Jeff Wiederschall played drums in Connecticut-based Miracle Legion. However, by 1989, lead singer Mark Mulcahy and guitarist Ray Neal were working as a duo and released "Me and Mr. Ray" - a savvy acoustic album on Rough Trade. Ready to resume touring as a full band, Mulcahy and Neal enlisted a new rhythm section in 1991, featuring Scott “Spot” Boutier on drums and Dave McCaffrey on bass, both from Rhode Island band What Now.