The Jackson 4 played the Apollo Thursday night on their “Unity” tour as the theater buzzed with Michael mania. The 125th Street marquee read “Remembering Michael Jackson: A True Apollo Legend, 1958-2009,” a few audience members dressed like him and the crowd screamed whenever he appeared on the onstage video screen.
Still, Michael’s older brothers — Jackie, 61, Tito, 58, Jermaine, 57, and Marlon, 55 — easily won over the sold-out house with a combination of enthusiasm and effort, dance moves and memories.
The singing? Not great — in part due to a sound mix in which the music often drowned out the voices. But it really didn’t matter. The brothers were having fun, and so was the crowd, a mix of ebony and ivory that stayed on its feet for much of the performance.
The 90-minute show kicked off with a fog-filled stage, obscuring the Jacksons. Corny? Sure, but it amped up the anticipation. The video screen showed vintage Jackson 5 photos. Drums pounded. The brothers appeared, doffing their sunglasses in slow-motion unison.
The pelvic thrusts began, and, with Marlon in the lead, they powered into “Can You Feel It,” from 1980. They segued right into “Blame It on the Boogie,” then “Wanna Be Where You Are.” It was an impressive display decades after the Jackson 5 won Amateur Night at the Apollo way back in 1967.
Picking up with an extended version of Michael’s “Rock With You,” from his “Off the Wall” album, Marlon was smooth and sexy as he sang the lead vocals. When he sang, “Let me show you, Michael” in the next song, “Show You the Way To Go,” the crowd erupted.
The Jacksons were far from perfect, but that gave them a certain charm. Jermaine, dancing his heart out, showed a small belly, Marlon nearly knocked over his mike and they all seemed winded after only a couple of songs.
What might have been a maudlin, excessively Michael-focused show was saved with just the right balance of great old photos — showing great old Afros! — and recollections. Marlon recounted how and where he and Michael stood near the corner of the stage while they watched James Brown perform, with Michael imitating the dance steps.
After the manic energy of the first several songs, the foursome rested during a video montage, and sat on stools for some slow numbers.
If there’s one complaint about an otherwise super-fun show, it’s that the early Jackson 5 hits were given short shrift. Songs such as “ABC,” “I Want You Back” and “The Love You Save” were relegated to a medley. (Jermaine was emotional on “I’ll Be There,” wiping away a tear for his late brother.)
Each Jackson had a strength: Marlon was great with the Michael-like clap-and-spin dance moves; Jermaine had the best pelvic thrusts; Jackie was tops with the neck pop and roll. Tito’s purple suit was tremendous, and his deep voice recalled Barry White’s.
Kicking it up a few notches for the finale, the Jacksons, backed by seven musicians and three singers, whipped the crowd into a frenzy with “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” and “Shake Your Body.”
The Jacksons play tonight at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, NJ; 201-227-1030, bergenpac.org.