Miracle Legion

Miracle Legion was a Connecticut-based college rock band begun in 1984, consisting of singer/guitarist Mark Mulcahy, lead guitarist Mr. Ray Neal, drummer Jeff Wiederschall, and bassist Steve West. In their early stages they received constant comparisons to R.E.M., more in their presence, and over all sound and less about their songs or lyrical content. Other than a few similar sounding songs, the respective bands' sounds were largely dissimilar lyrically and musically, and as time progressed, the comparisons became less valid. 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 drummer Jeff Wiederschall and bassist Steve West, in 1988, singer Mark Mulcahy and guitarist Mr. Ray 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 in drummer Scott Boutier and bassist Dave McCaffrey. That year they signed 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 the television show The Adventures of Pete & Pete, which was created by Miracle Legion fans Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi. Mr. Ray Neal, disillusioned with the label experience, declined the offer; but singer Mark Mulcahy accepted. Mulcahy decided to do the project with Boutier and McCaffery 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 Mulcahy's own Mezzotint label. Since then, Mulcahy has released three solo LPs, and Neal 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 The Adventures Of Pete & Pete on the Noggin channel has unexpectedly renewed interest (and led a new generation) to the music of Miracle Legion. The majority of their albums, however, remain out of print.

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