Mr Big/Jared James Nichols - KK's Steel Mill, Wolverhampton 22 March 2024

Having started the tour over in Asia during summer of 2023, it would be some 9 months later that Mr. Big would grace our shores for what had been mooted as the last hurrah, and what better way to come together and present a tour featuring the 1991 release of 'Lean Into It' in its entirety, a second album that seismically put Mr. Big well and truly on the Rock N Roll map, already living with the title as 'Super Group' when the debut album was released in 1989, it took a radio friendly offering from 'Lean Into It' to blow everything out of the water.... only fitting that over 30 years later this album is featured in all its glory from start to finish on a Mr Big Farewell tour.

With the commencement of the UK dates, it was clear that there was some vocal issues with Eric Martin, an eye and an ear were kept on the look and listen for anything that would put pay to a long time planned Road trip then an announcement came whilst half way down the M6... an air of relief was felt by the travellers as the gig was still on.... With Eric clarifying his struggles and coming up with a crazy idea to add a 5th member for a couple of dates to aide in the vocal delivery.... step forward Whitesnake Keys player Michele Luppi, and a one time member of a Mr. Big Tribute band... how was this going to pan out, at least it was better than the alternative which would have resulted in a probable U-turn and a less than enthusiastic drive back over the border.

A first visit to KK's Steel Mill, a former Car Manufacturing workshop with a 2,000 capacity now owned by former Judas Priest member KK Downing, a number of Priest memorabilia adorned throughout, easy to see why this venue is getting a fair amount of acts stopping off in Wolverhampton and very much testament to having a live venue that appears to be for the fans... Only a first impression but really enjoyed this venue, although the length of time it took for the queue at the bar to go down came in longer than a certain bass solo later in the evening.

For this run of dates we have Jared James Nichols along as support to warm up the 'Bigs Fans' a colossus of a man, (Should be renamed 'Jared James Muscles') providing a fusion of Classic Rock and Blues driven delights.. tracks such as 'Down The Drain' , Threw Me to The Wolves' and 'Bad Roots' delivered with that Rough n' Raw Gritty vocal add to that some top drawer fret workmanship on the Les Paul, along with bassist Brian Weaver and Drummer Ryan Rice, Jarred James Nichols has more than proved a worthy warm-up addition on this tour, this trio just seemed to relish the duties set of them and by the time a resounding version of Sabbaths 'War Pigs' concluded the 40 minute set, the queue was already forming at the merch stand for some sweaty hugs and a chat from JJN.

The love affair for Mr Big goes back a long way, a stream of studio and live albums, some hard to find just for Japan releases, meeting the guys after a home town show in Edinburgh back in 1991 add to that the various other Mr Big Shows throughout a 30+ year following, the side and solo projects for each member over the years… could be difficult not to form some sort of bias opinion…. Yep, Mr. Big are a big deal for this reviewer.

With house lights dipping and the intro tape of Blitzkreig Bop by The Ramones pumping through the PA, screams and roars filled this old place up, and it was loud..... Then from the shadows Billy Sheehan strides up front and centre, the Sheehan signature of the two hand tapping the Hammer On and Offs to the intro to 'Addicted to That Rush' followed by Paul Gilbert ripping up and down the Ibanez.... have to say Mr. Gilbert looking very dapper in black suit, shirt and tie, not your usual stage attire but hey its Paul Gilbert, he can wear a bin bag if he wants...... With the ever youthful Eric Martin bouncing around like a good 'un behind our 4 & 6 string maestros... Michele Luppi already in place with microphone to aid the vocals... We were off... have to say with a rest day behind him, Eric's vocals certainly came through albeit with a slight strain to them, hence why Mr. Luppi was on hand, an early mention of departed brother Pat Torpey lead to a huge 'Wolves Welcome' to drummer Nick D'Virgilio a multi-talented musician with a resume' as long as your arm.... with NDV emulating that Torpey beat to 'Take Cover' then the last of our opening treble 'Price You Gotta Pay' leads us nicely back to 1991 and for the next 50 mins or so we have 'Lean Into It' from start to finish.

Pow.. 'Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy' just rips its way across the Steel Mill’s Girders, fists a pumping, toes a tapping, what a tune.... a throng of mobile phones held aloft trying to capture that moment when the Makita's are tearing at those strings before our dual vocalists bring it on home. The free n easy swagger of 'Alive and Kicking'... the psychedelic groovy vision of Gilbert's Penned 'Green Tinted Sixties Mind' probably the one song that Eric Martin let Michele Luppi do most of the lead on.

The 'Lean into It' segue just kept rolling off gem after precious gem 'Lucky This Time', 'Voodoo Kiss', 'Never Say Never' then first real ballad of the night 'Just Take my Heart', has to be said the Wolverhampton choir were in fine voice, onto the home stretch with this segment and before long we are at the catapulting to superstardom stage of the band... with Eric Martin blasting its been more than 30 years but I'm so happy...'To Be With You' cue more mobile phones and a rather large sing along...

Oh Yes, Lean Into It... what a great album it was back then, but my god its still sounds so epic some 30 odd years later, had the show finished at this point, content and thoroughly entertained one would have been but time to 'Bump Ahead' and get stuck into another sing along favourite 'Wild One' yes the ol' Cat Stevens classic, before kicking up the gears to the unforgiving tempo of the monster that is 'Colorado Bulldog' of course with such virtuoso's in the band we are gifted a guitar and bass solo from Messrs Gilbert and Sheehan... with the guitar solo just edging it with a rendition of the Rocky theme tune...

Mr Big do like to throw in cover tune or two or three, perhaps four during a show though 'Shyboy' from Sheehan's first band Talas always goes down well with the Mr Big faithful, '30 Days in the Hole' from Humble Pie, a true crowd pleaser from day one on the Mr Big live circuit.... penultimate tune of the evening and billed as 'Switcheroo' on the official onstage set lists.... showcasing the hidden talents of our entertainers this evening with Paul Gilbert Switching to Drums, Nick D'Virgilio switching to guitar, Eric Martin switching onto bass and you guessed it Billy Sheehan switching to lead vocals... a fun filled version of The Olympics 'Good Lovin' ensued, with instruments back in the hands of their rightful owners, microphones rightly positioned in the correct places only just leaves time for one more… cue Paul Gilbert to take the plaudits as he rips through the opening riff to one of the best songs ever written ‘Baba O’Reilly’ from The Who, just an absolute killer version of this tune and what a way to round off a near 2 hour jaunt down Mr Big memory lane...

An absolute stellar show and well worthy of the Road Trip to see top musicians effortlessly just blow the sodden roof off the place, the roar was deafening as the now customary in-front of crowd snap was taken, was easy to forget some minor vocal issues from Eric and with the band pulling together to vocally back up their bandmate along with the addition of Michele Luppi, this was a move that certainly paid off well.

As mentioned the 4 dates for a UK tour had been met with a disgruntled reaction, something to do with promoters not taking on the band and finding suitable venues (who knows how all this works), fear not this 4 date slim pickings now turns out to be the UK first leg, with a raft of dates including festivals scheduled as second leg for later in the summer... based on tonight, you are strongly encouraged to buy those tickets and go see 'Mr Big on The Big Finish tour'

M.