Summary: If you were listening to college rock in the 1980's, you likely know Mark Mulcahy as the frontman of Miracle Legion. Or if you're a bit younger, you may be more familiar with Polaris, Mulcahy's fake band that made music and theme song "Hey Sandy" for the beloved Nickelodeon show The Adventures Of Pete & Pete in the early '90s. Since then, Mulcahy has earned a reputation for his sharp wordplay and deeply personal songwriting as a solo artist in his own right. Mulcahy stepped away from for awhile to raise his twin daughters after his wife's sudden death in 2008 -- a tragic event that inspired Ciao My Shining Star, the star-studded benefit compilation featuring Thom Yorke, Dinosaur Jr., Michael Stipe, Vic Chesnutt, and more performing and reinterpreting Mulcahy's songs and introducing his music to new audiences. Now after eight years away, Mulcahy is finally back with a new album, Dear Mark J. Mulcahy I Love You. As one might expect, the record deals in dark subject matter, with songs addressing loss and despair, relationships, and adulthood. And yet, Mulcahy remains surprisingly far from grief-stricken, obscuring the lyrics enough that they don't feel specifically confessional. And when coupled with bright pop melodies and a harder rocking feel (at least compared to Mulcahy's previous solo recordings), there is an immediacy to these songs, and a sense of optimism peaking through. The album may just be Mulcahy's best solo album yet, and a welcome return from an excellent songwriter. For more photos, visit Soundcheck's Tumblr page. Set List: "She Makes The World Turn Backwards" "Poison Candy Heart" "Don't Talk Crazy"
