Mr. Big share a stripped down live preview from The Cutting Room in New York City of their upcoming album Defying Gravity, due out July 7th. Check out "Everybody Needs a Little Trouble," "1992," and a cover of Humble Pie's "30 Days In The Hole." This performance took place as part of a live interview event produced by BackStory Events and led by Brad Tolinski.

Defying Gravity deftly showcases that patented Mr. Big blend of crunch and melody, from the freight-train ride of opening cut "Open Your Eyes" to the harmony-laden wonderment of "Damn I'm In Love Again" to the grateful/wistful nostalgia of "1992" (recalling the days when the band was flying high atop the singles charts with their international #1 smash "To Be With You") to the barnburning slide-blues closer, "Be Kind”. Overall, Defying Gravity is prime evidence that the only thing Mr. Big remains tethered to is their ongoing pursuit of achieving creative excellence.

Original members Eric Martin (lead vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitars), Billy Sheehan (bass) and Pat Torpey (drums) reunited with producer Kevin Elson (who was behind the boards for the band’s 1989 self-titled debut, 1991’s Lean Into It and 1993’s Bump Ahead) for an intensive six-day recording session in Los Angeles. While Torpey was unable to perform some of the songs on Defying Gravity due to a recent diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, Matt Starr has been filling in for him on a majority of the album. Starr also been touring with the band for the past couple of years, with Torpey able to play a couple of songs at each stop.

“It was great to get back in the studio with our original producer, Kevin Elson,” says guitarist Paul Gilbert. “Kevin recorded all of our original classic albums from the ‘80s and ‘90s, and we immediately felt that magic chemistry with him on Defying Gravity. We basically played live in the studio. Over the years, we’ve all had a chance to experiment with every recording technique possible, but it’s still always the best just to play together as a band. Most of my guitar solos were tracked live with the band. I’ve worked hard on my improvisation in the last few years, and it really paid off on this record…both melodically, and on the face-melting stuff.”

Defying Gravity tracklisting:

“Open Your Eyes”
“Defying Gravity”
“Everybody Needs A Little Trouble”
“Damn I’m In Love Again”
“Mean To Me”
“Nothing Bad (About Feeling Good)”
“Forever And Back”
“She’s All Coming Back To Me Now”
“1992”
“Nothing At All”
“Be Kind”

“Everybody Needs A Little Trouble” video:

"1992":

Trailer:

Catch Mr. Big live on tour:

June
6 - Warrendale, PA - Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
7 - Newton, NJ - Newton Theatre
9 - Uncasville, CT - The Wolf Den/Mohegan Sun
10 - New York, NY - B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
12 - Nashville, TN - Basement East
14 - Lexington, KY - Manchester Music Hall
16 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Live
17 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar
19 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads Saloon
22 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre
23 - Agoura Hills, CA - Canyon Club
24 - Pasadena, CA - The Rose