Photo: Jesse Dayton, Samantha Fish by Horizon South Media, Death Wish Blues
Blues powerhouse Samantha Fish and artist extraordinaire Jesse Dayton unveil the thundering single “Deathwish” from their upcoming collaboration, the album Death Wish Blues out May 19th on Rounder Records. With gritty, dirty hooks alongside fierce vocals from Fish, “Deathwish” is the perfect kick-off to the album, itself a bold collision of blues, soul, punk, funk, and fantastically greasy rock-and-roll. The “Deathwish” video captures that dark, raw power as Fish and Dayton take down a predator in retro Hollywood.
“Deathwish” is a tough-talking rock track loaded with backbone and attitude. Fish and Dayton both shine brightly on the song and in the neo-noir music video. The clip has a vintage stilettos-and-tail-fins vibe to it that will keep you watching until the very end. The song is no history lesson, however, and depends on hard guitars, synths, and modern production as much as its blues heart. Fish and Dayton are an unbeatable combination and are bringing American music into a new era with songs like this. Smart fans searching for the future need to jump on “Deathwish” right now.
Death Wish Blues was born out of a shared passion for pushing the limits of blues music. As one of the most dynamic forces in the blues world today, Fish made her name as a multi-award-winning festival headliner who captivates crowds with her explosive yet elegant guitar work, delivering an unbridled form of blues-rock that defies all genre boundaries. Dayton, meanwhile, boasts an extraordinary background that includes recording with the likes of Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, touring as a guitarist for seminal punk band X.
Death Wish Blues evolved from the duo’s 2022 EP, Stardust Sessions, which featured imaginative covers of “Brand New Cadillac,” “’I’ll Be Here in the Morning,’ and “Feelin’ Good.” Their undeniable musical chemistry led to a recording session at Applehead Recording & Production in Woodstock, produced by the inimitable Jon Spencer. Spencer’s expertise aligned perfectly with Fish and Dayton’s vision for the release, centered on the blues while constantly augmenting, expanding, and pushing the limits.
As Fish reveals, the making of Death Wish Blues marked the culmination of a musical connection forged in her hometown of Kansas City over a decade ago. “It was always a big deal when Jesse came through town to a play a show—we first met when I was 20, and I kept up with him through the years,” Fish says of the Beaumont, Texas-bred musician. “I’d been wanting to do a collaborative project for a while and went to see Jesse perform in New Orleans, and right away I knew he was the guy. We got together and had this vision of making something of an alt-blues record, but it turned out to be so much more exciting and layered than I ever imagined.”
Watch “Deathwish”
Stream “Deathwish” HERE
Pre-order Death Wish Blues Album HERE
Dayton said, “For this album we wanted to keep everything blues-based, with a lot of inspiration from people like Albert King and Magic Sam on the lead-guitar parts, but we also wanted to have fun with that and take it somewhere new and different and way outside our wheelhouse.” With the addition of Kendall Wind (bass), Mickey Finn (keyboards) and Aaron Johnston (drums), Death Wish Blues was recorded in an intense 10 days, mostly live.
Hailing from Kansas City, MO, Samantha Fish is one of the most dynamic blues forces in the world today, headlining festivals and captivating audiences with her guitar prowess and power vocals. An award-winner and road warrior, she performs 200 shows yearly, both domestically and abroad. Death Wish Blues is her 7th album. Jesse Dayton boasts an exceptional resume as an acclaimed solo recording artist, collaborator with artists such as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Duff McKagan, a touring guitarist for seminal punk band X, teammate with Rob Zombie on the soundtracks for his iconic horror films, and as a radio show host on Gimme Country.
Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton website
TRACK LIST
1. Deathwish (2:39)
2. Down In The Mud (2:52)
3. Riders (3:40)
4. Settle For Less (3:09)
5. Trauma (3:06)
6. No Apology (4:16)
7. Flooded Love (2:39)
8. Lover On The Side (2:48)
9. Rippin’ And Runnin’ (4:21)
10. Dangerous People (3:31)
11. Supadupabad (2:06)
12. Know My Heart (3:47)
12” VINYL
SIDE A
1. Deathwish
2. Down In The Mud
3. Rider
4. Settle For Less
5. Trauma
6. No Apology
SIDE B
1. Flooded Love
2. Lover On The Side
3. Rippin’ And Runnin’
4. Dangerous People
5. Supadupabad
6. Know My Heart
Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton US and EU Tour Dates See HERE
SAMANTHA FISH & JESSE DAYTON US TOUR DATES
April 14 – New Orleans, LA – French Quarter Fest
April 22 – Lake Charles, LA – This is Home Festival
April 29 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
April 29 – New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore
May 4 – New Orleans, LA – The Civic Theatre
May 6 – Cottonwood, AL – Yellow Rose Theater
May 7 – Decatur, AL – Princess Theater for Performing Arts
What an extraordinary song. I am already in love with the album, after hearing just the one song.