Samantha Fish, Jonathon Long

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Samantha Fish is a contemporary country blues singer mixing up traditional genres. Her crooning, husky vocal delivery and skills on six-string are readily apparent on her 2017 full-length, Belle of the West, which sets Fish apart from the pop-country crowd. Southern bluesman Jonathon Long opens.

$17 ($15 adv.; ages 18+).

press release: Guitarist Jonathon Long, who has just released a self-titled critically-acclaimed album on Samantha Fish's Wild Heart Records label, takes to the road in support of Fish's current tour, with a show locally at High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington Ave., Thursday, December 13. Showtime: 8:30pm. Tickets: $15. (advance), $17. (door). 18 and over. Info: (608) 268-1122 or visit https://www.high-noon.com. 

 What would the music world be like if we lost the innovators, the musical risk seekers, musicians that change the game and lift the bar higher & higher? Jonathon Long is just that. There is nothing stagnate about the Baton Rouge, LA-based musician's art. The guitar pours just as effortlessly as the soul of his voice and the depth of his lyrics throughout his new recording. On this self-titled release Jonathon covers the Soul Blues/Rock spectrum. You get the burning guitar and pristine vocals - eleven songs qualifying him as one of the most prolific writers on the scene. “Immediately I felt the songs cut straight to your soul with a fiery command of the guitar that left everyone's jaws on the floor,” says producer, Samantha Fish.

The opening song “Bury Me” delivers a message of being remembered for your actions. Long holds nothing back. It is fire and brimstone, thunder and lightning from start to finish, setting the pace for the rest of the album. When it comes to guitar, Jonathon is a brawler but on "The Light" he delivers delicately with  layers that evoke serious emotion, bringing out the spiritual guide in Long. Showing his chops aren’t only meant for electric guitar; indeed, as a vocalist he can compete with legendary crooners.  

Samantha Fish lays guitar down on the album's opening track "Pray For Me" and again hitting a home run sonic-ally on the Al Green-ish "That's When I Knew." While it's Long's soulful style that remains the star in each song, Fish adds an atmosphere and pulsating back drop, taking the songs to their highest level. Jonathon and Samantha trade verses on "The River", the only cover song on the recording. On the haunting Kenny Tudrick (Kid Rock, Detroit Cobras) song "The River," both Samantha and Jonathon's guitars together build an intensity that pushes the desperation of the lyrics to the forefront, while creating the perfect background as this broken love story twists and turns from mellow to turbulent.  

On the closing track, Long doesn’t allow you forget that he's a guitar player’s guitar player, turning it up for the blues-y track, “Pray For Me.”  He turns up the acrobatics while maintaining steady control like a master of Southern Blues Rock.  

Jonathon Long delivers 11 great songs creating a joyful musical journey for any fan of Blues Rock, Classic Rock, or burning guitar. If you’ve seen him perform live you already know this; if you haven’t, get hip and don’t miss it. Jonathon will be touring the U.S. throughout 2018 and 2019.

"Jonathon Long’s latest is an unembellished, honest expression of individuality that is deeply spiritual, introspective and occasionally mournful, but also tough and resilient." - ELMORE MAGAZINE

"The entire recording sets a high bar for Long, and the collaboration with (album's producer Samantha) Fish, is truly magical...he transitions from Boogie to Southern Blues Rock, and it's dripping with raw soulful emotion." - BLUES HIGHWAY

"With a beautiful singing voice and some monster guitar chops, Jonathon Long cruises through the album with engaging storytelling and a voice that goes down easy. The themes of struggle and overcoming challenges are present, conveyed with a sense of hope and inspiration. Stunning guitar riffs and solos, and a couple hint of The Allman Brothers." - ROCK AND BLUES MUSE