Samantha Fish at House of Blues in Chicago 2025

7 Dec, 2025 John Kosiewicz Blues, Concert Reviews, Latest, Rock

Samantha Fish - Photo credit: John Kosiewicz

A Night of Blues at House of Blues Chicago – Shake ’Em On Down Tour

On December 7, 2025, the “Shake ’Em On Down Tour” rolled into House of Blues Chicago with Jon Spencer, Cedric Burnside and Samantha Fish. The lineup offered three distinct styles that still tied back to the same roots. It was a strong bill for a cold Chicago night. Fish also brought songs from her new album, Paper Doll, which gave the evening a fresh spark.

This stop marked her return to a familiar city. I last caught her in 2023 at Park West, and her fire then still holds up now. Chicago shows up for her every time.

The Show

Jon Spencer

First up was Jon Spencer. He came out swinging with his garage-blues / punk-rock attitude. Gritty guitar and raw energy dominated the early set. Spencer twisted classic blues into a rougher, edgier sound. His set hit hard and fast. Spencer kept the set tight and loud, never letting the room settle.

Cedric Burnside

Next, a Grammy-winning torchbearer of the North Mississippi Hill Country blues, Cedric Burnside stepped up with a much different mood. His music came from the heart of Mississippi hill-country blues. stripped down and soulful. Burnside’s groove was steady. His voice and rhythm carried the weight of tradition. It was a quiet kind of power. And it grounded the night.

More on Cedric’s music and tour plans at cedricburnside.net.

Samantha Fish

Samantha Fish stepped onstage with purpose. She opened with “Paper Doll,” setting the tone right away. The guitar lines cut through clean. Her vocals had grit but stayed controlled. She kept moving with “I’m Done Runnin’,” “Better Be Lonely,” and “Sweet Southern Sounds.” The crowd stayed locked in. Fish always balances power and finesse.

As she went through the set, it hit even harder. “Lose You,” “Bulletproof,” and “Fortune Teller” stood out. Her cover of “Poor Black Mattie” brought a nod to tradition before she shifted back to her own catalog with “No Angels,” “Bitch on the Run,” and “Rusty Razor.” She closed the main set with “Don’t Say It” and “Black Wind Howlin’,” both delivered with force.

Encore: A True Blues-Family Jam

For the encore, Fish invited her friend Cedric Burnside back to the stage. They opened together with a warm, easy groove that felt like two musicians trading stories. Then the rest of the bands joined them, and Jon Spencer jumped in as well. The whole room lit up.

Together, they launched into “Goin’ Down South” (R.L. Burnside) — the kind of full-band blues jam that feels rare these days. It was loose, loud, and joyful. A proper Chicago send-off.

Wrap-up

The Chicago stop of the Shake ’Em On Down Tour showed how three different artists can share the same musical backbone and still bring their own voice. Spencer delivered the chaos. Burnside brought the roots. Fish tied the night together with power and heart. It was a win for blues fans and a strong night for live music in Chicago.