Samantha Fish – November 16, 2025 – The Observatory OC, Santa Ana, CA.
Samantha Fish delivered a powerful, soulful evening of blues-rock at The Observatory. Her voice was smoky and raw, but effortlessly controlled — she alternated between soft, intimate melodies and full-throated rock vocals that filled the theater. On guitar, she was electric: her solos were sharp, expressive, and deeply rooted in the blues, yet carried a modern edge that made the performance feel urgent and fresh.
The band was tight — the rhythm section locked in solid grooves, giving Fish plenty of room to stretch and explore her sound. There were moments of quiet tension, where she dropped to a whisper and made you lean in to hear, and then she launched into fiery riffs that left you breathless.
Visually, her stage presence was magnetic. She moved with confidence, but never felt showy — everything felt grounded in the music. The lighting complemented her style well, bathing the stage in moody blues and warm amber tones that matched the emotional arc of her set.
By the end of the night, she had the audience hanging on every note. It was a performance that felt both raw and refined, a reminder that she’s not just a great guitarist — she’s a storyteller, a musician with real heart. If you were there, you probably left feeling like you’d witnessed something special.
Setlist
Kick Out the Jams
(MC5 cover) (Samantha’s microphone didn’t work so this was all instrumental. A short break was taken to fix mics.)
Paper Doll
I’m Done Runnin’
Sweet Southern Sounds
Bulletproof
Better Be Lonely
Poor Black Mattie
(R.L. Burnside cover)
Bitch on the Run
Don’t Say It
Black Wind Howlin’
Encore:
Kick Out the Jams
(MC5 cover)
Goin’ Down South
(R.L. Burnside cover)
