Mark Mulcahy
Encyclopedia
Mark Mulcahy is an American musician and former front-man for the New Haven, Connecticut
-based band Miracle Legion
in the 1980s to mid 1990s. The band earned modest renown, especially in their native New England
region, but disbanded after a sad turn of events with their record label, Morgan Creek Records. Mark soon formed Polaris
; a house band
for the mid-1990s alternative television series The Adventures of Pete & Pete
(1993–1996). They are perhaps best remembered for the song "Hey Sandy" as it was featured in the opening credits of each show, and for nostalgic tunes such as, "Waiting for October" and "Saturnine". Following the cancellation of Pete & Pete, Mulcahy found himself playing his own shows in New York City
, and building up his career from a shadowy past. Mulcahy has opened for many notable artists including Oasis
and Jeff Buckley
, and received homage from Radiohead
frontman Thom Yorke
, who dedicated a song to Mulcahy at a Boston
show. Mark is still working on his solo career today via his own label Mezzotint.com.
An essay on Mulcahy's song "Hey Self-Defeater" (from the album "Fathering") was featured in Nick Hornby
's book 31 Songs
.
He also composed the music for, and performed in Ben Katchor's 2004 musical The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island, or, The Friends of Dr. Rushower. Mulcahy also co-wrote the musical The Rosenbach Company with Katchor.
Mulcahy recorded a cover version of Shania Twain
's "From This Moment On" for Engine Room Recordings
' compilation album Guilt by Association
, which was released in September 2007.
His song "Cookie Jar" was used in the 2008 movie Management
over the closing credits.
A tribute album entitled Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy
was released on September 15, 2009, featuring contributions from Thom Yorke
, Frank Black
, The National
, Dinosaur Jr., Michael Stipe
, Juliana Hatfield
, Mercury Rev
, David Berkeley
. The album also serves as a benefit for Mulcahy whose wife Melissa died in 2008.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
-based band Miracle Legion
Miracle Legion
Miracle Legion was an American college rock band formed in 1983 in New Haven, Connecticut. They earned modest renown, especially in their native New England region. The original lineup consisted of singer/guitarist Mark Mulcahy, lead guitarist Mr. Ray Neal, drummer Jeff Wiederschall, and bassist...
in the 1980s to mid 1990s. The band earned modest renown, especially in their native New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
region, but disbanded after a sad turn of events with their record label, Morgan Creek Records. Mark soon formed Polaris
Polaris (band)
Polaris was a one-off musical project in the mid-1990s involving members of the New Haven indie rock band Miracle Legion.Mark Mulcahy, Spot "Scott" Boutier, and Dave McCaffrey performed music for the Nickelodeon television show The Adventures of Pete & Pete under the name Polaris because fourth...
; a house band
House band
For the British band that existed from 1984-2001, see The House BandA house band is a group of musicians, often centrally organized by a band leader, who regularly play an establishment. It is widely used to refer both to the bands who work on entertainment programs on television or radio, and to...
for the mid-1990s alternative television series The Adventures of Pete & Pete
The Adventures of Pete & Pete
The Adventures of Pete & Pete is an American children's television series produced by Wellsville Pictures and broadcast by Nickelodeon. The show featured humorous and surreal elements in its narrative, and many recurring themes centered on two brothers both named Pete Wrigley, and their various...
(1993–1996). They are perhaps best remembered for the song "Hey Sandy" as it was featured in the opening credits of each show, and for nostalgic tunes such as, "Waiting for October" and "Saturnine". Following the cancellation of Pete & Pete, Mulcahy found himself playing his own shows in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and building up his career from a shadowy past. Mulcahy has opened for many notable artists including Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
and Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...
, and received homage from Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
frontman Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke
Thomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
, who dedicated a song to Mulcahy at a Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
show. Mark is still working on his solo career today via his own label Mezzotint.com.
An essay on Mulcahy's song "Hey Self-Defeater" (from the album "Fathering") was featured in Nick Hornby
Nick Hornby
Nick Hornby is an English novelist, essayist and screenwriter. He is best known for the novels High Fidelity, About a Boy, and for the football memoir Fever Pitch. His work frequently touches upon music, sport, and the aimless and obsessive natures of his protagonists.-Life and career:Hornby was...
's book 31 Songs
31 Songs
Songbook is a 2002 collection of 26 essays by English writer Nick Hornby about songs and the particular emotional resonance they carry for him. In the UK, Sony released a stand-alone CD, A Selection of Music from 31 Songs, featuring 18 songs. The hardcover edition of Songbook, published in the U.S...
.
He also composed the music for, and performed in Ben Katchor's 2004 musical The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island, or, The Friends of Dr. Rushower. Mulcahy also co-wrote the musical The Rosenbach Company with Katchor.
Mulcahy recorded a cover version of Shania Twain
Shania Twain
Shania Twain, OC is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me , brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold over 40 million...
's "From This Moment On" for Engine Room Recordings
Engine Room Recordings
Engine Room Recordings is an independent record label with a roster of Indie rock and Alternative rock musicians. Beyond marketing and distribution for its artists, the label does booking and artist management....
' compilation album Guilt by Association
Guilt by Association (album)
Guilt by Association Vol. 1 is a compilation album released September 4, 2007 by Engine Room Recordings. It features indie rock artists covering well-known pop and R&B songs.-Overview:...
, which was released in September 2007.
His song "Cookie Jar" was used in the 2008 movie Management
Management (film)
Management is a 2009 romantic comedy-drama directed by Stephen Belber and starring Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn. It premiered at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival and received a limited theatrical release on May 15, 2009....
over the closing credits.
A tribute album entitled Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy
Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy
Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy is a tribute album to former Polaris and Miracle Legion front man Mark Mulcahy released under the Shout! Factory label in 2009....
was released on September 15, 2009, featuring contributions from Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke
Thomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
, Frank Black
Frank Black
Black Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
, The National
The National (band)
The National is an indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger, a baritone...
, Dinosaur Jr., Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
, Juliana Hatfield
Juliana Hatfield
Juliana Hatfield , is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter and author from the Boston area, formerly of the indie rock bands Blake Babies and Some Girls. She currently lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
, Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev is an American alternative rock group, that formed in the late 1980s in Buffalo, New York. Original personnel were David Baker , Jonathan Donahue , Sean Mackowiak, a.k.a...
, David Berkeley
David Berkeley
David Berkeley, born David Berkeley Friedland on 22 September 1976 in New Jersey, is an American singer and songwriter.He has released four studio albums, one live album and has published a book, all of them self-produced under the Straw Man label, in a recording career that begun in 2002.Berkeley...
. The album also serves as a benefit for Mulcahy whose wife Melissa died in 2008.
Partial discography
- Fathering (1997) CD on the Mezzotint Label/Loose Records
- C.O.D. (1999) 7-inch vinyl on Lissy Records
- I Just Shot Myself in the Foot Again (2000) EP on Mezzotint
- Smilesunset (2001) CD/LP on Mezzotint/Loose
- In Pursuit of Your Happiness (2005) CD on Mezzotint/Loose
- Love's the Only Thing That Shuts Me Up (2005) EP on Mezzotint