Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

For most people, Mr Big was a 1 or 2 hit wonder. They had big hits in the early 90’s with "To Be With You," "Just Take My Heart," and a cover of "30 Days In the Hole." All 4 guys in the band were sort of B level rockstars. Billy Sheehan was reasonably well known. Real aficionados knew the names of Paul Gilbert and Pat Torpey. Very few people had ever heard of Eric Martin. He was the lead singer of a band called (I think) 519 which changed its name to The Eric Martin Band for the release of their one and only album Sucker For a Pretty Face. I still have a copy. When EMB disbanded Eric put out a couple of solo albums and then joined Mr Big. Troy Luketta became the drummer for Tesla. What happened to the others I don’t know, though I have heard of at least one reunion show of the Eric Martin Band in the San Francisco area.

If you missed Mr Big completely, you really did miss something. Yes, they were known for a couple of big power ballads. (And how could they not be with Eric Martin’s connections to Journey?) But Billy Sheehan’s history leans more toward heavy metal. Mix that with the other band members’ preferences for classic rock and you get something sort of classic sounding, but with a sharp edge. They even used a power drill on Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy.

As a live act, Mr Big is very exciting and professional. Of course as fringe inhabitants of hair metal, there’s long hair, hot guitar and spandex in spades. They’re a very high-energy group. I don’t think Eric Martin stops running for more than 20 seconds run together. The solos are, well, solos. If you’re a big guitar or drum person, you’ll be happy with the solos. Eric Martin’s showmanship is really fun to watch.

From what I can tell, the venue is pretty small, 500 to 1000 seats*, but I think that works to that band’s advantage. Not that they had a lot of chances to play for stadium crowds, but from the video and from my experience seeing them in a bar in Cleveland, they seem to like being able to see the whole audience. They feed off the enthusiasm of the crowd. It’s also a hometown crowd. I was a little surprised to see that it wasn’t a Japan show. Mr Big is huge (still) in Japan.

The camera work is functional. There’s nothing fancy here, which I personally appreciate. When I watch a concert video, I want to see the concert, not a demonstration of all the cool stuff the cameramen and the editor can do. In this video you actually get to see the band play.

Track listing from the Warfield Theater, San Francisco, March 28, 1992
Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy
Alive and Kickin’
Voodoo Kiss
Rock and Roll Over
Green Tinted Sixties Mind
Just Take My Heart
A Little Too Loose
Road to Ruin
Paul Gilbert Solo
Take a Walk
Pat Torpey solo
Lucky This Time
Billy Sheehan solo
Addicted To That Rush

Encore:
To Be With You
30 Days In the Hole
Shy Boy
Baba O’Riley

I’m not saying that Mr Big is a untapped treasure that your life will be poorer for not experiencing, but they are a good band and if you like this type of music, then you’ll like this. And if you don’t, we’ll you’re not missing The Beatles or anything.

*If anybody in San Francisco wants to let me know I can fix that.

Eric Martin (self titled) http://www.epinions.com/musc_mu-391138


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age