MR.BIG Reunion World Tour 2009 18th October@Fort Canning,Singapore!
On the 18th of October 2009, rock supergroup MR.BIG descended on Singapore as part of their South-east Asia leg of their 2009 Reunion World Tour! Of course, I just HAD to go, if not to watch one of the bands whom I grew up listening to, then at least to witness one of my biggest guitar influences Paul Gilbert in action. And considering the last time PG came around to Singapore to conduct his guitar clinic, tickets costed $300+, to be able to witness the entire original line-up of MR.BIG for just $75 ($82 inc of GST) was a downright steal.
And to think that I wasn't aware of them coming to Singapore, if it hadn't been for a 10s snippet of commercial that I happened to catch on the TV while someone was channel-surfing on a certain jalan raya outing. What good luck.
And to think I wouldn't even have THAT piece of good luck, if I hadn't accepted SOMEONE'S invitation to a raya outing with her friends. Yey yey! Paw? =)
Anyway, MR.BIG didn't disappoint, as expected. I've always known Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan still have it (and then some!) since I keep track of their videos every so often on YouTube, but I was only beginning to appreciate just how good Pat Torpey is at drums, and Eric Martin, though he can't hit the high notes like in his prime, is still a fantastic singer, with still a great vocal range and excellent control. And with that haircut, he looks like a 19 year old, never mind his real age of 49. In fact, all of them look younger than their real ages, except for poor Billy, having shed their rocker manes and opting for shorter coiffs.
I went with my bro Beg Mal, cousin Ariff and another cousin Abang Amir, who came with a lady friend. And guess what? At then end of the show, after leaving the gate, we met yet another cousin Abang Fauzi with his own lady friend also. So that makes 2 brothers and 3 cousins who came to the same gig. Guess good musical taste runs in the family. Hah!
I won't say much more, but leave you with the pics and videos from this gig.
MR.BIG are Alive and Kickin'!
Promotional poster for their Singapore gig
My concert ticket + proof of entry wrist band
MR.BIG in their prime circa early 90's
MR.BIG now
Lead Vocalist Eric Martin
Shredder extraordinaire Paul Gilbert playing the drill solo section of Daddy,Brother,Lover,Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)
The Eddie Van Halen of bass guitar, Billy Sheehan
Pounder Pat Torpey
One of my biggest guitar heroes, PG... also probably the nicest and humblest guitar virtuoso ever
Billy and Paul let loose the drills on Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy!
Just before the band members came out
ROCK THE NIGHT!!!
EVERYBODY ROCK NOW ROCK THE NIGHT
Welcome MR.BIG
Fantastic lighting and acoustics, which is not always the case at Fort Canning
Pat banging away
Billy doing some two-handed tapping runs on his bass
Eric err... singing
Paul with an acoustic... must have been either To Be With You or Wild World
Was as close as I could get to the stage
Paul's solo spot. Incredible sonic experience
Beg Mal managed to get this pose just before they switched off the screen in the background
Hikam's El Mano Cornuta
Ariff's El Mano Cornuta
Techies clearing the stage in the background
Exhilarated by the show
The entrance to Fort Canning
Me
Ariff
Cousins with Abang Fauzi's girlfriend, who happens to be Beg Mal's long-lost friend...small world!
The opening song - Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)
Green-Tinted Sixties Mind
Everyone knows this song! To Be With You
Shy Boy
Hold Your Head Up
Colorado Bulldog
Just Take My Heart
Alive and Kickin'
It's For You Acapella
Billy and Paul Battle + Next Time Around
Pat Torpey Drum Solo Spot + The Price You Gotta Pay
Billy and Paul Battle + The Price You Gotta Pay Outro
Incredible Doubleneck Solo with Pat and Eric as Human Capos + The Whole World is Gonna Know
Wild World in HQ
Addicted to That Rush + Highway to Hell Medley!
Smoke on the Water cover with the band members switching instruments!
Paul Gilbert Solo
Paul Gilbert Incredible Solo Spot + Even more incredible doubleneck battle with Billy Sheehan
Billy and Paul go at it again
Billy's bass guitar acrobatics during his solo spot
MR.BIG Singapore Meet and Greet
Genuine nice guys. For being world-famous rock stars who are arguably amongst the best in the world at their chosen instruments/talents, they're some of the nicest and humblest rockers ever. No airs, no prima donnas, no rock star shenanigans nor arrogance. Class.
If videos fail to play, watch them here
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