(Edward A. Ornelas/Express-News)
Alex Van Halen (from rear left) Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth perform Thursday at the AT&T Center.

Hector SaldaÒa
Express-News Staff Writer

In the darkness it came. At exactly 8:32 p.m.

That's when the thundering power chords and whammy bar mastery of Eddie Van Halen came booming through the sound system. Somewhere there onstage, in the dark, Van Halen stood ready to rock.

It was the sign this anxious audience of more than 15,000 people had waited for -- maybe even longed for: rock 'n' roll excess.

As the night went on, they would get just that -- self-indulgent guitar solos, over-the-top drum solos and Roth's antics.

And really, who ever did it better than Van Halen? No one these days has this much fun. Few back in the day did, either.

The night started that way. It never let up.

Singer David Lee Roth appeared on an S-shaped ramp above the drums waving a red flag as lights came up. A gigantic video screen, above and behind the stage, offered great views.

(Edward A. Ornelas/Express-News)
Wolfgang Van Halen (left) and David Lee Roth perform at the AT&T Center.

The band opened with a savage "You Really Got Me" and followed with a set its been doing on the tour with little change.

They really revved on "Runnin' With Devil." And then there was the jam in the middle of "Romeo Delight" -- the Who's "Magic Bus," played with "Live at Leeds" authority.

Van Halen's catalog, as well as their performance, was impressive. One forgets the silly rock 'n' roll joy of "Beautiful Girls" and "Dance the Night Away."

It's easy to forget, too, what a strong, distinctive singer Roth was -- and is.

But Eddie Van Halen is a virtual one-man band. That's not to diminish the contribution from his brother and son, but it's Eddie that determines the palette.

And he played those searing riffs (and violin-style tones) with a bandage around his left hand.

(Edward A. Ornelas/Express-News)
David Lee Roth (left) and Eddie Van Halen hug during their performance.

Wolfgang -- playing a Fender bass sporting a paint job similar to his dad's old guitar of yesteryear -- held his own, singing high harmonies, especially showcased on the duet "Pretty Woman."

"Is everyone having a reasonable time so far?" Roth asked mid-song during "Hot For Teacher."

"Little Dreamer" was notable for haunting background vocals. Eddie pulled out his famous red guitar for "Little Guitars." Later, during the same song, he would lie on his back with a euphoric grin on his face.

Roth played acoustic guitar solo to start a song about his friend Stan's ice cream truck, "Ice Cream Man." It's the song that he said he'd use to get his girlfriend to kiss him back in the early '70s.

That rowdy blues led into the finale of "Panama," Eddie's tapped-style solo guitar display (a la Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page), "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love," and "Jump."

Ky-Mani Marley and his band played a spirited, if short, opening set. The strong-voiced singer propelled songs like "The March" and "I Shot the Sheriff" with a syncopated phrasing style that at times recalled mid-'70s Bob Dylan. Marley is promoting his latest album, "Radio."

Set List: - You Really Got Me
- I'm the One
- Runnin' With the Devil
- Romeo Delight
- Magic Bus
- Somebody Get Me a Doctor
- Beautiful Girls
- Dance the Night Away
- n/a
- Everybody Wants Some
- So This Is Love
- Mean Street
- Pretty Woman
- Unchained
- I'll Wait
- And the Cradle Will Rock
- Hot For Teacher
- Little Dreamer
- Little Guitars
- Jamie's Cryin'
- Ice Cream Man
- Panama
- Ain't Talkin' Bout Love
- Jump

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