Review & Photography by Manny Manson for MPM
Rock City is always a hotspot for legendary gigs, and Friday night was no exception. The historic venue played host to two heavy-hitting blues-rock acts that proved the genre’s raw emotion and virtuosity are alive and kicking.
Fans poured into the venue for a double bill of Zac Schulze Gang and Samantha Fish, two artists who, though at different stages of their careers, are both pushing the blues forward with unrelenting passion. The up-and-coming guitar prodigy “Zac Schulze” kicked things off at 7 PM, and the electric “Samantha Fish” followed on, taking the stage at 8:10 PM, it was a stunning evening filled with fiery solos, soulful vocals, and high-octane performances that had the extremely partisan crowd roaring from start to finish. Here’s how it all went down, with each set prefaced by a bit of background on the stars of the night.
Zac Schulze, a guitar prodigy from Gillingham, has been making waves in the blues-rock world. Heavily inspired by legends like Wilko Johnson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rory Gallagher, and Joe Bonamassa, Zac has crafted a sound that’s both rooted in the traditional blues and fiercely modern. His guitar work is raw, edgy, and soulful, and his band, the “Zac Schulze Gang”, has quickly built a reputation as one of the most exciting new acts on the blues circuit. Still in his early twenties, Zac’s already gained serious traction with his recent single, “Woman,” which has made its way onto Joe Bonamassa’s playlist. With a gritty voice and a style that combines the swagger of classic blues-rock with a youthful vigour, Zac Schulze is one to watch. It looks like Joe already has him in his sights.
As the lights dimmed, a thick cloud of smoke and a swirl of red, green, and blue lights filled the venue. At exactly 7 PM, Zac Schulze and his band, drummer and brother, “Ben Schulze” and bassist “Ant Gunnarsson Greenwell (Groccy)”, stepped onto the stage.
The crowd buzzed with anticipation as the intro, “The Ink Spots’ “I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire” (1941) crackled through the speakers. The haunting, vintage recording was soon obliterated by the dirty, raw opening chords of “Laundromat,” a searing cover of Rory Gallagher’s 1971 classic. Zac’s guitar tone was sharp and gritty, his fingers moving effortlessly across the fretboard as the band locked into a hard-hitting groove. The raw, unfiltered blues pouring from Zac’s guitar hooking the audience from the first note.
Next up was “Woman,” Zac’s latest single, and the crowd was instantly drawn in by the slow, brooding riff that kicked off the track. His voice, deep, raspy, and full of soul, was perfectly matched to the dark, moody atmosphere of the song. There was a powerful dynamic at play here: the verses simmered, building tension with each word, before exploding into a roaring, riff-heavy chorus that had heads nodding all around. Zac’s solo in “Woman” was fiery and passionate, each note bending and wailing with the kind of emotion that only a true bluesman who has stood at the Crossroads, can summon upon.
Keeping the momentum high, Zac and his gang then launched into “Rufus Thomas’ “Walking the Dog” (1963). The trio giving this classic tune a modern twist, injecting it with a harder, grittier edge. Zac’s guitar licks were tight and punchy, and his interaction with the crowd, grinning, nodding and pulling faces as he played, showed a performer growing more confident with each gig. Having seen him earlier in the year supporting Eddie 9V on a smaller stage, tonight he could breathe and move about, which he did like a possessed Duracell bunny.
The mood shifted as Zac introduced “She Does It Right,” a blistering cover of “Dr. Feelgood’s” 1975 track. He’s a confessed Wilko fan so it was no surprise that a ‘Feelgood’ song would make the setlist. His fast, aggressive playing mirrored the late Wilko Johnson’s style, with Zac tearing through the song like a man possessed. The rhythm section held things down tight, allowing Zac the freedom to let loose on his guitar. The energy in the room was noticeable as the crowd cheered at every sharp, stinging note.
Slowing things down, Zac gave the audience a breather with his soulful original “Hole in My Pocket,” a track drenched in a smoky, late-night blues atmosphere. His voice softened here, showing a more vulnerable side, while his guitar echoed that emotion with clean, delicate notes. The song’s slow, steady build to its climactic solo had the crowd swaying, completely wrapped up in Zac’s spell.
The final part of the set was an absolute barnburner. Starting with “Running Dry,” Zac pushed the tempo back up, delivering another vocal performance full of passion and grit. Then came “Ballyshannon Blues,” a tribute to Rory Gallagher, which Zac filled with scorching solos and intricate riffs. By the time the trio launched into “Junior Wells’ “Messin’ with the Kid” (1960), the crowd was moving, bouncing and clapping along, completely immersed in the groove.
The set finished with a thunderous cover of “Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well” (1969), paying homage to the great Peter Green. Zac’s playing here was once again, fierce and precise, his solos blending technical prowess with raw, untamed energy. The crowd roared in approval as the final note rang out, giving the young trio a “rousing ovation” as they left the stage. It was clear, Zac Schulze had made a lasting impression.
Born and raised in Kansas City, “Samantha Fish” has dominated blues-rock for over a decade. With six studio albums, including 2019’s critically acclaimed ‘Kill or Be Kind’ and 2021’s ‘Faster’, Fish has carved out a niche for herself as one of the most dynamic and innovative guitarists in modern blues. Her signature sound blends swampy slide guitar, soulful vocals, and an unmistakable edge that comes from years of relentless touring and evolution as an artist. Known for her “killer heels”, “custom cigar box guitar”, and the cool vintage aesthetic of her “ribbon microphone”, Fish brings a visual flair to her live performances that perfectly matches the explosive energy of her music.
As the clock struck 8:10 PM, the lights in Rock City dimmed once more, the crowd began to chant Samantha’s name. When she finally appeared, decked out in her signature high heels and clutching her white SG guitar, the room erupted. Fish wasted no time, kicking things off with a fiery cover of “MC5’s “Kick Out the Jams” (1969). Her energy, infectious, and her opening riff was like a shot of adrenaline straight into the arms of the audience. The band,” Mickey Finn” on keys, “Jamie Douglas” on drums, and “Ryan Johnson” on bass, locked into a driving groove behind her, setting the stage, that was full of smoke, for what was to come.
Without missing a beat, Fish launched into “Wild Heart,” the title track from her 2015 album. Her slide guitar was on full display here, slicing through the air with sharp, searing notes. Her voice, raw and powerful, soared above the dirty, swampy riff, and the crowd was already in the palm of her hand. As she stepped back to let her guitar do the talking, Fish’s solo was both wild and controlled, with every note dripping with emotion.
Next came “Better Be Lonely” from her 2021 album ‘Faster’, a track that brought the tempo down just a touch but kept the intensity high. Fish’s vocals were sultry, and the band created a rich, full sound that filled every corner of the venue. The audience was light in their loafers, drawn in by the seductive rhythm and Fish’s magnetic stage presence.
The room exploded when Fish dropped into “Kill or Be Kind,” the title track from her 2019 album. The song’s swampy, ominous groove was yet another perfect showcase for Fish’s slide guitar work, with each note slinking and crawling through the air like a snake. Her vocals here were defiant, full of attitude, as she belted out the chorus with fiery intensity.
The set continued to build with “Watch It Die” and “Chills & Fever” (from her 2017 album ‘Chills & Fever’). The latter, with its brass-heavy arrangement, brought a retro, soulful vibe that had the crowd completely mesmerised. Fish’s ability to effortlessly switch between genres, mixing blues, rock, and soul, was on full display, as she effortlessly commanded the stage was undeniable. Fish then ripped into “Bulletproof,” a standout track from ‘Kill or Be Kind’. The song’s heavy riff and pounding rhythm section had the crowd bouncing along, while Fish unleashed a blistering solo that once again demonstrated her technical prowess and sheer power as a guitarist.
In a stunning change of pace, Fish switched to acoustic guitar for a spot of the Blues, Fish commented that there would be no ROCK City if it wasn’t for the Blues, this was introduced as a song by one of her favourites, ‘Charlie Patton”, “Jim Lee Blues Pt. 1” (1969). Standing alone under the spotlight, wearing an acoustic guitar, Fish’s delicate fingerpicking and soulful voice created a moment of pure magic. The band had stepped off the stage, leaving Fish to captivate the room with nothing but her acoustic guitar and raw emotion. The crowd stood in hushed reverence as she poured her heart into every note.
The band quickly returned, and the energy ramped back up with “Need You More” (from ‘Faster’) and “Somebody’s Always Trying.” The latter brought back the fiery edge, with Fish ripping through solos as her band laid down a thumping groove. The highlight of this segment came with her cover of “R.L. Burnside’s “Poor Black Mattie” (2001), which had the entire room moving to the primal beat. The haunting cover of “Screaming’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You” 1956) was one of the night’s most memorable moments. Fish’s smoky vocals and the eerie, slow-building arrangement had the audience completely entranced. She owned every moment, making the classic her own with a spine-tingling intensity.
The main set closed with “Black Wind Howlin’,” the title track from her 2013 album, which brought the house down. Fish’s guitar solos were fast and furious, and the driving rhythm pushed the energy to its peak. As she and her band walked off stage, the crowd exploded into chants and cheers, demanding an encore. During this moment, Sam’s guitar tech came to the front of the stage, holding a white SG guitar. He playful led the cheering for more until the band returned.
The encore saw “Zac Schulze” invited by Sam back to the stage for a blazing, 15-minute rendition of “R.L. Burnside’s “Going Down South” (2001). Trading licks with Fish, Schulze more than held his own, and the harmony between the two guitarists was electric. Their back-and-forth solos were explosive, with each pushing the other to greater heights. It was a thrilling end to an unforgettable climax to the night.
As the cheers and applause rang out, the band, again joined by Zac, took a bow the thunderous applause threatening to shake the ticker tape from the rafters. Fish promised the crowd that she’d be back, and judging by the reaction, the Rock City crowd would be waiting eagerly for her return. Two generations of blues talent, one unforgettable night. Samantha Fish, already a giant in the blues world, proved why she’s one of the most electrifying live performers today, while Zac Schulze left no doubt that he’s destined for greatness. The future of blues is in very safe hands.
