What Labelle has: More, more, more

In a week when change at the top of America's political structure is occurring, and economic and environmental concerns are at the forefront, a major question presents itself:

How many birds have lost their lives, or at least their ability to keep warm, because the sexy sexagenarians Patti LaBelle (64), Sarah Dash (63) and Nona Hendryx (64) have reunited after 33 years?

Labelle, the flamboyant soul supergroup fronted and typified by that woman who

is

Philadelphia, stopped at the Mark G. Etess Arena in Atlantic City on Saturday night, and the heat generated by the trio helped warm the venue.

The threesome, who mixed in songs from their new Verve record,

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, wore loud, outrageous, spacey and avian costumes and hairstyles, but carried them off surprisingly well. As for the music, well, the group has conceded a bit to age, but with the continued energy, personality and vocal power, especially of its namesake, Labelle continues to matter, at least to the huge contingent of Philly fans in the house.

Opening with an anthemic, powerful reprise of Cole Porter's "Miss Otis Regrets," the women proceeded to visit many of their old and new hits. By the time the show broke an hour, and they broke into "Lady Marmalade," LaBelle had established her usual down-home rapport.

The group is, still, somewhat a democracy, but LaBelle is the queen bee. Her persona, at once tender, tough and tigerlike, carried the show. It is LaBelle's gospel-inflected melismas, sweeping and soaring intervallic jumps, and rhythmic experiments that mark this sound. The close harmony of her wingwomen and young background singers just added to the overall impression of high energy.

Hendryx, who wrote much of the trio's repertoire, is still a hottie. She came out at one point in a huge Afro and tight black leather ensemble, fiercely strutting the way she did in the 1970s.

Dash's vocal timbre and articulation are quite similar to LaBelle's, but she lacks LaBelle's raw power and intensity. Instead, she growls and grits like a blues singer.

The duet between Dash and Hendryx on "Are You Lonely," which followed a touching photo-and-film montage of vintage Labelle shots, was revealing in more than one way. Despite the dominance of one woman, all three were, and are, equally important in the grand scheme.