College rock icon Mark Mulcahy (Miracle Legion, Polaris, The Adventures of Pete & Pete) sings a dynamic version of the Grateful Dead's "Stella Blue" at Jerry Garcia's 70th BIrthday concert. Live at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA. Backed by the JG70 Band.

Mark Mulcahy - Vocals
Shannon Youtsey Borrell - Backing Vox
Bruce Mandaro - Guitar, Backing Vox
Katy Schneider - Pedal Steel
Peter Sax - Bass
Josh Sitron - Piano
Scott Hall - Organ
Brian Marchese - Drums

Recorded by Dan Richardson
live at the Iron Horse, Northampton, MA

Mixed & Mastered by Josh Sitron

Produced by Brian Marchese, Bruce Mandaro & Josh Sitron

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ABOUT MARK MULCAHY:

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, Frank Turner. The album also serves as a benefit for Mulcahy whose wife Melissa died in 2008.
Mulcahy re-emerged in 2012 with a reunion show with Polaris at Cinefamily's Everything is Festival III on August 28. Following the performance, a Twitter and Facebook page for Polaris appeared. Mulcahy played a four-date tour in England in early December, including a performance at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival. In addition, Mulcahy's new single "Low Birthweight Child/The Cottage That We Rented Had a Name" was released on December 10 by U.K. based Tongue Master Records.

ABOUT THE JG70 Concert:

Brian Marchese presents
"In The End, There's Just A Song: Happy 70th Garcia"

July 27 at 10pm at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton (a few days ahead of the actual JG birthday)

House band:

Bruce Mandaro (Bruce Mandaro Band, The Knot): Guitar
Peter Sax (Mobius Band, Conjure Beat): Bass
Joshua Sitron (composer of some famous television show music!) : keyboards
Brian Marchese (here) : drums

Of the four of us, only Bruce has extensive experience playing these songs. The rest of us know and love Jerry G, but have spent our careers playing different stuff (indie pop, electronica, new wave, punk, children's music, ambient, alt country...). So together, we should get an interesting and fresh take on things.

I won't give away the songs (which will be only Garcia/Hunter songs..), but the performers (and I think this is the confirmed list) are:

Jim Armenti (Lonesome Brothers), Jason Bourgeois (Bourgeois Heroes, The Novels), Thane Thomsen (The Figments, Goldwater), Jason Johnson (National Carpet), Terry Flood (Drunk Stuntmen), Lesa Bezo (The Fawns), Zip Cody aka Scott Lawson Pomeroy (Orange Crush), Henning Ohlenbusch (School For the Dead, Aloha Steamtrain), Stephen Desaulniers (Scud Mt. Boys), Kevin O'Rourke (Lo Fine), Mark Mulcahy (Miracle Legion, Polaris, solo artist), Alex Johnson (Drunk Stuntmen), Katy Schneider (Katyland), Ray Mason (Ray Mason Band, Lonesome Brothers), Matt Silberstein (Flashbangs, Salvation Alley String Band) Scott Hall (Drunk Stuntmen, Burn Pile), Dave Houghton (Fancy Trash), Ryan Quinn (Salvation Alley String Band) and Tony Westcott (School For the Dead, Humbert).

And, doncha know, proceeds for this show will go to help with our musician brother Kevin Smith's enormous medical bills. Kevin's been undergoing treatment for cancer for a couple years now, and doing well enough that he's returned behind his drum kit, gigging and recording with his band National Carpet. However, a genetic heart defect (unrelated to the cancer) caused him to lose consciousness during a recent show--luckily his band mates and a medically-inclined fan or two were able to keep him alive while the paramedics were on their way. More time in the hospital, more tests and procedures, and more mounting bills. He's out and about now, but could use a bit of help in the bills department.
Come, do!