Review by Richard Henry for MPM
It’s a bit of a mixed emotions night I suppose, on one hand it’s amazing to see these guys in Belfast, on the other hand, this is it, you’re not going to see them again after this run, it’s been 35 years since the first album so they have had a hell of a run, really looking forward to this. First up tonight, from Wales we have…
Scarlet Rebels
Divide & Conquer
Thats a meaty riff to kick things off tonight with these guys, it’s a real heads down rocker to kick things off great vocals from the guys as well, this one like most of the songs tonight is from the new album, Where the Colors Meet, if there’s a way to get a crowd in your side it’s kicking off with a song like this, you’re guaranteed to get a good response from the crowd and these guys definitely do
Grace
Staying with the new album this one sort of kicks off the same sort of way we’ve got a driving riff and then the other guitar player playing sort of a counterpoint to it really driving though, you can’t help but notice the drummer who is having an absolute whale of a time back there and it is so cool to watch someone just really enjoy themselves, I actually really like the way the prechorus builds right into the chorus part it’s really well constructed, really nice solo there very melodic and then it builds right back into that chorus again great track!
Streets of Fire
I really like that clean chorused guitar sort of intro that builds into this song really nice way to start it, it’s a nice driven verse, but the ace of this song really is when it drives into that chorus and the vocals go high it’s a real singalong, that is a chorus that will definitely stick in your head and then comes a great solo again, really melodic with a bit of technique in there then goes back down into the chorus again that’s definitely a radio song!
Secret Drug
These guys give off massive energy from the stage this one’s absolutely slams in with a real heavy groove right from the off, this one is again from their new album, “Where the Colors Meet”, I like the way this song builds and builds and the little guitar parts come out just before it reaches into that chorus it’s a really well constructed song some of the guys in the crowd obviously don’t know the band but the guys that do are singing away!
Let Me In
I almost get Foo Fighters vibes from the start of this one, again the one thing I’m noticing from these guys tonight is they write huge choruses which is no mean feat and this one we’re trying to get a sing along going with the crowd when it breaks down near the end, and Belfast does help them out with this, I think for me if I was writing the set list I would have put this song last and swapped it with the song after this!
Heal
Last song of the evening from these Welsh guys and we are actually going back to a different album on this one we are going back to 2019s “Show Your Colors” album, maybe a strange choice for a last song as this one really starts slow and mellow and then builds up in the chorus, it’s a great track but maybe not a song I would have put last, maybe put something really rocking, when it does kick in it has a massive chorus and it’s a great track showcases the guys all backing vocals and again just a huge chorus, I was really impressed with these guys after never hearing them before great band hopefully they come back to Belfast
Mr. Big
Addicted To That Rush
It seems appropriate that we’re starting off with the first song from the first album and it starts with a flurry from Paul Gilbert on the guitar and then the next thing you know Billy Sheehan kicks in as well with that lovely shuffle groove and then there we are we’re bang into the first song ever heard by this band I’m wow as tight, you can see the joy and the faces of the band as they’re playing it looks like they’re really happy to be here, the band are absolutely locked in from the start and the one thing you notice from this song straight away is the backing vocals from the other guys are just so strong on this one, that topping part between Billy and Paul is so iconic and whenever it breaks down a little bit later after the solos with Billy playing a little bass flourishes the vocals over the top it’s just so signature what a great track to start this off!
Take Cover
Now we head over to 1996’s “Hey Man” album and this one starts off with sort of a really cool drum groove and then a nice guitar part, way more laid back than the first song and it gives Eric a chance to come down and range, the one thing you immediately notice on this song is the amount the other three guys provide to the vocals of all of them singing the chorus and it massively impacts the sound it gets so huge when they all do this but the song itself is just really laid back and that guitar part is so hooky, and a nice dedication the Pat at the start of the song!
Price You Gotta Pay
1993’s “Bumb Ahead” album for this one, after a quick drum fill to start, it’s in her real swampy riff for this one, I love the way they’re playing with the dynamics of the set going from really fast song to more laid back to this which is more like a driving rocker, Eric is constantly looking at the crowd for audience participation a really cool moment is whenever the solos come in and Eric actually plays the bass while Billy is still holding it but Billy’s playing the harmonica solo on this one, then Paul comes in with a really gritty blues solo before the song breaks down until a little part where Eric and Billy are just playing before it builds up right into the huge chorus again!
Now it’s time and we’re about to go into the entire “Lean Into It” album from 1991!!
Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)
This just brings back childhood memories listening to this album in full, I played it so many times, and we kick off with a real rocker on this one the band are absolutely loving the response from the crowd and you can tell as it emanates from the stage from them again with all the songs tonight, the crowd are singing along especially on the choruses, but the highlight of this song for me as the guitar solo from Paul Gilbert which for years I tried to learn, it’s a real nightmare then the big part and it’s in the title of the song the two electric drills get handed to Billy and Paul and they play that harmony part of the solo together on the electric drills that is definitely a sight to behold
Alive And Kickin
A little noodle from Paul at the start of this one and then bang the drum fill comes in and we’re straight into a really lovely slinky groove on this, you can see all the heads bobbing in the audience I love the dynamics in the song, where it really comes down under the verse and builds up into the chorus and of course everyone in the crowd singing away to that! Then we get to the really cool part in the middle which is unison between Paul and Billy and they come in the front of the stage for this, the cameras are right to catch the memory of this and there’s loads of people taking photos and videos and I and it’s so far, a really special gig!
Green Tinted Sixties Mind
The start of this song is legendary for guitar players with the two-handed tapping to start the song, the song itself is really really cool and it absolutely has that 60 sort of vibe and again as with every song this band does massive chorus, again it’s a lesson in dynamics with the verse being really quiet with just the bass and the vocals and a nice little drum beat before it builds into that huge chorus you can tell everyone in here knows every single word to these songs tonight because it is just getting sung back to the band and the bands reaction on stage really shows that they’re amazed by the crowd, loudest I have heard Belfast in ages!
Lucky This Time
That is a nasty guitar riff to start this one off and whenever the band kicks in it’s a really slow deliberate groove, Eric is in form tonight his vocals are outstanding and just the energy from the guy on the stage, he’s constantly gesturing to the crowd walking about and trying to just get everyone involved just the consummate frontman, again this song just shows how well the other guys in the band handle the backing vocals as it massively adds impact to the chorus, no surprise for a band this long into their career, Paul whips out an another amazing blues based solo and then the song breaks down and then builds right back up again into that huge chorus!
Voodoo Kiss
Everyone loves a shuffle and that’s what we’ve got on this one absolutely great groove to kick this off and you can see all heads nodding and the crowd along to this one, one thing you can say about tonight is how much fun the band look they’re having, smiling over at each other the whole time and look like they’re having an absolute ball, I always loved the solo in this song nice blues phrasing from Paul and some really tasty licks in there before they do what they always do whenever you really think about it, is they break it down after the solo to quiet and then it builds back up again into the chorus!
Never Say Never
That’s a great rift to start this one off just so full of groove and then whenever the band actually kicks into the verse just the way the bass pulses along underneath the groove is just so cool, again the crowd are so behind these guys tonight all the heads are nodding and everyone looks to be having a blast, more songs need cowbell, that’s what I’m thinking after listening to this, again and comes the huge chorus at the crowd is singing along to, the temptation on a song like this would be to just shred in the solo but Paul takes a different approach and just plays a really nice bluesy solo just full of feeling and phrasing and now its back into a chorus and i think the key change and then back down again, what a track!
Just Take My Heart
I always loved the start of this one with Paul just playing the chords just an on his own unaccompanied before the band comes in, to what really is the second ballad on the album, Eric doing what a great frontman does and even during the verse is getting the crowd to sing some of the lines for him and the volume when it hits the chorus is massive, the crowd are all singing this one and it is so loud in here, a really beautiful lyrical guitar solo from Paul and then again after the solo it breaks down and then there’s that huge drum hit and back into the chorus and everyone’s back singing with the band again!!
My Kinda Woman
It’s only listening back to this song now that I’ve realized how much that riff reminds me of Dokken, and again the one thing you notice about all the songs is how deep the groove is and how locked in both Billy and the drummer Edu are on this one, this songs actually probably the most the most rocking song in the album whenever you think about it the verse just keeps driving and Eric is way up in the stratosphere singing, Paul definitely brings a fire for this solo, absolutely loads of alternate picking and fast scale work in this one so all the guitar players in the crowd are probably doing what I’m doing and taking notes, forgot how much I love this track!
A Little Too Loose
This one always reminded me of ZZ Top especially when Billy is singing down so low with just that really cool guitar lick going on behind him, when it does kick in the to the verse it is that real loose swampy southern groove to it which is just delicious, then whenever we get into the chorus everyone loves a whoa ohh, and the crowd don’t disappoint the band and sing all back to them, but sometimes the difference between a good band and a great band is the front man and Eric definitely has control of the crowd, I actually really love the way that after the guitar solo in this song that goes into a middle 8 section and then breaks down into that low voice again before we head into that last chorus!
Road To Ruin
This song has always ranked as one of my favorites on the album all the way from the band singing the very start of it, to kicking into the groove it’s just a great track, and hearing it live did not disappoint it was absolutely massive when the band kick in, I think what makes the verse so massive is all the space where Eric singing but there’s no bass and guitar before it then starts to chug in before the chorus and again the chorus is a total sing along for the crowd, and the solo has always been one of my favorites on the album, amazing track!!
To Be with You
I don’t really know if I can write anything about this song that hasn’t already been said before the band’s biggest ever hit probably the song, they’re known for the most, even though it’s not what most of their catalogue sounds like, without doubt the crowd sung every single word of the verse every single word of the chorus I even heard someone singing along with the guitar solo it’s just an iconic song and that’s all I can say!
Thats the album top to bottom!
Wild World
In keeping with their acoustic theme of the last song the guys have kept it out and this time Eric has a guitar on him and we are doing the cover of Cat Stevens Wild World, this one was on 1993’s Bump Ahead album, the crowd definitely know this one and they’re singing away to that chorus I would say this is probably their second biggest hit and yet again another acoustic song, I suppose the band have positioned these two songs after the entire album to give them a bit of rest bite, and also the crowd, great pacing of the set!
Paul Gilbert Guitar Solo
OK guitar players in the crowd now is the time to hold on to your seat and also possibly want to go home and burn your guitars after this, this is probably the most shredding we’ve seen from Paul all night and he does everything you expect him to do the fast picking is there, the string skipping arpeggios are there but what you might not have expected is for the entire version of the rocky theme being played by Paul not just the melody line but also the chords underneath which was really cool to watch him actually pull this off live, and of course the one thing that Paul is known for more than his guitar playing is the most epic guitar faces pulled ever on a stage
Colorado Bulldog
Now there is one thing I can say about this song I have been play it on guitar for years and it’s a nightmare and after watching Paul play it live, I can tell you now that all the tablature online is wrong, this song is a great way after the last two acoustic songs to really kick off again and this song was the first song of the Bump Ahead album, this one really kicks hard life and it’s just frenetic pace from the very start of the song, then you hit the verse which is almost like a jazz song with a lovely walking bass line from Billy and then boom kicks in for the chorus and just gets all shuffly and heavy again, Billy and Paul walked to the center of the stage for that middle section before Paul goes off on an absolutely shredtastic solo, if you think about it, it’s very Van Halen under the solo, I adore this song!!
Billy Sheehan Bass Solo
Billy has been called the Eddie Van Halen of the bass with good reason and this solo shows off exactly why, not only do you have all the two hand tapping licks, the fast 3 fingered picking but some really tasty parts in the solo as well, and great seeing him using two sounds he’s got his normal bass rig and then the Line 6 helix as well and he goes between both, but the solo is not just a lesson in virtuosity there’s some really cool melodic parts in there as well, an absolute legend of the bass!
Shy Boy
How fitting after the bass solo to go to Billy’s past and back to the David lee Roth days with this track that was off the Eat Em and Smile album, with Billy singing the lead vocal on this one in the first verse and then everyone in the crowd singing along to that chorus, the second verse doesn’t have the vocals but it does have Billy on Paul and they are interacting with each other and playing those licks that were on their original recording then Paul gets his chance to shine and play his own version of Steve Vai solo on this one, nostalgia central for me on this song!
30 Days in the Hole
Now we are entering what is the cover section of the set and this one I’m sure people know is by the band Humble Pie and it appeared on the Mr. Big self-titled album back in 1989, what’s the first thing you notice in this song is the unison vocals by all the guys at the start and this has been a staple of the set all night is not just how well these guys play musically together but how well they all sing together it’s amazing to watch live, the band looked generally surprised at the reaction from the crowd all night and to be fair with me being at lot of gigs in the Limelight this is the most deafening it has been in so long and the band really appreciate the response from the crowd tonight!
Good Lovin
Now we have musical chairs so Paul is playing the drums, Edu is playing the guitar, Eric is playing the bass, and Billy is singing this one, for those that don’t know this is a song by a band called The Young Rascals and Billy has one thing that he needs to do and that is to say yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah and guess what the crowd do, the one thing that has come across all night and especially comes across in this song, whenever they’ve all switched instruments, is how much fun this band is having on stage and it’s infectious because it goes across to the crowd, we can all see how much they are enjoying being here and it’s bittersweet in a way, because this is going to be the last time we actually get to see them as a band but what a way to see them off!
Baba O’Riley
Here we are the last song of this evening and it has flown by, the band have been on stage for nearly two hours and what do we finish with, a Who song, The band doing a great job on this one and again there’s the consummate frontman getting everyone to sing teenage wasteland back to the band on stage and we all oblige it’s absolutely deafening in here and the response from the crowd all night has been absolutely amazing as the band have been blown away by the volume coming up and back on stage.
And just like that it’s over two hours of the band and they all stand on the stage at the end of the night take their bows from the crowd and then Billy comes on to the mic to explain how his granddad left Ireland and came to the states with his parents who died on the trip and he was left alone in New York and Billy has never forgotten his roots and his family being from Downpatrick which of course gets a massive cheer from the crowd and I genuinely believe the band were blown away by the response they got from the crowd tonight.
I obviously loved the gig and so did everyone around me and what fitting tribute and way to last see Mr. big on what a sendoff!
They still have UK dates and European dates to go, do not miss this, this is your last chance, the band are on fire!
Photography by Darren McVeigh for MPM