SAMANTHA FISH & JESSE DAYTON – LIVE @ INFINITY MUSIC HALL
My wife (Jenn) and I don’t always see eye-to eye on our musical tastes but we both enjoy the blues. So, when Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton brought their “Death Wish Blues” tour to the Infinity Music Hall in Hartford on 6/22 we happily went hand-in hand. Fish & Dayton just released a new album entitled Death Wish Blues which delivers 12 powerful tracks. Every song on the new full length is full of impetuous rhythms and gutsy musicianship. Fish & Dayton‘s voices flow well together and both are extremely excellent guitar players. This is a combination forged in heaven (or maybe hell). They totally compliment each other in every way possible.
The evening started with nice surprise. Opening act Eric Johanson was a great selection. His songs were full of fire and his expertise on the guitar was sparkling. He also played a mean slide. His bass player and drummer were brazen with a smooth flow. Johanson opened up with “Nowhere to Go” off his 2020 album, Below Sea Level which encompassed most of his 9 song set. “Nowhere to Go” immediately set the tone for the night. Fast and edgy the song revved up the sold out crowd. His extended solo hit the mark. Next up was “Hammer on the Stone” which solidified his invincible guitar prowess. “Live Oak” taken from his 2017 Burn It Down also played well.
His newest single, the swampy “The Deep And The Dirty” again displayed his ferocious songwriting. It was dropping the next day. Johanson next played another three songs off of Below Sea Level. “Down to the Bottom”, “Changes the Universe” and “Buried Above Ground” kept the audience engaged and enlivened. Another new single, “Don’t Hold Back” was received well. The tune has an dynamic bluesy feel with really sharp accents. The room felt his heat. He closed out with a spirited “Burn It Down”. The Infinity was totally won over. Johanson will be releasing his new album very soon. It’s definitely worth a listen.
As soon as Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton entered, the throng let out a large roar. Everyone knew this was going to be a special performance. Fish is a dynamic musician with a spectacular feel and Dayton’s guitar has incredible textures. Both are accomplished songwriters and know how to command a stage. In addition, they sincerely seemed to enjoy the collaboration. They played well off each other sharing the spotlight equally.
Their 20 song set included songs off of Death Wish Blues and choice covers that fit the band well. The band was comprised of excellent players. Ron Johnson on bass keep a truly steady beat while drummer Jamie Douglas hit with authority and finesse. Keyboardist Mickey Finn also fanned the flames with his monstrous vibes. This is a killer group. The first song out was MC5’s cover, “Kick Out The Jams” which came off well as a blues rocker. “Deathwish”, the opening track of Death Wish Blues, was immensely heartfelt. Fish‘s vocals and guitar were monstrous. Dayton‘s inflections were sublime. The audience reacted with excitement.
A series of covers ensued including “Hello Stranger” (Barbara Lewis) and “Brand New Cadillac” (Vince Taylor and the Playboys). All the while Fish & Dayton traded on lead vocals. A Samantha Fish track followed. “Bulletproof (Tangle Eye Mix)” destroyed. The venue was on its feet. “Down in the Mud” sung by Dayton and “Trauma” came next. Both are from the album and both are sublime with a funky lushness. The band left and Fish & Dayton went acoustic. The Townes Van Zandt cover “I’ll Be Here In The Morning” was plainly beautiful and Dayton‘s boogie infused “Baby’s Long Gone” was memorable. The audience was loving every minute.
The next grouping were all from the new full length with the fun “Lover on the Side”, the stellar “Dangerous People” and the bombastic “Supadupabad” being fan favorites. Fish & Dayton ended with a robust version of “I Put A Spell On You” (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins) and the groove laden “Riders”. At this point no one was sitting. Everyone was swaying to the auditious flow of the glorious music. The band encored with a profound “Know My Heart” and “Goin’ Down South” by R. L. Burnside with a guest appearance by Johanson.
What a show! Both Jenn and I loved the night’s entire passion. The musicianship was through the roof. Fish, Dayton and Johanson were sonic in feel and ardor. All left on a high!
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