Buddy Guy & Samantha Fish Knock Em’ Down Outside Boston (SHOW REVIEW/PHOTOS)

If you were one of the lucky attendees at the intimate Chevalier Theater in Medford, Massachusetts on November 5th, you can say that you witnessed a dynamic double bill featuring living blues legend Buddy Guy and legend in the making, Samantha Fish. At 85 years old, Buddy Guy has lived it just as he’s talked it and makes no excuses for the man and showman that he has become. The young Samantha Fish has quickly become a household name amongst blues enthusiasts for all the right reasons. Both have the talent, the chops and the schmaltz that many fledgling artists can only dream of. Guy, who made his mark decades ago, still has the sparkle in his eye and glimmer in his smile as he shares his knowledge and music with his fans each night. Fish is already tough contender not to mess with, who impresses from both the first and last notes she plays on her guitars and from the first and last words that she sings out each night. Together, on the same stage and night, it was a genuinely a special event for all parties involved.

Samantha Fish took to the stage first, clad in a custom one-piece paisley ensemble, platinum do and her trusty white SG. She and her band took a quick moment to greet the audience but truly wasted no time before tearing into two smokin’ hot numbers from her recent release Faster. The funky and equally sultry “All Ice No Whiskey” seduced as “Twisted Ambition” took firm hold of the audience’s attention with its eclectic techno-infused groove and razor-sharp riffs. Other highlights of the set included “Watch It Die”, which was a showstopper as it provided a platform to truly showcase Fish’s astonishing and soulful vocals complete with attitude a la Aretha Franklin. Intentional or not, “Either Way I Lose” emitted heavy Amy Winehouse vibes and it was glorious.

Fish and Co. bookended her hot-rodded set with the four strongest songs of the night. The last two brought the sexy back with traditional rollin’ blues riffs jaw-dropping fretwork. “Black Wind Howling” found Fish tearing it up and letting it bleed before cuttin’ heads with “Bulletproof” on her cigar-box special. Fish’s 45 minute set was truly all thriller and no filler. She and her band used their allotted time wisely and with “Bulletproof” being the last number, it was the icing on the cake that left the audience salivating and clearly wanting more.

After about a thirty-minute intermission, the house lights dimmed once again, and it was showtime with Buddy Guy! The capacity crowd was back and already standing as Guy’s band began playing their intro music before introducing the man himself. Guy strode out to center stage with a mile-wide grin, donning his signature polka dot attire. With that smile and twinkle in his eyes, it was harder to tell who was more thankful to be in the theater, Buddy or the bevy of fans awaiting his stories and songs.

Guy’s set proved to be a healthy mix of his personal favorite staples and personal history lessons. The edgy “Damn Right I’ve Got the Blues” got it started with gusto! Guy was already primed and ready to go, tearing it up on his signature Stratocaster. “Damn Right” ebbed and flowed, much to everyone’s delight. A nod to hero Muddy Waters with “She’s Nineteen Years Old” was heartfelt and fun as Guy flirted with the audience as his fingers noodled up and down the neck of his axe. Another couple of covers, “Five Long Years” and “I Just Want to Make Love to You”, complete with anecdotes from Guy’s journey has the audience in the palm of his hand. The incomparable “Skin Deep”, co-written by Buddy’s longtime producer Tom Hambridge, brought the mood and tempo down just a bit before segueing into more introspective storytelling and riffing.

Guy paid homage to both Willie Dixon and Jimi Hendrix with a bite from Hoochie Coochie Man and Eric Clapton and Cream with a taste from “Strange Brew”. And to cap off the event, Guy invited Fish back out for a couple of more tunes. “Love Her with a Feelin” opened the doors for both Guy to serenade and Fish to turn her amp to 11. Fish was given carte blanche to lay into it one more time with her six-string acumen that had blistering notes soaring out and over the sea of heads in front of her. Guy had Fish blushing with his words before he and the band meandered into the finale, Slim Harpo’s “I’m a King Bee”. After passing out guitar picks to the adoring and eager fans in the front rows, the band continued to jam as Guy slyly slipped off stage and straight onto his tour bus, surely gunning for a nice sip of well-deserved cognac.

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