Mr Big bring the house down with a truly spectacular goodbye show in London

Mr Big lean into it one last time at sold out show in London’s Shepherds Bush Empire

Words: Kahmel Farahani

Photos: Aggie Anthimidou

The trio of vocalist Eric Martin, Bassist Billy Sheehan and guitarist Paul Gilbert vowed to play one last tour to provide the `Big Finish`, and the final exclamation mark on a genuinely remarkable 35 plus years career.  Standing in for the late great Pat Torpey on the drums, Nick D’Virgilio does a fine job on the drums tonight. What makes the night even more special, if that were possible, is that Mr Big are playing their seminal album `Lean Into It` in its entirety.

The headlines before the show were that Mr Big had recruited an additional backing singer to support Eric Martin to push through illness and fatigue, but Martin’s vocals were more than fine. The effect was incredibly satisfying, simply fattening up the vocals.

Whether it’s the softer, more pop leaning hits like `Just Take My Heart` and the smash hit `To Be With You`, or the harder edged shredding of `Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy` and `Addicted To That Rush`, Mr Big sound and look like a band having the time of their lives. The latter is done with the legendary, requisite power drills on bass and guitar strings. With Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan trading licks and solos that truly defy the speed limit, it makes it all the more joyous to see how happy they are doing it. It’s also a testament to Mir Big’s music that there are three different generations at tonight’s show.

Looking sharper than razer-wire in suit and tie, Paul Gilbert plays with a precision and speed that is almost impossible to follow and certainly to replicate. His playing is simply on another, far higher level and it’s one that needs an oxygen tank to even get close to.  An extended guitar solo leads nicely into a breakneck blast of `Colorado Bulldog` and Billy Sheehan’s equally mesmerising bass solo. While both men are arguably the greatest technical players on their respective instruments, everything they play is musical and run through with emotion. It never becomes technical for technique’s sake.

After almost 2 hours of hits, deep album cuts and everything in between, the crowd are left asking what Mr Big could possible have left up their sleeves. The answer is a searing trio of rock and roll covers that starts with a jaw dropping run through of the David Lee Roth song `Shyboy`. With Billy Sheehan playing and singing it, the breakneck speed and solos practically put sparks in the air and it’s a joy to watch.  Eric Martin then pays tribute to the British bands that Mr Big grew up on and loved so much, including Humble Pie. `30 Days In The Hole` sounds so good it should be illegal, and the band lead the crowd in singing along at top volume.

In a hilarious and brilliant swap of instruments, every member of the band chooses a new spot (Sheehan on vocals, Gilbert the drums, Eric on Bass and D’Virgilio on the guitar), and proceeds to flawlessly jam out The Olympics `Good Lovin’`. Indeed, Mr Big are so talented it doesn’t even matter what instruments they are playing. Mr Big end with a superb cover of the Who’s classic `Baba O’Riley` with Paul Gilbert transposing the synthesizer line to guitar. After a standing ovation from the London crowd, Billy Sheehan takes the mic to thank the fans for the support tonight and for the last three decades.

The feeling is mutual. Tonight Mr Big played an equally staggering, joyous and touching show that left everyone happy and all too aware that, once they finally do decide to call it a day, there will be no other bands lining up to take their place.