Third time's the charm for Mr. Big live in Manila
Why the band has a 'special admiration' for Pinoy fans
When the American band Mr. Big released their second album “Lean into It” in 1991, it provided a template for what would become the band’s patented sound: loud rock and quiet acoustic chart hitters.
After all, the album featured three of the band’s monumental hits: “Just Take My Heart,” “Green-Tinted Sixties Mind” and “To Be with You.”
“We look at producing an album kinda like making a movie. In a film, you may have car chases, a romantic scene, then there’d be a suspense scene or maybe a comedy part,” argued bassist Billy Sheehan during an interview with Yahoo Philippines during the band’s press conference Wednesday.
Variety
“So in a similar way, our albums have many different ideas thrown in and in various styles. Acoustic songs, fast songs, slow ones. I love variety. (The Beatles’) ‘Sgt. Peppers,’ one of the greatest records of all time, has soft beautiful songs and heavy tunes as well.”
The band is performing at the Mall of Asia Arena on Halloween. This is their third visit to Manila, the last time being in 2011.
Drummer Pat Torpey is happy that Mr. Big is actually difficult to pigeonhole.
Didn’t fit anywhere
“We stayed away from being categorized. Initially, there was the impression, ‘Mr. Big, they’re a hair metal band.’ But the hair bands didn’t like us because we were musicians. And the musicians bands didn’t want us either cause we had hair. We didn’t fit in anywhere. We were just Mr. Big,” Torpey said.
Their latest album titled “…The Stories We Could Tell” follows the same thread with its bunch of melodic almost progressive rockers and at least two acoustic tracks.
“Each album is an encyclopedia of Mr. Big stories and the new album pays tribute to all the adventures we’ve been through, so far,” Sheehan added.
Live is best
For those just discovering the music of Mr. Big, Sheehan said that the best way to appreciate the band is in a live setting.
“We attract a good mix with our audience,” he said, including young girls screaming and having a good time because of the song “To Be with You.”
“But we also have kids in Metallica shirts coming out to listen to our heavy stuff like ‘Daddy Brother’ and ‘Addicted to the Rush.’ And they’re all together as one big audience in one venue.”
Amazing Pinoy fans
But Pinoy fans will always be special to the band.
“The fans from the Philippines are amazing.The first time we were here, the fans got organized so a promoter could bring Mr. Big for a show. It’s the opposite of the usual ‘a promoter hires us to do a concert so the fans can watch us,’” Sheehan recalled.
“So we have a special admiration for our Filipino fans because they worked hard for Mr. Big to come here and play a couple of years ago. Now, we’re very pleased to be back for the third time.”
Mr. Big Live in Manila Featuring Their Greatest Hits happens on October 31, 2014, 8 pm, at the Mall of Asia Arena. Tickets are priced from P1280 to P4240, available at SM Tickets. For updates, visit PULP Live World on Facebook.
STORY: Despite health issues, drummer Pat Torpey will play Manila
