Album Review: Samantha Fish - Paper Doll Live

Samantha Fish

Paper Doll Live

**** out of *****

The Kansas City born, New Orleans based, blues/rock guitarist Samantha Fish makes her way by performing live hundreds of nights a year and has done so for decades. Now comes Paper Doll Live, her first official live album on Rounder Records, capturing the immensely talented Fish and her band's energetic show.  

Year In Review 2025 - Favorite Albums of 2025

Here are our all of our favorite albums of 2025. This is the year end review, all in one place.

Below are our picks for RtBE's favorite albums of the year. It starts with our honorable mentions then moves into our top ten albums of the year. There is a short blurb about the album and a song from it, click on the title to read our full review of the selected records. The focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen to all the way through.

We also took some time to discuss our favorite album artwork, our favorite archive/live album releases and favorite live shows from the year if you are interested.   

Thanks for reading. Until next year....

Year In Review 2025 - Favorite Albums Part 1 (Honorable Mentions & Let Downs)

Another year is finishing up and @RockBodElec wouldn't be a proper music site if we didn't end the year with a "Best Of" list, so RtBE presents 2025's Favorite Albums Part 1 (Honorable Mentions and Let Downs):

In the instance that RtBE has reviewed the album, either on this site or elsewhere, we will link to that review and just give a quick summation, click on the name/title and you can read our full opinion. RtBE also worked with the Glide Team to give input on their Top 20, so you can expect some overlap if you already have seen that list.

Again the focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen all the way through. We know these are a dying breed, but it still is the way we consume music, no shuffle, Spotify, AI curated playlists, or streaming for us.

These are the albums that just missed out on being included in our top ten favorite for the year (coming soon). After some excellent albums, we have a few releases from artists we dig, which we were let down by. 

Like all of our lists or 'best of'', these are meant to start conversations, not end them...

Album Review: Samantha Fish - Paper Doll

Samantha Fish

Paper Doll

***and1/2 out of *****

The newest offering on Rounder Records from guitar great Samantha Fish, Paper Doll, continues Fish's style of supped up rocking blues, yet turns down her recent electro-pop tinges. 

Album Review: Eric Johanson - Live in Mississippi

Eric Johanson

Live in Mississippi

***and1/2 out of *****

The blues rocking guitarist and songwriter Eric Johanson's newest release, Live in Mississippi, captures his raucous live sound as the New Orleans based artist mixes up the blues, rock and roll, soul and a touch of voodoo. 

Album Review: New Breed Brass Band with Trombone Shorty - Live at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

New Breed Brass Band with Trombone Shorty

Live at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

**** out of *****

The 2024 edition of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival hosted a special day this year where the Festival showcased the main stage and hosted The Rolling Stones. Acts like Dumpstaphunk and Samantha Fish both gave dynamite performances before the Stones, but the band that opened up the stage in the AM hours lit a fire under everyone in attendance. Asses shook for the New Breed Brass Band with special guest Trombone Shorty as they started Thursday May 2nd off proper. 

Album Review: Jesse Dayton - The Hard Way Blues

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right Chere!!!

It is of Jesse Dayton's newest release The Hard Way Blues. 

RtBE reviewed his recent collaboration with Samantha Fish as he now follows that up with this effort, which is much more straight ahead. 

Support the artist, buy the album, read the review and peep some video below:

 

Sazerwrap 2024

In years past we have delivered a Sazerwrap to catalog our personal Jazzfest experience, so we will continue this year. 

We have reviewed some of the shows we caught already and it should be stated: Jazzfest in New Orleans is RtBE's absolute favorite time of the year. 

2024 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Artists Announced

We already knew The Rolling Stones were going to be there, now we know the rest of the lineup for the best festival in the country, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. 

RtBE predicted who would be playing yesterday, and we got a few right. Check out this great video to get you pumped:

Some highlights for RtBE:

Album Review: Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton - Death Wish Blues

Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton

Death Wish Blues

***and1/2 out of *****

The first collaborative album from blues guitarists Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton finds the duo trading lead vocals around swirling layers of distorted/clean six strings and tales of woe as Death Wish Blues flow out into the air. 

Live Review: Buddy Guy, Kingfish, Sam Fish @ NYC Central Park Summerstage 6/18/23

Hey all, got a review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!

It is of the recent Buddy Guy, Kingfish and Samantha Fish show in Central Park on June 18th. 

A plethora of blues riffs rang out from Summerstage and a good time was had by all, maybe mostly by Bobby Rush who joined Guy onstage and whopped it up. 

Support the artists, catch the tour, read the review and peep some video below:

New Single from Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton "Deathwish"

"Deathwish" is the first single from Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton off their upcoming release Death Wish Blues.

Check out the rocking track below:

Year In Review 2022 - Favorite Live Show

The live show is a slippery thing. There are lots of variables at play, most having little to do with the performance itself. Does the venue have enough bathrooms? Is it going to rain? What day of the week is it on? Did I have a shitty day at work before hand? Did tickets cost waaay too much? All of this effects one's opinion of a live show before the band even tunes up and with reason, but when the stars align, there is no place RtBE would rather be than in the moment of magic occurring spontaneously from the stage.

Live Music Has No Equal!

Taken By The Fantastic Megan Donohue

While obviously we can't see every show that is out there, we try to get out often to catch live music. Sure there are a few left in the calendar year, but for now, here is a listing of the best concerts we were fortunate enough to have caught in 2022 (THANK GOD LIVE MUSIC IS BACK!).

There are links to show reviews in the titles, also because who doesn't love arbitrary rankings, one show at the bottom took the top prize as RtBE's 2022 Favorite Live Show. We also make mention of a few live streams we enjoyed in 2022 as they now seem like a positive development for all involved. 

Live Streams: Samantha Fish and Devon Allman Project from Brooklyn Bowl

We are now heading into the new normal with live music during the Covid-19 era. Live shows will need to be flexible and live streaming is a great way to keep music going. Streams have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are (hopefully) improving on the pandemic front but live streams will be an option for artists during the foreseeable future. We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can check out our weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always, please support the artists any which way you can.

Today we highlight: Samantha Fish and Devon Allman Project from Brooklyn Bowl

Tonight from Brooklyn Bowl comes some great guitar rock of both Samantha Fish and Devon Allman. Check out the stream tonight. RtBE will be in person at Brooklyn Bowl rocking out. 

To get in the mood here is video from both artists. 

Live Review: Samantha Fish 5/5/2022 at The Howlin' Wolf New Orleans, LA

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!

It is of Samantha Fish live 5/5/2022 at The Howlin' Wolf New Orleans, LA.

Samantha Fish is one of our favorites. RtBE has reviewed her albums and will always catch her live whenever possible, last year she even topped our favorite live show list. 

Support the artist, read the review and peep some video below:

Live Streams: Samantha Fish

We are now heading into the new normal with live music during the Covid-19 era. Live shows will need to be flexible and live streaming is a great way to keep music going. Streams have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are (hopefully) improving on the pandemic front but live streams will be an option for artists during the foreseeable future. We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can check out our weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always, please support the artists any which way you can.

Today we highlight: Samantha Fish

Today at 1pm from Relix Studios comes Samantha Fish and her band. RtBE loves Fish, caught her recently and rated her show from Brooklyn Bowl as our favorite from last year. 

Catch her this afternoon and to get in the mood, here is a live tune from Fish and company:

Live Review: The Samantha Fish Band - 3/12/22 Palladium NYC

The Samantha Fish Band

3/12/22 

Palladium, NYC

In the midst of her Northeast winter/spring tour Samantha Fish brought her band to the heart of Times Square for a Saturday night show, braving a deep March freeze which saw the wind howling to single digit levels on this night. Perhaps it was the below freezing temperatures or the fact that other New Orleans artists were playing the city on the same night (Galactic at Webster Hall and Dirty Dozen Brass Band at Brooklyn Bowl)  or simply Covid, but The Palladium on this night was only sparsely populated on this night. 

The show opened with the River Kittens who played soothing acoustical notes to the small crowd on guitar and mandolin. The St. Louis based folk-duo of Allie Vogler and Mattie Schell were excellent harmonizing together as they wrapped up their opening slot with a cover of The Faces "Ooh La La" which fit perfectly into their easy flowing, soothing sound. 

The four piece Samantha Fish Band took over the stage like the rock stars they are with The MC5's "Kick Out The Jams" blaring through the speakers while the four piece (Fish guitar, Ron Johnson on bass, drummer Sarah Tomek, and Matt Wade on keyboards) tuned up. The slide work on her cigar box guitar was working overtime for "Bulletproof" as the band blasted off focusing on Fish's recent release Faster. 

The rock got ramped up on the strutting "All Ice No Whiskey" while the bass growl from Johnson and the drumming from Tomek shined on "Twisted Ambition".  Fish dialed up the smooth soul vocals and shuffling for the slick "Kill or Be Kind" and "Crowd Control" while shockingly a fight broke out right in front of the stage as Fish briefly stopped the show and order was restored.

The set ended with blues guitar majesty as the River Kittens rejoined to add supporting vocals to "Dream Girl" but it was the front woman herself who stole the show delivering impassioned vocals and blazing guitar work on this highlight number. For any in attendance who doubted her talents, this song put it all into perspective, simply put Fish is one of the most dynamic performers in any genre playing music today. 

An added bonus found Eric Gales joining the band for a blistering version of Fish's "Black Wind Howlin'" which was pure heavy rocking, blues guitar heaven. The six string dueling crackled with excitement and spontaneity as the set climaxed.

Unfortunately I could only stay for two songs from The Devon Allman Project, so I can not give them a proper review, but hope to catch them next time they are in town. 

______________________________

Support both the bands, catch them on this tour and peep some video below from a few nights earlier on the tour:

New Tour Dates for Samantha Fish and the Devon Allman Project

One of RtBE's favorites, Samantha Fish is hitting the road again, co-headlining with the Devon Allman Project.

Tour dates and video are below and for those who haven't caught Miss Fish yet, it is a must.  She delivered our favorite show of 2021 and flat out kills it. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Samantha Fish (@samanthafishmusic)

Here she is slaying at Brooklyn Bowl:

Year In Review 2021 - Favorite Live Show

The live show is a slippery thing. There are lots of variables at play, most having little to do with the performance itself. Does the venue have enough bathrooms? Is it going to rain? What day of the week is it on? Did I have a shitty day at work before hand? Did tickets cost waaay too much? All of this effects one's opinion of a live show before the band even tunes up and with reason, but when the stars align, there is no place RtBE would rather be than in the moment of magic occurring spontaneously from the stage.

Live Music Has No Equal!

Taken By The Fantastic Megan Donohue

While obviously we can't see every show that is out there, we try to get out often to catch live music. Sure there are a few left in the calendar year, but for now, here is a listing of the best concerts we were fortunate enough to have caught in 2021 (THANK GOD LIVE MUSIC IS BACK!).

There are links to show reviews in the titles, also because who doesn't love arbitrary rankings, one show at the bottom took the top prize as RtBE's 2021 Favorite Live Show. We also make mention of a few live streams we enjoyed as the beginning of 2021 was still locked down for live music, but we made up for it at the end of the year seeing quite a few great ones safely in person.

Live Review: Samantha Fish 10/30/21 Brooklyn Bowl

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!

It is of Samantha Fish's blistering live show from 10/30/21 at the Brooklyn Bowl. 

This was a doozy of a performance of blues based rock and roll. Fish and company brought the goods and she in particular was on it all night, ripping solo after engaging solo. 

Support the artist, read the review and peep some video below: