Melodic rockers MR BIG are back in town with their third album Bump Ahead. Joe Mackett tracks them down.
Pat Torpey, Billy Sheehan, Paul Gibert, and Eric Martin
BUMP N' GRIND
It's understandable that Mr Big's guitarist and vocalist are in good spirits. Their new album, entitled Bump Ahead, eloquently builds on the melodic rock sensibilities of its successful predecessor Lean Into It. On Bump Ahead the band have laid down a cover of the FREE tune from where they derive their moniker.
"We've done that song at last because we're sick and tired of explaining how we got our name," says vocalist Eric Martin.
It's perplexing why the band hasn't recorded the track previously though?
"We didn't learn it until the day we recorded it," cracks guitarist Paul Gilbert. "Billy Sheehan used to play it all the time with TALAS and Pat Torpey had played it in bands before."
PROGRAMMABLE
One of the album's standouts is the powerful balladic "Nothing But Love." The arrangement features violins in the intro and it would seem a whole host of instruments thrown in for good measure.
"I wrote the song on piano," says Paul, "but when I started playing it in rehearsal, Pat stared at me with that look that said '0h oh, Paul's not a very good keyboard player.' So everyone goes, 'hey Paul, they make guitar synths now that you can programme stuff into and it will be in time.' I went out and bought one. I also used it on 'Promise Her the Moon' for the organ sound and in 'Mr Gone.' It's great especially as you can use it live.
Bump Ahead's big ballad is a cover of CAT STEVENS' "Wild World," a poignant lament reworked, and stamped with Mr Big's hallmark in exceptional style. ARGENT's "Hold Your Head Up" and GRAND FUNK's "Some Kind of Wonderful" were under the microscope, but the latter, says Eric:
"...was a bit monotonous. And we did 'Wild World.' I love Cat's version but it was so low it was depressing. We pushed it up a key, it just sounded so good and fitted in with the theme of the record."Are the duo happy to see the cover as their first single, though, when there's a wealth of strong original compositions from which to choose? Eric is first to answer:
"I don't really care who wrote what. I don't know how people will perceive it. They're all good songs to me, so I don't like choosing just one."Paul then elaborates:
"When you're that close to the songs it's difficult to get a perspective on them. For a first single it is important to get that initial reaction or impression."
PIGEONHOLED?!
After the success of "To Be With You" are they concerned that Mr Big may be categorised as an acoustic ballad band? After all, "Wild world" is in the same vein.
"If anything, we try to stay away from anything too close to 'To Be With You,'" reasons Paul. "You can analyse it forever, but we're not going to stop doing ballads just because of 'To Be.' We are aware of that song and don't want to clone ourselves."Despite my questioning on the ballad theme, Bump Ahead isn't all sweetness and light. As usual, the record features its fair share of neck pumping rhythms. The balance struck and the depth of material now available to the band will make for quite an awesome prospect when Mr Big hit the gig trail. If you've had the fortune of crossing their path, you'll undoubtedly know just what a great live rock band they are. You'd be a fool to miss 'em.
Joe Mackett
Riff Raff Metak Magazine
December 1993
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