It’s been a few years since Mr. Big was out and about. With a new album “Defying Gravity” scheduled to be released July 8th, the band decided to go out and get their wings early. A stop at B.B. King’s in New York City this past Saturday brought in a packed house. With some of the best musicians on the planet, many were eager to see what the band had in store for NYC.
It’s been six years since I’ve seen the band live. Lots of things have changed since then within the structure of the band. Back in 2014 when the band was releasing “…The Stories We Could Tell,” drummer Pat Torpey was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He still remains a part of the band and tours with them playing percussion. Former Ace Frehley drummer Matt Starr has been called upon to participate as the touring drummer since the diagnosis.
The band took the stage and kicked into a very fun and interactive song “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy” where guitarist Paul Gilbert and bassist Billy Sheehan added electric drills to the song. The band was in a great mood and was spearheaded by vocalist Eric Martin. Martin’s voice was crisp and powerful. He moved about slapping hands, pointing at fans and interacting with the audience throughout.
The band only gave a small sample from the upcoming album as they played “Everybody Needs a Little Trouble” and then “1992.” Gilbert ruled the later track with a furious solo. Gilbert and Sheehan played off of each other all night.
Sheehan was his usual self as he crushed the bass all night. He even added a tad of playing the harmonica on “Price You Gotta Pay.” Martin joined in on the fun as he played an acoustic guitar for the Cat Stevens classic “Wide World.” The band paid a nice tribute to Gregg Allman as they played a snippet of “One Way Out.”
Starr was behind the kit the entire night but did exit twice when Torpey went behind the skins on “Just Take my Heart” and then when the four went to the front of the stage for the band’s biggest hit “To Be With You.” Mr. Big is back and back in a BIG way. Some of the best musicians on the planet in one band. Add a Mr. Big show to your summer concert list!
Setlist:
Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill song)
American Beauty
Undertow
Alive and Kickin’
Temperamental
Just Take my Heart
Take Cover
Green-Tinted Sixties Mind
Everybody Needs a Little Trouble (new song)
Price You Gotta Pay
Guitar solo
Take a Walk
Wide World (Cat Stevens cover)
Rock & Roll Over
Around the World
Bass solo
Addicted to that Rush/One Way Out (Allman Brother’s cover -snippett)
Encore:
To Be With You
Colorado Bulldog
1992
Baba O’Riley (The Who cover)
We would like to thank Amanda Cagan from ABC Public relations for the credentials
