Guitarist Samantha Fish Shines on Paper Doll

Not too long after Brits like the Stones, the Yardbirds and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers began introducing young white Americans to the blues, there arose a hybrid form of music. It combined rock and blues, infusing rock with authentic blues elements while turning up the volume, increasing the instrumentation and generally speeding up the tempo so as to include as many classic blues licks as possible.

This style of blues (sometimes pejoratively referred to as “blooze”) is a long way from Robert Johnson after he returned from his transaction with Satan at the crossroads, but that matters not a whit to fans of the genre.

Those who haven’t been paying close attention might lump guitarist Samantha Fish in with the players who dole out this sort of mashup, but that would be a mistake. Sure, a bunch of blues and rock antecedents can be heard in her music, but her particular amalgamation of influences is definitely unique and never boring.

Fish, who has become quite the local favorite, will be back in Houston for a performance at the Heights Theater on Wednesday, September 17, part of a tour in support of her latest album, Paper Doll. Speaking via Zoom, Fish reflects on the growth that the record represents.

“What’s different [from the last album] is that I’m different. It’s been two years since my previous record. You go into different places emotionally and grow as a human being, but I think musically, there’s something about this record that feels more mature. The sound feels live. There’s an energy to it. It’s kind of hard to capture that live ‘lightning in a bottle’ feel on a record, and I feel like we came damn close on this one,” Fish says.

“I feel like the songwriting has matured, there are catchier melodies. Every album, you want to get better, right? That’s the goal as an artist,” Fish explains. “You want to make better, more cohesive music that tells who you are right now. And it’s OK if I look at it in two years and go, ‘Oh, what was I thinking?’ because that’s a different time. It’s just got to be honest and true to who you are, because, at the end of the day, that’s what’s going to compel you to play this music every night, night after night, on different stages and hopefully speak to people as your authentic self.”

For Paper Doll, Fish once again teamed up with Detroit rock icon Bobby Harlow, who produced her 2017 album Chills and Fever. What was it like working together after a period of several years? “I hadn’t seen Bobby in a while, and so it was almost like working with a new producer, and he probably felt like he was working with a new artist, because it had been so long since we had seen each other. Both of us have really grown in different directions, so his approach was different. My approach was different. I’m really glad that we got the opportunity to come back together and do an album, because I feel like we were really a great team,” Fish says.

Speaking of Detroit rock and roll, how did Fish decide to open her recent shows with the MC5’s ‘60s classic “Kick Out the Jams?” “That was my walk-on music for two years, and so every night that song would play, and we would come out and do our show,” Fish says. “It’s such a kick-ass song that it was like, ‘Oh my God! Can we just play it already?’ Because it’s such a great opening number. It sets the tone for the show.”

A recent development on the Fish front is her instructional video series released by the True Fire company. Did Fish ever teach guitar lessons during her early years? “No!” she says emphatically. “I have no business teaching anybody anything on the guitar. I don’t necessarily have all of the technical terms down, but I can talk about feel, and that resonates with some people.”

Though Fish initially had to be talked into producing the videos, she says it was a positive experience. “The guys at True Fire, they make it really easy. And they’re right, it’s all about your perspective, because you might be able to offer somebody something that nobody is really talking about. It could be something really simple that unlocks different avenues. And if that reaches somebody and helps them on their journey with the guitar, then I think it’s great. I was better at it than I thought I would be.”

Like most musicians, Fish spends a good deal of time on the road. What does she do to keep her head on straight and, as Johnny Winter used to say, “stay sane?” “That’s probably one of the biggest challenges on the road,” Fish says, “and it’s only just now being talked about. You’re in a situation that is constantly changing. It is not really a normal lifestyle. And even going back and forth from being on the road to going home is a jarring experience to your nervous system. Going from a constant routine and movement to sitting still can be sort of freaky.
“You’ve got to learn about yourself. You’ve got to recognize that maybe today I’ve got some anxiety, and what’s my plan to ease that? Or maybe I’m feeling sad today, or maybe I’m a little edgy and irritated and angry. I think when you’re on the road, and even when you go home, it’s about managing your feelings and being self-aware enough to get yourself out of a rut. But it’s easier said than done, right? Self-care is incredibly important. I used to think it was selfish, but it’s just doing little things that make you feel normal, feel happy, feel grounded. Whatever it takes to make you feel normal. Something to get you off the hamster wheel for a second.”

Samantha Fish will perform at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17, at the Heights Theater, 339 W. 19th. For more information, call 214-272-8346 or visit theheightstheater.com. $44 and up.