Music: Mark J. Mulcahy
Former frontman of Miracle Legion talks to Jeff Hemmings
It’s been a long eight years since Mark J. Mulcahy released an album, but when you bear in mind that he lost his wife in tragic circumstances in 2008, it’s perhaps not such a surprise… “I was still doing things but not necessarily things that involved playing out or making records,” say Mark over the phone from his home in Springfield, Massachusetts. “I was writing songs, and writing operas – a rock opera a la Tommy – with a friend Ben Katchor, a very well known cartoonist. We performed the opera in front of his cartoons.”
Following the demise of Miracle Legion in the mid ‘90s, Mulcahy formed a house band, Polaris, for the television series The Adventures Of Pete & Pete, before turning his hand to solo shows, releasing his debut solo album in 1997. He then released a steady stream of albums until 2005. But following the sudden loss of his wife, Melissa, his music career took a back seat as he was left to bring up his young twin daughters on his own.
“Eventually, I felt like I could go out and do some shows. The guy I recorded the new album with had a studio in his house, and we concocted a scheme where we could record a song a day. It was a practical approach, and I really enjoyed it. It still took time, but it was a very collaborative record…”
It unfortunately sometimes takes tragic circumstances to help raise the profile of an artist, but Mulcahy’s work has always earned high praise, and in Dear Mark J. Mulcahy, I Love You, he has produced some of his very best work, a record that features superb lyrics and fine singing, as well as rocking out more than his music normally does.
His profile was also raised by the extraordinary tribute album to his wife, Ciao My Shining Star, which came about unbeknown to Mark. “I had nothing to do with it,” says Mark. “I had a tip off from a guy, where he said, ‘what about that record?’, and, I said: ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, that record’s not happening’. It turned out that a fan of mine instigated the whole thing; he called up a bunch of people he didn’t know and got it going.”
As it turned out more than 40 musicians – including famous Mulcahy admirers Michael Stipe, Thom Yorke, Frank Black and The National joined forces to record and release a tribute album to raise money for their friend. Featuring a selection of covers spanning Mulcahy’s career, it clearly demonstrated the admiration that Mulcahy’s work has for many musicians.
Following his first appearance in the UK for many years at last year’s All Tomorrow’s Parties late last year, he’s coming back for just three dates, including one at the superb End Of The Road Festival at the end of the month. “I’m bringing a band – just a three piece – but the trio that was set up for the record.”
Melting Vinyl Presents Mark Mulcahy, Latest Musicbar, Thursday 29 August, 8pm, £10
