Mr. Big Pictures and Review from Show in Buffalo

One of the most anticipated shows of the year came through this past Thursday night at the brand-new venue Electric City in Buffalo. Hometown hero and legendary bassist Billy Sheehan brought his band Mr. Big back for a sold-out show. This marks the first time the band has played Buffalo since August of 2011. It also is the last date in the United States before the band sets off for Europe. The band has been on the Big Finish tour for over a year and it's fitting that they close the United States portion with a show in Sheehan’s hometown. Mr. Big still consists of original members Billy Sheehan on bass, Paul Gilbert on guitar, Eric Martin on vocals, and new drummer Nick D’Virgillo, who took over for original drummer Pat Torpey, who passed away in February 2018.

The show was billed as an evening with Mr. Big so there was no opener. There was some built-up anticipation before the band took the stage around 8:15 pm to a big ovation. Mr. Big wasted no time and cranked into “Addicted to That Rush.” A perfect prologue of what was to follow the rest of the evening. Next up was “Take Cover” off the 1996 EP and then “Price You Got to Pay.” For the latter, Sheehan did his harmonica part while Martin went right behind him and played the bass. They didn’t miss a beat. For the 4th song of the evening, the band started and played the entire ‘Lean Into It’ album from front to back.  “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill song)” started the party and went right through to the band's biggest hit “To Be With You.” In the middle of all of that is my favorite Mr. Big song in “Green-Tinted Sixties Mind.” Gilbert’s tone on this track makes the song go for me.  Sheehan played a beautiful Yamaha double bass for “Voodoo Kiss” and some of the subsequent tracks after. One of my favorite covers of any band is their take on the Cat Stevens track “Wide World.”  Again, they continue to do justice to this song, and glad they leave it in the setlist. At times, Martin’s voice cracked. At other times, he sounded fantastic!  I attribute it to normal wear and tear from being on the road for an extended period of time.  Of course with Sheehan being home and the crowd hanging on every bass note he pounds and words he speaks. His playing still remains extraordinary. He wouldn’t walk out alive if he didn’t go back to his roots and play the song “Shyboy’ from his Talas days. The band all switched instruments on “Good Love.” Sheehan handled lead vocals, Martin handled the bass, Gilbert the drums, and D’Virgillo the guitar. One of the highlights of the evening that showcased the entire band's musicianship. They closed the night out with a fun cover of The Who’s “Baba O’Riley.”

Of course, multiple acknowledgments were given to Mr. Sheehan throughout the show. Even the band came over towards the end and gave him a big hug. Sheehan remarked this show was one of his favorite to play and he has played a thousand of them in the area. It meant a lot to him that the band was able to close out this portion of the tour in Buffalo. Mr. Big is getting ready to release a new album titled ‘Ten’ on July 12. They are also stating this will be the band's final tour. As we know since The Who announced that back in 1982, nothing is off the table and you never know from any band. For now, Mr. Big put on a worthy performance that if it is truly their last show here, they can all go out very proud that they left it all out there on the stage.

Setlist:

Addicted to that Rush
Take Cover
Price You Got to Pay
Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill song)
Alive and Kickin’
Green-Tinted Sixties Mind
CDFF-Lucky This Time (Jeff Paris cover)
Voodoo Kiss
Never Say Never
Just Take my Heart
My Kinda Woman
A Little Loose
Road to Ruin
To Be With You
Wide World (Cat Stevens cover)
Guitar solo
Colorado Bulldog
Bass solo
Shyboy (Talas cover)
30 Days in the Hole (Humble Pie cover)
Good Lovin’ (The Olympics cover)
Baba O’Riley (The Who cover)