By GENE STOUT
P-I POP MUSIC CRITIC

"Dance the Night Away" could have been the theme song for Van Halen's raucous reunion show Monday night at KeyArena.

Even the rare power ballad in a mostly pedal-to-the-metal rock concert kept fans on their feet and swaying to the music. The 25-song set hit most of the high points from the band's heyday, before original singer David Lee Roth left in a huff in 1985.

The announcement earlier this year that the flamboyant, mercurial Roth would reunite with brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen was greeted with tremendous excitement among longtime fans, but tempered by skepticism about the trio's ability to keep the peace.

So far, so good.

In fact, the Seattle show was a knockout -- from the opening song, "You Really Got Me," to the evening's high-spirited closer, "Jump."

Despite his strutting and preening, Roth has smoothed the edges of his over-the-top personality. Dressed in a succession of embroidered, brightly colored jackets with matching top hats, Diamond Dave kept the electricity flowing throughout the two-hour set. He clearly was enjoying his return to arenas after a bumpy post-Van Halen career that reached its lowest point when he quit the music business entirely to become a New York City paramedic, an honorable job that he took seriously.

Now, with his long, blond mane reduced to a short, gentleman's haircut, Roth is back in at the front of the reenergized band.

Eddie Van Halen, one of rock's most admired guitarists, and brother Alex, on drums, were in buoyant moods. Having Eddie's teenage son, Wolfgang, on bass made it a true family affair. Eddie occasionally faced off with his son, bringing cheers from concertgoers. A work in progress, Wolfie played admirably.

Alex and Eddie (who was shirtless) treated fans to lengthy solos. Eddie's was extraordinary for its clarity, focus and energy.

Before the show, an inflatable blimp, decorated with the Van Halen logo, hovered over fans on the main floor. (Opening act was Ky-Mani Marley, one of Bob Marley's talented sons, and his band.)

Roth, the first on stage, waved a giant red flag like a matador. Behind him was an enormous video screen that provided an almost cinematic backdrop, offering amazing close-ups of Eddie's guitar playing and Alex's powerful, grimacing drum solo.

The stage included a curved ramp that wrapped around Alex's drum set, as well as a catwalk that encircled a VIP pit.

Lighting was extraordinary, with dozens of spots illuminating band members, as well as lasers that appeared to drill holes in the ceiling. Above the stage, eight columns of LED lights changed colors like bulbs on a Christmas tree. To the side of the stage was a pair of two lighted shoji screens.

Early favorites included "Runnin' With the Devil," "Somebody Get Me a Doctor," "Beautiful Girls" and "Everybody Wants Some," in which Roth and Eddie tried to out-do each other imitating the sounds of a motorcycle.

"Dance the Night Away" prompted an audience singalong. "Romeo Delight" included a snippet of The Who's "Magic Bus" ("You get something for free tonight," Roth quipped). His best moment was a sentimental version of "Ice Cream Man" that included a story about growing up in the suburbs ("where they tear down the trees and name streets after them") and using his friend's ice cream truck to chill beer at parties.

With the tour now extended into 2008, the reinvigorated Van Halen stands a good chance of becoming a long-term enterprise.

MUSIC REVIEW
VAN HALEN AND KY-MANI MARLEY
WHEN: Monday night
WHERE: KeyArena
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