Powerhouse Blues Rock guitarist Samantha Fish returns to the UK later this month for four exclusive concerts, following the genre-bending singer and songwriter's October 2024 UK Bulletproof tour that included her outstanding WRC Award winning performance at London's Koko. And tonight, during New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, we once again had the pleasure of seeing her perform at the Civic Theatre alongside Tab Benoit and Sierra Green and The Giants, just a day after Samantha had released her new nine-track album, 'Paper Doll'.

Indeed, after another scorcher of a Day Three at Jazz Fest, as well as yesterday, with not one, but two after-hours gigs for some of us, thankfully the walk from our Business District hotel was a short one on a beautiful balmy evening to this historic theatre originally built in 1906 as The Schubert. Over its varied history, under its many guises, it has hosted Vaudeville, Burlesque, Musicals and and Disco, as well as boasting a Cecil B. Demille production and performers such as Mae West.

After gratefully refuelling in the Civic bar, a much appreciated air-conditioned welcome greeted our quartet as we made our way down to the stalls where the seats had been replaced by boards. To be honest, we all did a double-take when Sierra Green and The Giants made their way on to the stage given it had just turned 9pm. Because Jazz Fest ends each day at 7pm each day, quite a few double-hat over the two weeks getting an extra gig in the evening, which is a major attraction for gig punters who don't actually attend the festival, held at the Fair Grounds Race Course further out in the city.

Obviously we did both, hence our delight at stumbling across Sierra, hailing from New Orleans' 7th Ward, who apparently emerged from her church choir to become the Queen of Frenchmen Street. Hallelujah! Backed by her Giants, an outstanding sextet featuring sax, trombone, trumpet, bass, drums and guitar, blasted out a delightful mix of Soul, Blues, Motown and R&B, the highlights of which included a storming cover of James Brown's 'It's A Man's Man's World' and 'Dreams', taken for last year's album release 'Here We Are'. Indeed, how lucky we were to be here tonight witnessing this dynamic performance featuring the energetic vocals of Ms. Greene, as well as her band of consummate musicians, prior to their forthcoming appearance at Jazz Fest Day 5.

Similarly, with Tab Benoit also appearing tomorrow on the main Festival Stage at 1.15pm on Day 4, the consensus of opinion among our fatigued troops was that we were not too disappointed after Sierra's explosive set, if the Baton Rouge born Blues guitarist, musician and singer, would not be supporting Samantha after all. Wrong! Cue 10pm as Benoit's power trio arrived on stage to huge applause from a good sized crowd, with a kick arse ninety-minute long set beginning with the very apt 'Bring Me My Medicine', a ten minute epic that immediately blew our weary cobwebs away, including Tab amusingly placing a broken guitar string in his mouth before spitting it out.

Superbly supported by flat capped/shades wearing bassist Corey Dupelechin and the baseball capped Jake on drums, one exceptional guitar solo followed another on 'Why, Why', a cover of Toussaint McCall's 'Nothing Takes The Place Of You' and 'The Ghost Of Gatemouth Brown'. Combining a number of Blues styles, primarily Delta Blues, Benoit plays a stock 1972 Fender Telecaster Thinline electric guitar, and his tone on 'I Hear Thunder', when he also introduced the band, had to be heard to be believed. Other highlights included 'Still Gray' plus the Rock 'n' Rolling, foot tappin' 'Solid Simple Thing', which was nothing of the sort, as Tab once again made his guitar sing with one final exquisite solo. Suffice to say that we all couldn't wait to see Tab again at Jazz Fest tomorrow afternoon!

For those of us who finished watching Grace Bowers at 2.30am this morning (seriously), and now Samantha's quartet arriving on stage at around at 11.30pm, was this really going to be a test of endurance? Well, we needn't have worried as my partner in crime, who also joined me for Grace Bowers, as well as being a live Ms. Fish virgin, later remarked that this was one of the best live performances he'd ever seen! Praise indeed from this renown WRC critic!

Cue the blonde bombshell, as she promptly appeared out of the Civic darkness in her trademark black leather attire, looking all the superstar she is and should be. Backed up by Jamie Douglass - drums, Ron Johnson - bass and Mickey Finn - keys, she immediately tore into the rockin' title track from the aforementioned new album, her evocative voice, an immediate indication if needed, that the quality of her new material sits right up there with her well-loved live back-catalogue. Although, next up we went back to her EP, 'Crowd Control', and a reimagined version of 'Better Be Lonely', which was originally featured on her 2021 chart-topping album, 'Faster', with tonight's alternative riff version already nailing her raw energy and magnetic stage presence well and truly to the mast.

Another scintillating slide guitar solo on R.L. Burnside's 'Poor Black Mattie', with its 'Spirit In The Sky' vibe, was followed by an oldie, but a goodie, as the captivating Ms. Fish put her heart and soul into 'Either Way I Lose', taken from 2017's 'Chills & Fever', of which Mae West was no doubt looking down on Samantha with sheer approval. The short, cool and crunchy 'Can Ya Handle The Heat', with its Aretha/BB influence kept the flag well and truly fling high for the new album, as did her exhilarating self-empowerment anthem, 'I'm Done Runnin', as well as the snarly, spiky groove of Rusty Razor, of which the album version originally featured Detroit Garage legend Mick Collins.

Another masterpiece from 'Paper Doll' was the sultry and sassy Psychedelia of 'Fortune Teller', of which this killer track takes a Punk twist, once again emphasising the genre dimension and versatility of Fish's songwriting. The introduction of her cigar box guitar. plus another pounding drum intro from Douglass, took us back to 2019's 'Kill Or Be Kind', and the foot stomping 'Bulletproof', thankfully unlike the last Koko gig, no malfunction with the guitar's sound this time, as we all happily clapped along!

Indeed, fair play to the guy down the front wearing the "Shut the fuck up Samantha is playing" t-shirt, although unfortunately many did not heed his advice, which was a major gripe for us tonight and at the House Of Blues the previous night. Anyway, recently aired on the US Kelly Clarkson TV Show, deservedly giving her more mainstream coverage, the Chicago Electric Blues vibe of 'Lose You', was also the last track to be aired tonight from the new album, but more than enough to ensure a healthy line/queue at the merchandise stand after this outstanding gig.

As per London, Fish ended proceedings just before 1am with the same two big hitters. Also taken from 2019's 'Kill Or Be Kind', the slower but beautifully constructed and emotional 'Dream Girl', for mine, akin to Joe Bonamassa's classic 'Mountain Time', with a standing (I mean business) keys solo from the flat-capped Mickey, that really showcased Samantha's awesome vocal range as well as a killer guitar solo.

An amazing evening, ended with the epic title track from 2013's 'Black Wind Howlin'. With it's Hendrix vibe, Samantha was preaching to the converted as she duetted on this colossus at the front of stage with the Peaky Blinders, shades wearing Ron, in one incredible jam, fittingly ending with an absolutely stunning solo from Fish which was simply off the charts. She really is the whole package.

Indeed, it had been a long day (and night) but this purely phenomenal performance from this hugely talented artist left us buzzing and wanting more. Unfortunately, we would be back in Blighty by the time Ms. Fish made her actual Jazz Fest appearance on Day 7 the following Saturday, but who's to say we won't be taking in one of her four UK gigs later this month despite no London date. O2 Academy Oxford anyone?

Review and Photos AJ