Mark Mulcahy: The resurrection of the song writer's singer at Spaceland 7/12/2013

Mark Mulcahy has earned the reverence and adoration of fans, critics and fellow musicians for a career that has spanned over twenty five years.

A master story teller, who can wisp you off to a world of his own creating in less than four minutes,  his lyrics can be as introspective, raw, and funny as they are generous with developed metaphors that detail the beauties and nuances of life as well as dreams. Mark unites his writing in rich and organic ways with music featuring sweet melodic chords and his beautiful voice. It is a well deserved mantle of brilliance, that he wears with a soft and humble smile, after years of work with the seminal New Haven band Miracle Legion, Polaris and his amazing body of solo work. He and his two piece band, featuring  Henning Ohlenbusch and Ken Maiuri ventured in to familiar and welcomed territory last night at the Spaceland performance space in Hamden. 

Gliding in on the heels, and  dressed in angelic white, of his latest record release in eight years, " Dear Mark J. Mulcahy, I Love You" and playing his second Connecticut gig this year, since performing in April at the Meriden Daffodil Festival.

There was an air of welcomed and familiar anticipation of something very special to be witnessed by all in attendance.
Opening the show with of the best of his new tunes from the record. He went deep dealing out "The Rabbit" solo which begins " Wicked trickery...it must take a long time. You need two cups of extra desire. To be able to learn the tricks you learned to do"  The song is laced with contempt as it is filled with yearning.
He next went to the  first track of the new album  " I Taketh Away"  which  begins with compelling chords as Mark spits out frustration and sarcasm. He  even takes on JC with this swipe " He was so cool when first come around. Now all that love my brother shit...just make me mad, mad, mad" 

 By the fourth  song Mark was on fire possessed by frenetic  and  boundless energy, reminiscent of a Grotto gigs from days past, as the band laid down the sultry and provocative "She Makes the World Turn Around." Mark once again revealing his passion and confusion for the feminine mystique. 

A highlight of the night  followed as Mark erupted into a power  punk version of " I Have Patience" that had him and many in the crowd bopping up and down as he proclaimed in the chorus 
"The things I love don't bring me joy. The things I love, I want to destroy. I have patience, I have patience."

Mark continued to marry the new material with the old as he played a couple more track off In Pursuit of Your Happiness  then the closing track off the new record with the powerful and disturbing "Where's The Indifference Now?"
He continued to power on with a ripping version of "Saturine" and then went  soft with a tender " Love's the Only Thing That Shuts Me Up". The fun times continued with a sing-a-long version of a crowd favorite "Ladies From Town" followed by the garanimals portion of the show with the  band getting silly before striking out with powerful version of the funky "Let the Fireflies Fly Away" as Mark gets surreal painting the canvas with imagery of a donkey driving a Chevrolet among a few things.

Mark next  then sang " Quiet One" being both hilarious as it is sinister. He continued with the religious sarcasm with "He's a Magnet" with its soft porn chorus of " ooooo yeah oh no no no oh yeah he's a magnet baby"

The set closed with the one dedication of the night to man from New Haven who inspired the  sweeping "Bill Jocko."

Mark began the encore the way he began the night, alone with his music and his guitar. The stage  lights glistening off the chrome on his hallow body guitar as he pulled out a inspired and sweet reading of " Hey Self Defeater."

"Never mind overjoyed
Just start with happy
There’s no more silent nights
And no more horrid fights
Just got a new place
And put a thousand miles"

Musical guests Jeff " Baby Huey" Wiederschall and Richard "Doctor Managua" Brown joined for the joyous closing of "Mr. Mingo" and " The Backyard"

One of the best nights of live music all year for this fan.
Dear Mark J. Mulcahy, we love you...and thank you.

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