Samantha Fish has emerged as one of the most formidable guitarists of her generation, wielding her instrument with a distinctive blend of raw fire and emotional nuance. Throughout her career, she has proved herself to be a festival headliner, a collaborator with genre heavyweights, and a musical force with a fierce creative vision. Most recently, Fish earned a Grammy nomination for Death Wish Blues (2023, with Jesse Dayton) and had the rare honor of opening for The Rolling Stones on their final U.S. tour date in 2024—signaling her arrival on rock’s grandest stages .
Her latest release, Paper Doll (April 25, 2025), marks a bold leap forward as Fish’s first studio album recorded with her full touring band—Ron Johnson on bass, Jamie Douglass on drums, and Mickey Finn on keys—captured live in sessions split between studios in Austin and Los Angeles . The decision to record on the road harnessed the band’s live chemistry, giving the record an untamed energy and emotional immediacy that mirrors their stage presence .
The album’s themes are an unapologetic confrontation of external expectations and personal liberation—echoed most clearly in the title track, where Fish declares, “You pin me up just to tear me down, I’m not your paper doll” . This feminist defiance carries through every song: “I’m Done Runnin’” is a roar of self‑determination, while “Can Ya Handle the Heat?” and “Rusty Razor” unleash gritty swagger and punk‑infused fury .
Yet even amid the raw power, Fish remains adept at introspection. Slow burners like “Off in the Blue” and “Fortune Teller” with its hypnotic hill‑country blues influence offer moments of soul‑searching calm . “Fortune Teller,” inspired by Delta blues legends like R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough, evolved from a studio jam into a crowd favorite—a testament to Fish’s ability to create organically among her band and listeners .
Illuminating her sonic expansion, Fish brought in a Silver Sparkle Gibson ES‑335 to record the sweeping solo on “Sweet Southern Sounds,” achieving a resonant tone that bridges studio polish and stage urgency . That track—co-written with Anders Osborne—is an emotional epic reflecting the tension between touring life and personal relationships, growing into a cathartic release in its final moments .
The Paper Doll World Tour launched April 23, 2025, in Decatur, AL—just days before the album’s release—spanning over 50 dates across North America and Europe . Highlights include a “Gone Fishin’” co‑headline stint with rising blues phenom Christone “KINGFISH” Ingram, European festival appearances, and a full U.S. run through late autumn—playing venues large and small, from Musikfest Café to Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix .
Ultimately, Paper Doll captures Samantha Fish at a stage of total creative clarity: channeling her live ferocity into recorded form, embracing collaboration with seasoned producer Bobby Harlow, and stretching her songwriting across blues, rock, country, and punk-inspired territory . The tour, energized by these fresh nine tracks and the full throttle of a tight band, promises to deliver Fish’s most compelling live show yet—unfiltered, dynamic, and unforgettable.
