The second act

Mark Mulcahy has a "whole new thing"

by Bob Gulla

Mark Mulcahy

Some of you hairier folk -- I guess I should say "hoarier" -- may remember Mark Mulcahy from his days with Mr. Ray and their band Miracle Legion. They were a terrific, independently-minded pop band -- deeply felt and nicely wrought -- with extensive roots in Connecticut and Rhode Island, courtesy of local heroes bassist Dave McCaffrey and drummer Spot. But they were also fixtures for a long, fabulous time throughout New England. When they signed to Morgan Creek, they even for a moment became pop stars across the nation. But just for a moment. When the foundering label tied the band up in industry limbo, Miracle Legion split up -- one would hope amicably, given the good nature and intentions of their music. Still, it was a sad day indeed.

But the music of Miracle Legion's Mark Mulcahy has lived on in various forms ever since those glory days. In the interim, Mulcahy, McCaffrey, and Spot (now with Frank Black's Catholics) joined together as Polaris, a "performing entity" that created music for the offbeat Nickelodeon sitcom The Adventures of Pete and Pete. That show, and Mulcahy's comfy songwriting and music-for-telly gig, lasted a good three years.

These days, the amiable Mulcahy is back on the "circuit," this time with a stunning new album called SmileSunset, and a newfound sense of invigoration. "I sort of started all over again," he says from his home in Springfield, Massachusetts. "It's a second lease on the whole thing. [In Miracle Legion] I never did everything all by myself like I'm doing now. I feel fresh; I got a second try. It may sound trite, but it's exciting to be redoing things."

Because his TV gig preempted his touring activity, Mulcahy had to get himself reindoctrinated -- the stage had become strange to him, the idea of performing solo acoustic a little uncomfortable. "I started by doing open mikes," he says. "I was never a guitar player, and I'm still not. But little by little I started to get my thing down. I could go out and play by myself. I was pretty horrible when I first started. It was 100 percent emotion and 0 percent skill. But now I feel more confident."

It helps when you have the kind of songs you can be proud of as a writer and performer. On SmileSunset, Mulcahy is at the top of his game, combining the quirkiness of his days in Miracle Legion with the confessional intimacy that has become his trademark. "Micon the Icon," "The Way She Really Is," and "The Quiet One" are like whispered stories from a friend, the kind of songs that get your attention not because they're loud, but because they draw you in with a sense of hush, of quiet. Assisting him in the studio were cellist Jane Scarpantoni, Chris Harford and, oddly, pianist John Ventimiglia, who plays Artie Bucco on The Sopranos.

Produced by Adam Lasus at Fireproof Studios in Red Hook, SmileSunset ranks as one of the most welcome indie releases of the year. In fact, audiences internationally are responding critically and commercially to the record. "I've got a good label over there," says Mulcahy. "Loose Records also has the Hanson Family and Howe Gelb, among others, so it has a good reputation. The press is really responding."

In the States, Mulcahy is releasing the album under his own wing -- it's called the Mezzotint label. "It sounds kinda simple," he says, "but the greatest thing about having a label is that you can put out a record. When you don't have a label or when you're on another label, it's not as easy to put out a record." Mulcahy has a solid distribution system together, which makes his situation that much more effective. "Despite all the work you have to do when you take care of things yourself, you really do learn a lot. Acts like Ani DiFranco, Fugazi, Minor Threat -- they made the right choice. Even on my own I spent a lot of time pursuing a major label. But I'm glad it worked out the way it did."

Of course, it means Mulcahy can make records without the glowering eyeballs of a major corporation over his shoulder. "There's a lot of ways to do things and I guess I'm doing it my way. A lot of people are doing it the same way. I'm not alone, some weird Don Quixote figure trying out a brand new thing. I've got company."

Having played both sides of the game -- as an independent artist and as part of a major label band, Mulcahy has learned what the game's all about. "The major labels are like Pepsi -- they're huge," he says. "They're so huge, they don't know what you're talking about anymore. And I've found that the bands are really tailoring themselves to sound like something rather than coming into the label with a natural sound.

"Remember, there was a time when a major label could sign an act like Dylan. There was a time when business and commerce met art and passion. Now there doesn't seem to be much of that. Corporations are like: `Here's what you like. Buy it.' In fact, I'm not sure that if Dylan came around today, he'd even get a deal!"

Today, Mulcahy doesn't concern himself with his label status. He's comfortable with being self-employed. With an attention-getting record, a legacy behind him, and some important tour dates in front of him, you could say he's got it going on. He'll bring his brainy acoustic act to the Green Room on Saturday, his first appearance in Providence in a very long time. Though he's not sure whether it'll be a one-, two-, or three-piece configuration, we're sure you'll get all tangled up in the man's tales of twisted romance and profound intimacy. "It's a whole new thing," he says in summary, "and while it's a new page to an old book, so far it's been really good."

Playing with Mulcahy will be electronically enhanced singer-songwriter Bleu from Boston. His new album, Headroom, showcases a rising talent who can be both intellectual and visceral -- a good combination when the temperatures are high and the energy level low.

WANDERING EYE. Rosalie Sorrels will make her final appearance on Saturday, May 19 at Stone Soup, a place where she has appeared so many times over the years. The concert, one that we warrant will be long remembered, begins at 8 o'clock. Admission is $10.

Legendary Chicago House turntablist Jesse Saunders will be in Providence at Club Ballaro's on May 18. And congratulations to Jonathan Stark, whose song "Should I Mary Margaret" from his debut CD has made it to the finals of the Unisong songwriting contest. Stark will be playing this Sunday (the 20th) at the Custom House.

Bob Gulla can be reached at b_gulla@yahoo.com.