Lack of audience prevents band from truly thrilling performance
From the shadows emerged a figure fully equipped with a flashy jacket, glittery glove and black flowing locks, vigorously thrusting his hips and hitting every high note perfectly.
Although there was an uncanny resemblance, the King of Pop had not been resurrected.
Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band performed to a small turnout at the Westcott Theater on Thursday night.
Who’s Bad consists of seven band members, with two alternating performances as Jackson. The performers first embarked on a collaborative endeavor to salute the King of Pop in 2004, according to the band’s website.
Casey Jared, box office manager at the Westcott Theater, said about 100 tickets were sold, a slap in the face for a band that is accustomed to selling out venues internationally.
Taalib York, one of two lead vocalists of the group, said the turnout was ‘a little sore’ for them.
Who’s Bad kicked off with instrumental track ‘Why You Wanna Trip on Me’ followed by ‘Jam,’ from Jackson’s 1991 album ‘Dangerous.’ The band covered songs from his early days, from The Jackson 5 tunes to solo hits from the best-selling album of all time, ‘Thriller.’ The audience needed the most easily recognizable songs like ‘Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough’ and ‘Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin” to get out of their seats and start dancing.
‘I think this was a small crowd that sometimes lacked enthusiasm,’ said Linda Doran, 49, of Syracuse.
Despite the small crowd, Doran said she enjoyed the performers’ show.
‘As they went along, they got better and better. The costumes, the dancing, everything,’ she said.
Jackson trademarked the moonwalk and slick moves that seem to defy the laws of gravity, but York perfected them. The crowd roared whenever he levitated across the stage.
‘On the dancing front, they definitely did [Michael Jackson] justice,’ said Shaun Sutkus, a production assistant.
But there’s much more to recreating the world famous persona that was Michael Jackson, York said.
‘It’s not just what he looks like,’ York said. ‘It’s how he holds himself, how he holds his face, how he looks at the audience. It’s a lot of little pieces that go into that emulation.’
In a guitar solo during ‘Beat It,’ Patrick Cross strummed his guitar from behind his back, not once missing a chord.
York said the audience had diverse age groups.
‘That’s every show,’ York said. ‘That’s what Michael brings.’
An elementary school-age boy showed off his best Jackson moves front and center as his mother snapped pictures alongside clusters of senior citizens tapping their feet and clapping their hands to the beat.
To stimulate the crowd, Joseph Bell, the other lead vocalist, invited girls, or pretty young things, up on the stage. Bell announced that it was the birthday of the saxophonist and creator of the band, Vamsi Tadepalli, and asked if anyone in the crowd was also celebrating a birthday. Four out of the nine girls on stage were.
‘Wow, this is the birthday of all birthdays,’ Bell said.
The caretaker of a handicapped man wheeled him toward the front of the stage and announced that it was his birthday, too. With a total of six birthdays, the band almost seemed obligated to sing ‘Happy Birthday.’
‘What keeps it interesting is the crowd’s involvement,’ Tadepalli said. ‘That’s our No. 1 goal, to interact with them, to make it fun for everyone.’
Who’s Bad is now approaching its 800th show. In October, they are scheduled to play in several South American cities.
‘When you believe in yourself, the sky’s the limit, right?’ said bassist Darion Alexander, ‘Or there is no limit. That’s not cocky. I’m serious. You’re given dreams for a reason, so follow them.’
Published on September 18, 2011 at 12:00 pm
