Walking into the Musikfest Cafe building Wednesday night,  the signs were everywhere. Samantha Fish is sold out. And while this was Fish’s first appearance in the Lehigh Valley, everyone who was seated in the Cafe knew this accomplished soulful blues artist was going to rock the house with her grace and grit.

JD Simo, was the opening performer, and did a great job warming up the audience accompanied on stage with a drummer. His electric guitar work traveled effortlessly between jazz and blues fusions.

Fish took the stage dressed in a black leather off the shoulder top, tight black pants with pink pumps. With her three-string cigar box guitar, the show started off with “Bulletproof”, with driving guitar lines that got feet tapping, and vocals that wailed with no forgiveness.   “Wild Heart” brought a faster beat and rhythm with Fish’s vocals wrapped all around.

“Chills and Fever”, the title track of her 2017 release is also a Tom Jones cover.  However, I think Fish brought more sultry sensuality and soul than the original artist.  It’s just amazing to watch her pull all the possible emotions out of her guitar, and as if it’s part of a duality, her vocals reach the same height, with no holding back in “Kill or be Kind”.

If there’s one thing to be said, Samantha Fish is the real deal, the complete package. Her masterful guitar skills and slide guitar riffs are only second to none to her amazing vocal range and style. It’s a busy year for Fish, her Bulletproof tour continues. In July, she’ll be joining Slash with his upcoming S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival (which unfortunately Fish will depart before Slash performs at Musikfest), and then she’ll be in Europe by the Fall.