Mario Tarradell

Sometimes concerts don't need to be long-winded. In a short hour, backed by their band and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the enduring Pointer Sisters delivered a blast of a show Sunday afternoon at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

The gig was the last of a three-performance engagement that began Friday night. But if this was the finale, that opener must have been uncontainable.

The revamped sistahs include mainstays Ruth and Anita and third Pointer Issa, Ruth's daughter with former Temptations member Dennis Edwards. Issa replaces June Pointer, who died of lung cancer in 2006.

MATT NAGER/Special Contributor

The still-smokin' Pointer Sisters performed Friday with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, in the first of a three-night gig at the Meyerson Symphony Center.

By the encore, 1984's "Jump (For My Love)," the house was jamming. Everybody was standing up, folks were dancing, clapping and the ambience was jubilant.

The Pointer Sisters always banked on feel-good music, whether it was of the pop-R&B variety or the occasional excursions into country and seductive balladry.

While the '70s and '80s remain the trio's heyday, nothing sounded dated. That's because they tackled well-written songs with plenty of rhythm, heart and groove.

Plus, Anita and Ruth looked fabulous. They looked just as good as Issa, who is easily 30 years their junior.

The voices haven't lost any shine, either. During "Slow Hand" clearly one of the sexiest ballads of the last three decades, Anita proved her vocals remain strong, penetrating. Ruth put plenty of soul into "Neutron Dance," the powder-keg hit that defined an era.

Issa got her turn in the spotlight during "Dare Me." Her rich, potent pipes served the slinky number well.

Issa was the one to watch while aunt Anita belted "I'm So Excited." The song, which was pure frenetic fun, prompted Issa to kick up her heels chorus-line style and wiggle her rear with frivolous abandon.

You couldn't help but get caught up in the infectious allure.

Finally, in an effort to remain hip, the Pointers refashioned their early '70s staple "Yes We Can Can" into an urbanized, bass-heavy manifesto featuring Anita rapping. It was way cool.

These women can still work it.