Photos by Andy Argyrakis

In the 35 years since Los Angeles’ Mr. Big made a splash with its self-titled debut, the harmony-laden hard rockers with a hint of metal have steadily become superstars in Japan and certainly impacted America as well, to the point where they could fill up much of the Arcada Theatre on simply a Tuesday and warrant an area encore at the Des Plaines Theatre on Friday, February 16.

The double header is, of course, bittersweet because it not only marks “The Big Finish,” but finds original front man Eric Martin, bassist Billy Sheehan and guitarist Paul Gilbert honoring late drummer and fellow co-founder Pat Torpey.

Even so, it was an otherwise cheerful occasion finding beat keeper Nick D’Virgilio (Spock’s Beard, Big Big Train, Genesis’ “Calling All Stations”) joining the others for two hours of generally explosive reflections on a consistently regarded career.

“Addicted To That Rush,” “Take Cover” and “Price You Gotta Pay” opened up the overview with a sample of the group’s Atlantic Records era, though 1991’s platinum-selling “Lean Into It” was to come in its entirely.

That meant the aggressive onslaught of “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)” and “Alive And Kickin’,” followed by the introductory single, “Green-Tinted Sixties Mind,” with the foursome firing on all cylinders.

A handful of deeper but no less satisfying tracks laid the foundation for the even more familiar “Just Take My Heart,” which was a repeated and welcome pattern leading towards the chart-topping acoustic ballad “To Be With You,” hands down the defining moment of Mr. Big in the mainstream, despite not necessarily being indicative of its wider catalogue.

The back stretch also started on the softer side via a cover of Cat Stevens’ “Wild World,” but quickly increased in intensity thanks to some soling, “Colorado Bulldog” and a few more remakes hearkening back to everyone’s collective influences.

If Mr. Big winds up sticking to its decision to wave goodbye, at least the band went out with a bang, though there could be a silver lining on the horizon if rumblings about new studio recordings turn out to be true and give the latest line-up another chance to carry on its legacy.

For additional information on Mr. Big, visit MrBigSite.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Arcada Theatre include “Dirty Dancing” Dance Lesson (Feb. 15); Echoes Of Pompeii (Feb. 16); Adrian Vandenberg (Feb. 17); Haken (Feb. 23); Time Traveller (Feb. 24); Dokken (Mar. 1); Rickey Medlocke Band and Black Oak Arkansas (Mar. 2); Tony Orlando (Mar. 3); The Phil Collins Experience (Mar. 8); KK’s Priest (Mar. 15); Warrant (Mar. 16); Dionne Warwick (Mar. 22); Art Of Anarchy (Mar. 23); Ultimate Elvis Experience featuring Shawn Klush and Cody Ray Slaughter (Mar. 24); Nightrain (Mar. 28) and Thunderstruck (Mar. 30). For additional details, visit ArcadaLive.com.

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