Majors Junction profile picture

Majors Junction

Plush.Lonesome.Western.Blues

About Me


Bio
Rich textures created by the band have been described as “Plush Lonesome Western Blues”. Attracting a listener base whose musical taste transcends different genres, Majors Junction produces a diverse meld of country honky-tonk blues with folk undertones and hints of bluegrass pickin' and good old rock & roll. It is a unique sound that celebrates individuality and hard work, two qualities the band shares with its hometown of Chicago.
The band came onto the scene in 2003 with their debut release "A Desert Oasis". Local garnered praise has propelled the group to bigger gigs and a growing fan base.
Their latest release "Confluence" has been receiving rave reviews from the US and abroad. Providing upbeat rockers and smooth ballads the album shows off the songwriting and performance abilities that put this band at the forefront of the Americana scene.
The husband and wife duo of Mike Mulcahy and Heather O'Brien provide the upfront harmonies that give the band a rich sound. Mulcahy writes the majority of songs for the band and is a graduate of the University of Iowa School of English. Moving from the serious to the satirical he provides a scope for the listener but will not disavow the intelligence of his audience. Other members of the band include multi-instrumentalist Michael Scott Duplessis whose tasteful playing transcends the guitar, piano and bass and Colin Williams who drives the beats on the drums and other percussive instruments. Colin also co-produced “Confluence“ with Mulcahy and has been with the band since its conception back in 2002.
Beyond the core of Majors Junction there is a family of musicians throughout Chicago that joins the band regularly to satiate any Americana palate. Upright bass player Roger Sherman, pedal steel ace Brian Wilkie, fiddle player Allie Kral and slide guitar player John Hasbrouck are just a few of the musicians that join the band live and in studio.
Majors Junction can be regularly seen and heard at Chicago clubs like Martyrs’, The House of Blues and The Hideout, and also perform at festivals like the Taste of Chicago and the Greeley Stampede in Colorado.
The new album "Confluence" melds together a pleasurable roots experience exploring some beautiful instrumentation ranging from mandolin, fiddle, pedal steel to horns, harmonica, piano, B3 and plenty of guitars and vocal harmonies. It is a musical treat that is leaving listeners awaiting the release of the bands third album expected soon.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 5/18/2005
Band Website: majorsjunction.com
Band Members: Mike Mulcahy - guitar/vocals
Heather O'Brien - vocals/percussion
Colin Williams - drums
Michael Scott Duplessis - bass/keys/guitar/accordian
John Hasbrouck - bass/mandolin/guitar
Brian Wilkie - guitar/pedal steel
Matt Gandurski - guitar

MJ on Americana Roots Podcast Episode 49

...Notable Quotables

"Album 2 is even stronger that their debut. They can sing, they can write and they have good taste in special guests."

-Richard Milne, 93.1 WXRT

"Every element on this album comes together perfectly. A strong country sound with influences of blues, bluegrass, Midwest rock and rich vocals makes it very unique. Fans of any music genre deserve the opportunity to discover Majors Junction."

-Mark D., US99.5 America's Country Station

"They are defined best as a remarkable cooperation between saloon rockers and an orchestra. As if the desert has hidden them under an enormous rag red of velours."

-John Gjaltema, altcountry.nl - Netherlands and Belgium

Buy the NEW Release "Confluence".

Buy "A Desert Oasis"

"Mulcahy writes the sober achy ballads and kicky jumpers of the country music style, and he's good., ...Here's a man going down the road with a lot on his mind, but he's not in Kansas anymore., ...licks knock on Dylan's and The Band's door..."

-Jim Wallace, The Montpelier Bridge

"Cool stuff. Very tasty, fun, fun CD!"

-Ray Randall, AmericanaRoots.com

"Chicago's Majors Junction are a tuneful roots act with enegetic arrangemnts and dextereous musicianship. The groups latest record, Confluence, twists Americana into colorful new shapes without sacrificing an ounce of authenticity."

-Seven Days, Burlington VT

Photos by Norman Sands www.kingidea.com
Influences: Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Gram Parsons, Wilco, Son Volt, Old 97s, The Jayhawks, Ryan Adams, The Byrds, The Band, Bonnie Raitt, The Rolling Stones, Whiskey Town, Paul Burch, Tom Petty, Steve Earle, Peter Rowan, Nick Drake, Lyle Lovett, Lucero, Josh Ritter.

Sounds Like: The future of good timing music.
Record Label: North of Nashville Records, LLC
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Benefit show raises $22,000 for kids!!!!

The benefit show at the Sundance Saloon was a resounding success! On Friday night the Saving Tiny Hearts Society raised over $22,000 for congenital heart defects research. One in every 125 childr...
Posted by Majors Junction on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 08:58:00 PST

MJ in 2008

Well here we are...2008! Into our 5th year! 2007 was a great year for MJ, playing some really great shows in VT, and CO as well as around our 'hood, Chicago. '07 saw the release (long anticipated!) of...
Posted by Majors Junction on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:56:00 PST

Finn Mulcahy

Born @ 7:27am Sept. 25. 8lbs even, 20.5 inches. Everyone is healthy and happy!!!
Posted by Majors Junction on Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:24:00 PST