CONCERT REVIEW - MR. BIG @ THE COACH HOUSE, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA (05.15.24)

Written by Daniel Gray

Billy Sheehan, Eric Martin, and Paul Gilbert tore the house down in a big way on May 15th. (Hey that’s two puns for the price of one.) All jokes aside, Mr. Big took over the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano and rocked the OC. As good as they are and with all the years of touring under their collective belts, it would be easy for them to phone it in. But no, these are three of the absolute best at what they do in both musicianship and stage presence.

This is billed as the “Big Finish” tour. It’s a bit emotional, because not only is this the farewell tour for the band, but the main reason is the still raw loss of drummer, Pat Torpey. On this particular night, there wasn’t an opening act, so when the band tore into the first song, “Addicted to That Rush,” which also happens to be the first song on their debut album, the audience knew it was time to buckle their seat belts because Mr. Big was about to bring it in a big way.

Besides being a farewell, another draw for this tour was to see and hear the band’s sophomore album, Lean Into It, played in its entirety. Lean Into It was a smash breakthrough and yielded a number one hit with “To Be With You.” That happens to be the last song on the album and the album was played in order. So what happened before it? Virtuoso playing. Harmonies. And lots and lots of fun.

Paul Gilbert broke out the Makita drill for "Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)." Billy Sheehan made good use of his signature Yamaha double-neck bass. And even though Eric Martin has had some vocal issues of late, the harmonies of Sheehan, Gilbert, and drummer Nick D’Virgilio, more than aided Martin during the evening.

After finishing the Lean Into It segment of the evening, the band did a sweet cover of Cat Steven’s “Wild World.” And then it was time to once again strap in. Paul Gilbert took center stage and reminded everyone just what a guitar hero looks and sounds like. He tapped. He shredded. He played “Gonna Fly Now,” the theme from Rocky. Billy Sheehan also got a solo, as well he should. He takes the bass to places that many can only dream of. (Sheehan is also the king of the “Bass Face.”)

Mr. Big are masters of their craft and it’s obvious they love what they do. The final set of songs were covers, albeit “Shy Boy” may be a Talas song, but Talas was Sheehan’s band. The fun and musicianship were really evident when Sheehan took over on vocals, Martin moved to bass, D’Virgilio strapped on a guitar, and Gilbert went behind the drum kit for a rousing “Good Lovin’.”

The night finished with an anthemic “Baba O’Riley” and the evening came to an end with the audience knowing they’ve seen and hear really great music played by really great musicians.

SETLIST