Miracle Legion was a Connecticut-based jangle pop band begun in 1984, consisting of singer Mark Mulcahy, guitarist Mr. Ray Neal, drummer Jeff Wiederschall, and bassist Stephen West. Constant comparisons to R.E.M. were largely inaccurate due to the fact that, other than a few similarly sounding songs, the respective bands' sounds were largely dissimilar lyrically and musically. Their first released EP, The Backyard, was released by Incas Records in 1984 and became a college radio hit. Their first full-length album, Surprise Surprise Surprise, was released in 1987 on Rough Trade Records. Released in 1988 was Glad, a mixture of new songs and live tracks (which included a guest appearance by Pere Ubu).
With the departure of their rhythm section in 1988, Mulcahy and Neal changed the direction of the band, becoming a duo and touring as the opening act for The Sugarcubes. Their 1989 release of Me and Mr. Ray (recorded at Prince's Paisley Park Studios) led to the band finding a new rhythm section (drummer Scott Boutier and bassist Dave McCaffrey) and signing with the now defunct Morgan Creek label, who funded their 1992 album Drenched with producer John Porter (of Roxy Music and The Smiths note).
After Drenched, legal problems with the label left the band and its name in limbo. But interest continued, notably with a Nickelodeon offer for the band to write music for a television show (The Adventures of Pete & Pete). Neal, disillusioned with the label experience, declined the offer; but Mulcahy accepted, and he and the band's rhythm section did the project under the name Polaris, which lasted three years and included at least one episode (Season 1, "Hard Day's Pete") in which Neal appears with the rest of the band.
In 1996, the band's legal issues resolved, Miracle Legion released Portrait Of A Damaged Family on the Mezzotint label. Since then, Mulcahy has released three solo lps, and Mr. Ray has recently begun to play shows again in the Northeast, both solo and with Jellyshirts. Their Drenched-era rhythm section Scott Boutier and Dave McCaffrey have been staples as the rhythm section for Frank Black and the Catholics.
In recent years, reruns of Pete & Pete on the Noggin channel has unexpectedly renewed interest (and led a new generation) to the music of Miracle Legion.
You can't actually comprehend their beauty and soulfulness. You can't describe how incredible their music is, but I'm sure you'll agree Miracle Legion had a gift, a beautiful gift. I'm glad they got to share a little bit of that gift with the world. Miracle Legion is one of the great bands that were able to truly rock the house! wonderful music. Sometimes the best music is never found, and boy does it sound good. If you've never heard of Mark Mulcahy/Miracle Legion before, then it's your lucky day - you have found your new favorite singer/band. so prepare yourself for the extraordinary. don't miss out on the experience...
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i love this band. i made them my #1 friend. ain't i cool. fool. rules. think about them. and think about what they mean. and do somthing about it. i know what this smells like!
NEW HAVEN FOLK Concert Series First Presbyterian Church 704 Whitney Avenue, New Haven
featuring MARK MULCAHY + Mercy Choir (Paul Belbusti solo)
$15
The Times of London gave his last album four stars and said "A career best - the kind of magic that unites the Thom Yorkes and Nick Hornbys of this world."
"The songs are intimate, intelligent, wise and melodic. But the really special thing is his voice: such range, such texture, such honesty - it's gorgeous" -- The Daily Telegraph
"With a voice equal parts Tim Buckley, John martyn, and Kevin Coyne, former Miracle legion frontman Mulcahy is rivaled ... only by Jeff Buckley for searching genius. He could sing about knitting and still make it sound as though he was singing about extra-marital liasons." - - Uncut magazine.
***We are still working out the kinks in our online ticket sales , so don't be baffled by our website. Just come to the show and have a great time!***
Saturday, September 29, 2007 8 p.m. Valley WORM Fest (Weekend Of Rock Music) http://www.myspace.com/valleywormfest
Dark Oars (Chris Carlton) Sitting Next to Brian Apocalipstick Matthew Swiatlowski Levelette The Mitchells Henning Ohlenbusch Claudia Malibu Zeke Fiddler Mark Mulcahy
Eagles Club 270 Pleasant St Northampton, Massachusetts, USA
Friday, October 12, 2007 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.) $15 New Haven Folk concert series hosted by Frank Critelli http://ctfolk.com/mcs_info.htm
Mark Mulcahy with special guest TBA
First Presbyterian Church 704 Whitney Avenue (corner of Huntington St.) New Haven, Connecticut 06511
Saturday, November 3, 2007 9 p.m. $10
Sea Wolf Mark Mulcahy Hong Kong Stingray
North Star Bar http://www.northstarrocks.com http://www.myspace.com/northstarbar 2639 Poplar Street (corner of 27th St.) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19130 (215) 787-0488
The mangy mob has got a job,
a hanging judge and jury, god
the finger pointer sends the pack-
you follow me I follow back-
stoned on stonet aphrodisiac.
First stone thrown
face unknown
face the devil on my own.
Sugar is sweet and so is revenge
it's just stated to rain,
but I'm already Drenched
