Samantha Fish is gearing up to release new live performance recordings on Rounder Records, starting with a powerful rendition of “Better Be Lonely” on August 23rd.
The single is available on all streaming platforms here.
Originally featured on her 2021 chart-topping album Faster, the alternative version of “Better Be Lonely” captures the raw energy and magnetic stage presence that Fish is known for. These upcoming releases follow a banner year of touring, where Fish shared the stage with legends like Slash, Eric Clapton, and The Rolling Stones, solidifying her place as a modern guitar hero and showing no signs of slowing.
“Better Be Lonely” was recorded in Nashville during a live performance video shoot. This live track captures the essence of the album’s themes—taking control in both relationships and life, with a focus on empowerment. Fish’s rebellious energy pulses through “Better Be Lonely,” a loose and freewheeling track driven by a blistering guitar solo.
About performing live, Samantha declares, “Making albums is one of my favorite things to do, it’s an opportunity to reinvent myself and my sound… But the stage is where we go to really bring the songs to life. I feel like I connect the most with my audience from the stage. There is something so special about that kind of energy. It’s raw, no frills, no big fixes or edits. It’s what you can do with the moment, so I think it’s important to attempt to bottle that.”
photo credit: Curtis Knapp
My Review:
Live, this is a funky track.
Samantha sings, “I wish I liked you better, but I don’t. It’s just a kiss, a kiss, a kiss; we ain’t together.”
Honestly, absolutely! Some people just don’t get the message—you can fool about, without lifelong commitment! The song live does take on a life of its own and Samantha always has this confident strut in her vocals and guitar work that shines through on tracks like these. That little guitar break around 2:26 cuts the mustard just fine.
She is impressive live. I went to catch her with Jesse Dayton in October 2023 and it was a really great show with that slide guitar of hers shining, but she can also slip into some quite lovely acoustic tracks that are well polished and worth the admission.
So, aside from us covering her, Samantha continues to make magazine covers and gain all kinds of positive media attention. The “Bulletproof Tour 2024” sees her back in the UK this October, details are below and based on my experience in 2023, it is one to catch!
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By Stevie Ritson
