Bubbly Michelle's on song
The Irish Star
April 1989
Original article: 
Michelle Shocked is the best female singer I’ve ever seen.
I was fortunate enough to catch the 25-year-old Texan at London’s Hackney Empire on Saturday.
Neither Tracy Chapman nor Suzanne Vega are a patch on the bubbly and humourous Michelle.
Dressed in black, she began her set on acoustic guitar before being joined by a ten-piece band. Together they produced a sparking performance.
Michelle is due to release a new album in Summer[sic]—a far cry from her first one, recorded on a Walkman!
Born into a fundamentalist family in Austin, Texas, Michelle ran away from home at 16.
She roughed it in San Francisco, New York, and Amsterdam before returning home only to be committed to a psychiatric hospital by her mother.
The left-wing Michelle was also arrested in 1984 at a Republican convention.
Michelle played Dublin’s Baggot Inn two years ago. But as her fame spreads, I expect she’ll be at The Gaiety next time.
Added to Library on April 18, 2020. (150)
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