Mr. Big
In Japan

2002. Last tour for Mr. Big, aptly called the "Farewell Tour". This live performance is perhaps the clear testament of a band that would soon end a very honorable career. It seems strange, but from the live show, it is evident how there is no longer that great unity that distinguished the early years of this great band.

The problems between the two leaders, Eric Martin and Billy Sheehan, were already significant. Having become insurmountable, it was decided to do the last tour and say goodbye. "Live In Japan" encompasses the past successes (excellent) taken from their albums with Ritchie Kotzen (mediocre as tracks). But what makes it less enjoyable is that energy that's missing. After Gilbert's departure from the group, something seems to no longer work, and even the chemistry seems dead. Perhaps Kotzen is not very suitable for Mr. Big, and this is noticeable in tracks like "Daddy, Brother Lover, Little Boy" where he fails to give the song the right energy that the late Paul managed to give, even distorting the solo. Sheehan is excellent as a musician but perhaps absent-minded and rarely launches into his classic outbursts, as he did in the days of Gilbert. Martin seems to have lost that exceptional drive. Torpey does his decent job. Kotzen works very well on tracks written directly by him, like "Lost in America", the beautiful and enjoyable "Shine", and makes "Superfantastic" worth listening to, which I never quite appreciated.
And of course, I cannot forget the most beautiful song written since joining Mr. Big: "Electrified" is truly admirable, exactly in the Mr. Big style.

If the live show stopped here, it would be excellent, but as I have already mentioned, when Kotzen tackles the tracks that made history before his arrival, everything collapses. Apart from the already mentioned "Daddy, Brother Lover, Little Boy", he makes tracks like "Addicted To That Rush" less energetic, slightly alters "Alive & Kickin", while in "Price You Gotta Pay", he engages in duels with Sheehan that do not match the historical duels with former colleague Gilbert, for me the only one capable of giving Mr. Big the right dimension. Finally, there remains "To Be With You" poorly sung by Eric Martin. The live show ends with a mediocre "Blame It On My Youth".

An understated farewell for Mr. Big. It is evident how the unity is now broken and that the machine is no longer oiled as it once was. Thus ended one of the most beautiful pages of 90s rock.