Less, off of her latest release with Jesse Dayton, titled Death Wish Blues (which received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album) and fan favorite Black Wind Howlin’. The encore of Bitch on the Run with Sgt. Splendor joining in, had the entire room on their feet leading to a roaring ovation.
There really aren’t any words that can do justice for her live performance. As I always say…Life is short, buy the tickets! There are several more upcoming shows on the Bulletproof Tour so come see for yourself how incredible Samantha Fish really is!
