Susan Bluechild live at Whelan's, Dublin

A tarot card reading astrologer as well as a singer-songwriter, Dun Laoghaire born London-based Bluechild had a close call with a major label in the US in the mid ‘90s. Nothing came of it however and it wasn’t until an In The City showcase secured a UK management deal that she could take her career to the next level. She finally released her debut album, Non Stop To Venus, this month and hits the promo trail with a brace of gigs including this free show in Dublin.
With a strong, wide-ranging voice and a commanding stage presence she wears her influences – mainly ‘80s MTV fare – proudly. Good at it she is too; in their heyday The Bangles would have killed for a song such as the jangly pop of ‘Summer Girls’. Almost an answer song to Don Henley’s vituperative ‘80s anthem, ‘Boys of Summer’, it deservedly won wide airplay over the past few months. Another ‘80s icon Belinda Carlisle could do worse than cover the equally radio-friendly ‘Sunrise’, while the harder rocking ‘Rock Star’ has her stretching out vocally. At times her influences come close to mimicry; on ‘Mad About You’ she sounded uncannily like Kate Bush while a note-perfect version of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’ was chillingly close to the original, right down to Stevie Nicks’ reedy vocal.
Backed by a full band, she rocked the place – Bluechild’s natural home is clearly in a bigger arena than Whelan’s.