Pop Music Reviews : Mr. Big’s Power-Drill Rock Lacks Juice

The problem with Mr. Big is that he doesn’t exist. There’s no one member of the band of the same name whose talent and charisma dominate the group enough to serve as a unifying focal point. Instead, as was all too evident during the Los Angeles outfit’s show Thursday at the Universal Amphitheatre, three would-be Big-shots took turns in the spotlight, subjecting the audience to turgid instrumental solos as lead singer Eric Martin eagerly relinquished center stage. Yes, it was probably big of him to do so, but it’s a misguided gesture.

When the band operated as a unit, there was much to applaud. “Green-Tinted Sixties Mind” featured a nice, lilting melodic progression and Martin’s authoritative vocals, honed from years of solo work. And the group’s smash ballad, “To Be With You,” provided a pleasant break in the concert from the more typical power-drill rock ‘n’ roll (literally--veteran bassist Billy Sheehan and guitar Wunderkind Paul Gilbert twice used cordless drills, which were depicted larger than life on the stage backdrop, to play their instruments).

Opening act Hardline can only be understood as some sort of midlife-crisis fling of former Journey guitarist Neal Schon. Fronted by buffoonish lead singer Johnny Gioeli, the quintet played puerile rock of the sort that can be heard any night of the week on the Sunset Strip.