GREAT Reviews......

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GREAT Reviews......

Postby Deb » Tue Apr 05, 2011 2:08 pm

:)

http://www.noisecreep.com/2011/04/04/wa ... ve-review/

It's a balmy spring Saturday night in Los Angeles, and Noisecreep is at the famed House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard after scoring a pair of tickets to the hottest show in town. For the first time in 15 years, the original lineup of Mr. Big is playing on American soil.

Formed in 1988, Mr. Big features guitarist Paul Gilbert, bassist Billy Sheehan, drummer Pat Torpey, and vocalist Eric Martin. Each member entered the band with their own already-impressive resume, which includes stints with everyone from David Lee Roth to Robert Plant. Although they enjoyed a string of successful albums and even a number one single with the 1991 ballad 'To Be with You,' Gilbert left Mr. Big 1997.

Now reunited, Mr. Big are in L.A. to kick off a world tour in support of their new and quite excellent 'What If...' album.

At 10 p.m. on the dot, the band storms the stage with 'Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy' from 1991's 'Lean into It' album. The crowd seems to know every word of the song, and Noisecreep even catches a few jaded music industry insiders singing along with the group. Eric Martin's voice sounds crisp as ever as he belts out one tuneful line after another. The singer struts around the stage like he owns the joint, taking complete command over the song.

By the time Mr. Big launch into the pristine pop of 'Green-Tinted Sixties Mind,' the guys are firing on all cylinders. Gilbert and Sheehan trade off improvised guitar and bass licks while Torpey locks into every groove with expert ease. The musicians in attendance tonight watch the band's every move as if they're trying to decode some kind of rock 'n' roll mystery.

While Mr. Big definitely deliver the technical fireworks we all came to expect from them, the band's songs remain the true stars of the evening.

New numbers such as 'Undertow' and 'Still Ain't Enough For Me' stand proudly alongside classics like 'Just Take My Heart' and 'Take Cover.' Torpey, Sheehan, and Gilbert also lend pitch-perfect backing vocals throughout the night, giving Martin extra support and letting the frontman spend a little more time connecting with the room.

Mr. Big run through all of their big hits ('To Be With You,' natch) and also throw in choice covers of '30 Days in the Hole' (Humble Pie) and The Who's 'Baba O'Riley.' The combo closes their set with the fretboard workout 'Shy Boy,' a song written by Sheehan that was originally released when he played in David Lee Roth's band. In the hands of lesser musicians, 'Shy Boy' would sound like a mess, but Mr. Big make it all look easy, turning the song's flurry of intertwined notes and speedy drums into the anthem it's meant to be.

By the time the last note of the set rings out, Noisecreep can't help but feel that Mr. Big are one of the best live rock acts on the planet right now. By the mile-wide smile on the face of each band member, it's obvious that deep inside, they feel it too.


Agreed! :)
Last edited by Deb on Wed Apr 06, 2011 11:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby S2M » Tue Apr 05, 2011 2:12 pm

I think you actually put into words what I couldn't grasp in my own words....Great LIVE band. But they suck Ostrich balls in the studio. Plus, this just in: They still can't write a freakin' decent structured song.... :lol:
Tom Brady IS the G.O.A.T.
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Postby timstar78 » Tue Apr 05, 2011 2:26 pm

Nice review. It was an excellent concert.
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Postby annie89509 » Tue Apr 05, 2011 7:36 pm

Deb... you were there, right? Bet you were going out of your mind :lol: ! Hope to see some yt videos....
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Postby Deb » Wed Apr 06, 2011 2:42 am

annie89509 wrote:Deb... you were there, right? Bet you were going out of your mind :lol: ! Hope to see some yt videos....


:D There is a bunch of youtubes and pics in this thread..... http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... hp?t=50861

I know you like emotive delivery too, so I think you'll like the Stranger In My Life vid in that thread, pours his heart 'n soul into that one. LOL, sorry its not the steadiest in spots but my shoulders just COULD NOT remain still during ANY song, believe me I tried. :lol:
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Re: GREAT Review.....

Postby Rocker Chic » Wed Apr 06, 2011 3:14 am

Great review, Deb! Which makes me even more annoyed that I couldn't go. :twisted:

Deb wrote:The musicians in attendance tonight watch the band's every move as if they're trying to decode some kind of rock 'n' roll mystery.

I think musicians just do this naturally. A friend of mine was at the first Styx show many years ago (since Lawrence Gowan joined the band) in Vegas and she was standing next to Blas Elias from Slaughter. She told me that she couldn't believe how fixated Blas was on what the band was doing throughout the entire show. He took everything in, in a very focused way that she'd never seen before.

At one of the best performances I'd ever seen, me and my same friend went to see Toto in Irving Plaza here in NYC. Over 80% of the audience was male of all age ranges and they simply stood there staring at the band, totally immersed in every move, every note, and every vocal. My friend and I were the only women there who were not with our husbands/boyfriends... A fantastic performance, but an oddity that I've never experienced before.

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Another GREAT Review........... :-)

Postby Deb » Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:51 am

http://metalassault.com/Live_Reviews/040211_Mr_Big.php

MR. BIG Makes Mind-Blowing Return To US Soil

April 2nd 2011, House Of Blues, Hollywood CA: I was fortunate enough to see Paul Gilbert's solo show as he performed alongside Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey in a rare encore jam on February the 28th, 2009. This was just when the Mr. Big reunion was about to be officially announced, months before they played their first reunion show in Japan. But tonight was the first time in 15 long years that the original Mr. Big line-up played a show in America, and again I felt like I was one of the lucky few to be in attendance, for it turned out to be a truly magical night.

The first glimpse of the stage itself was awe-inspiring as the huge Mr. Big logo engulfed the entire area behind Pat Torpey's drum kit, forming a perfectly imposing backdrop. The band members appeared one by one, and deafening cheers from the sold out House Of Blues went up each time. They wasted no time as they went old school to start out the show with "Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy" from their 1991 album "Lean Into It", an album that would feature again during the night.

"Take Cover" was next, a song that was enjoyed by everyone in the audience as they got more and more into it, but things were just beginning to warm up. Back they went to their second album to dust out "Alive And Kickin". This contained the first instance of Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan's insane guitar-bass duels. The next song drew one of the loudest cheers of the night, as it came from the band's self-titled debut, the song "Merciless". Another delightful classic in the form of "Green-Tinted Sixties Mind" followed, and after that came a memorable moment as Paul presented his rendition of Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me To The Moon" while the band got ready for the next phase of the show. I've been a fan of Paul's throwbacks to the 60s, specially music by The Doors and Sinatra as in this instance, and the fact that he devotes a portion of his live performance to them further raises the level of respect I already have for him otherwise.

Mr. Big were here tonight not only to try making up for the lost time by playing the classics, but also to present material from their 2011 release "What If...". The first of these tonight was "Undertow", one of the most feel-good rock songs I've heard in a long time. They absolutely nailed it in terms of the accuracy of the live rendition, and it sounded as good, if not better than the studio version. Although the song maintained the essence of Mr. Big, it sounded fresh and was a welcome departure from the set thus far. They went back to the old catalog to bring out "Just Take My Heart", after which we were treated to a Gilbert-Sheehan duel as the other two members let them take center stage to wow each and every member of the crowd.

A cover of Cat Stevens' "Wild World" came next, following which they played another new song "Around The World". Despite the plethora of amazing classics played tonight, this tune was one of the highlights for me and I enjoyed every second of it. Billy Sheehan's breathtaking bass licks certainly had a lot to do with that. The other new song, the ballad "Stranger In My Life" was beautifully done by Eric Martin as he put a nice touch to it by dedicating it to the troops. They closed out the main set with two more songs, "Price You Gotta Pay" and "Addicted To That Rush", the latter getting a great crowd response as frontman Eric Martin put on a commanding performance, managing to get everyone involved in singing the chorus.

They had to do an encore, and it was none other than their most popular song "To Be With You". There were lighters galore in the audience as the loudest chorus of the night rang through the House Of Blues. With this they thanked the crowd and left the stage once again. I knew that this wasn't it, but obviously a couple other people in the crowd didn't seem to concur. I don't get why people are so adamant on "beating the traffic" that they don't even stay to watch the whole show. Well, I'm sure they must have been satisfied at succeeding to beat the traffic and missing three Mr. Big tunes played for the first time in 15 years. Hollywood crowds always have a few annoying elements, like the sets of people who keep having conversations with each other during the show, feeling it utmost important to share their opinions about what's happening on the stage rather than actually watching it. Anyhow, I digress.

Mr. Big weren't done thrilling this crowd as they returned with two cover tunes "Teenage Wasteland/Baba O'Riley" and "30 Days In The Hole". I love how they play these covers, turning some of the younger folks in the crowd, including yours truly, onto some legendary classic rock. They came back out for one final encore, with the ever-awesome "Shy Boy". The band absolutely blew me away with their performance tonight, and it was more than a pleasure for me to get to see my favorite guitarist and bassist perform on the same stage for two hours, taking center stage and trading off solos numerous times. They are not only amazing at playing their instruments, but are also masters at expressing themselves on stage, and one only wonders why they are so underrated as musicians on their respective instruments. With that said, Eric Martin was great on vocals, and so was Pat Torpey on drums. No one could have asked for a better return from them. Bands making a return after such a long time are often written off by critics and detractors, but Mr. Big will definitely turn out to be a glorious exception, and I'm sure every member of the crowd present tonight will agree.

A terrific, memorable performance that signals the triumphant return of Mr. Big.
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Postby Pelata » Wed Apr 06, 2011 11:12 pm

Such a great band...I really hope I get the chance to see them live.
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Postby Rocker Chic » Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:57 am

Pelata wrote:Such a great band...I really hope I get the chance to see them live.


Me, too, Shawn! :D

I've seen Eric acoustically a couple of times in recent years and he's never failed to impress. :wink: That man just lives and breathes music. 8)

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...Praying for an NY/NJ date! :mrgreen:
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Postby Pelata » Thu Apr 07, 2011 1:00 am

I really wish I would have gone to see them open for Rush back in the day in NC...but sadly, I did not. :(
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Postby Deb » Thu Apr 07, 2011 4:36 am

Rocker Chic wrote:
Pelata wrote:Such a great band...I really hope I get the chance to see them live.


Me, too, Shawn! :D

I've seen Eric acoustically a couple of times in recent years and he's never failed to disappoint. That man just lives and breathes music. 8)

Debbie
...Praying for an NY/NJ date! :mrgreen:


LMAO........you sure that's what you mean, Deb? :lol:

:wink: I know what you meant. He does live & breathe it! And he was totally on his game Saturday, sounded fantastic and totally engaged the soldout crowd! All 4 of them were firing on all cylinders, NO way you would know 20 years have gone by. Was nuts, I met people there from Dallas, Minniapolis, Japan, Germany, Brazil...... :shock: 8)

......considering MB just flew out to start their Japan/Asia/South America tour this week, that is a long way to come for a show when they are coming there, not even a week later? :shock:
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Postby Rocker Chic » Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:53 am

Deb wrote:
Rocker Chic wrote:
Pelata wrote:Such a great band...I really hope I get the chance to see them live.

Me, too, Shawn! :D

I've seen Eric acoustically a couple of times in recent years and he's never failed to IMPRESS. That man just lives and breathes music. 8)

Debbie
...Praying for an NY/NJ date! :mrgreen:

LMAO........you sure that's what you mean, Deb? :lol:

:wink: I know what you meant. He does live & breathe it! And he was totally on his game Saturday, sounded fantastic and totally engaged the soldout crowd! All 4 of them were firing on all cylinders, NO way you would know 20 years have gone by. Was nuts, I met people there from Dallas, Minniapolis, Japan, Germany, Brazil...... :shock: 8)

......considering MB just flew out to start their Japan/Asia/South America tour this week, that is a long way to come for a show when they are coming there, not even a week later? :shock:


Oh, DAMN! :evil: And all along I thought I was pretty damned good at multi tasking. :shock: I've corrected my blasphemy above, but your quoting me just points out my FU. :lol:

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... Eric, really... It was a caffeine deficiency, I swear! :oops:
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Postby Deb » Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:19 am

Rocker Chic wrote:
Deb wrote:
Rocker Chic wrote:
Pelata wrote:Such a great band...I really hope I get the chance to see them live.

Me, too, Shawn! :D

I've seen Eric acoustically a couple of times in recent years and he's never failed to IMPRESS. That man just lives and breathes music. 8)

Debbie
...Praying for an NY/NJ date! :mrgreen:

LMAO........you sure that's what you mean, Deb? :lol:

:wink: I know what you meant. He does live & breathe it! And he was totally on his game Saturday, sounded fantastic and totally engaged the soldout crowd! All 4 of them were firing on all cylinders, NO way you would know 20 years have gone by. Was nuts, I met people there from Dallas, Minniapolis, Japan, Germany, Brazil...... :shock: 8)

......considering MB just flew out to start their Japan/Asia/South America tour this week, that is a long way to come for a show when they are coming there, not even a week later? :shock:


Oh, DAMN! :evil: And all along I thought I was pretty damned good at multi tasking. :shock: I've corrected my blasphemy above, but your quoting me just points out my FU. :lol:



LOL sorry Deb, I just had to........this is MR after all. :twisted: :P

PS: Love this quote from a concert goer.......

Mr Big- House of Blues- Hollywood

"Just back from a 2 hour rock solid show. Sold Out. No Auto Tune..no canned vocals...no Ark Music Factory creation crap. 1st show together in 15 years. THATS HOW ITS DONE PEOPLE. To everyone who decided this show was worth getting out of the house for on a Sat and be 1000% entertained you made the right choice.

This was a reminder for being a fan of M U S I C."
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Postby annie89509 » Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:12 pm

Deb wrote:
annie89509 wrote:Deb... you were there, right? Bet you were going out of your mind :lol: ! Hope to see some yt videos....


:D There is a bunch of youtubes and pics in this thread..... http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... hp?t=50861

I know you like emotive delivery too, so I think you'll like the Stranger In My Life vid in that thread, pours his heart 'n soul into that one. LOL, sorry its not the steadiest in spots but my shoulders just COULD NOT remain still during ANY song, believe me I tried. :lol:

Great show!!!! Thanks, Deb :D .
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Postby SherriBerry » Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:45 pm

Wow Deb - it's about time Mr.Big offered to fly you all expenses paid to a concert or at least put you on their promotions team! Thanks for the updates!
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Postby Deb » Fri Apr 08, 2011 11:48 pm

SherriBerry wrote:Wow Deb - it's about time Mr.Big offered to fly you all expenses paid to a concert or at least put you on their promotions team! Thanks for the updates!


LMAO, I'm a fairly passionate person in general but especially when it comes to my favorite music/vocals. Hahaha I don't do anything half-assed. :lol:
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