If you take out the two main spokes in a wheel, you would rightfully expect the wheel to collapse. Not so with the Jacksons.
Even though Michael is gone and Jermaine is not currently touring with the band, Marlon, Jackie and Tito still put on a high powered show at the New York State Fair’s Chevy Court on Saturday night. The free concert drew thousands of fair goers to the open air venue where the trio covered their hits both from their days at Motown and Epic Records.
In a lot of ways, it was Marlon’s show. He was front and center on a number of songs, had the most exciting dance moves and was the voice of the group while talking with the audience. Tito took on some high powered guitar solos but, overall, looked like he could have given or taken the evening as a whole. Jackie also had lead on songs but was more relegated to the background then Marlon in his white suit who seemed to be in constant motion.
The fourth star of the shows was their superb band who not only faithfully recreated the music but were also given a chance to standout individually throughout the show.
As for the music, they opened with the minor 1981 hit Can You Feel It (1981 / #77) and included it again as part of their final number. Of their eleven top ten hits, they touched on all except Mama’s Pearl and Sugar Daddy. A break in the middle of the show allowed them to show a video on the Jackson family which was followed by what was possibly the fan’s favorite part of the show, a medley of Jackson 5 songs.
They also paid tribute to brother Michael, both in words and song, covering four solo songs from throughout his career.
The real highlight of the show, though, came at the end with a ten-minute-plus Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) which included the classic synchronized dancing of the three members and a lot of moves from audience members.
No, they’re not the Jackson 5 or even the classic era Jacksons, but the current edition of the band remains a great group of entertainers.
The set list:
Can You Feel It (from Triumph, 1980)
Blame It on the Boogie (from Destiny, 1978)
I Wanna Be Where You Are (from Michael Jackson’s Got to Be There, 1972)
Rock With You (from Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall, 1979)
Enjoy Yourself (from The Jacksons, 1976)
Show You the Way to Go (from The Jacksons, 1976)
Lovely One (from Triumph, 1980)
Video interlude
Medley
I Want You Back (from Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, 1969)
ABC (from ABC, 1970)
The Love You Save (from ABC, 1970)
Dancing Machine (from G.I.T.: Get It Together, 1973)
Never Can Say Goodbye (from Maybe Tomorrow, 1971)
I’ll Be There (from Third Album, 1970)
Can’t Let Her Get Away (from Michael Jackson’s Dangerous, 1991)
This Place Hotel (from Triumph, 1980)
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (from Michael Jackson’s Thriller, 1982)
State of Shock (from Victory, 1984)
Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) (from Destiny, 1978)
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