By Ricardo Baca
Denver Post Music Critic

The flashy brand of rock 'n' roll that put Van Halen into the public's heart -- and the history books -- was all about putting on a show: Diamond David Lee Roth's outrageous antics and guitarist Eddie Van Halen's otherworldly ability on the fretboard.

Given that kind of a history, the band's reunion show Friday night at the Pepsi Center was an outright success.

Knowing well that "Everybody Wants Some," three-quarters of the original band gave it to them. New addition Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie's 16-year-old son, replaced original bassist Michael Anthony last year and was in proper form to boot.

This was the reunion most true Van Halen fans had been waiting for. The mostly original lineup didn't disappoint, carrying through with each of the band's signature moves and famous songs -- and looking oddly happy while doing it.

"You Really Got Me" was a decent opener, but what really got the crowd pumped was the happiness with which it was carried out. Formerly public enemies, Eddie Van Halen and Diamond Dave looked like buddies who had known each other for 20-plus years. (Which they kind of are.)

It could have been honest, or it could have been a facade, but all the hugging and smiles was exactly what the crowd wanted to see.

The band started out playing pretty tight, but the years that had passed since 1984 (and "1984") seemed obvious. But by the third song, "Runnin' With the Devil," the group had erased any doubt in the haters' minds. This was Van Halen, and they were back sounding as tight and reckless as ever.

Roth, wearing a sequined mariachi- matador hybrid with numerous top hats, acknowledged the not-quite- complete reunion early on, and his honestly was appreciated.

Eddie Van Halen walked on the stage at 9 p.m. in white cargo pants, Chuck Taylors and no shirt -- looking toned and fit. He and his band didn't leave until after 11:15 p.m., proving they still had the two-plus hour set in them.

A couple lame covers padded the lengthy set, of course, including The Who's "Magic Bus" and Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman" (snatched from the 1982 Van Halen record "Diver Down"). But most of the hits rang as true as they did two decades ago.

Most impressive was "Panama," which ignited the encore. It is an amazing '80s-rock song, yes, but this track proved a timelessness that was otherwise absent the rest of the band's catalog.

"Beautiful Girls" was a fun and silly crowd-pleaser, but "Somebody Get Me a Doctor" said more about the band and who they are in 2008. Roth started the song on his own with a harmonica and a megaphone, and the band seemed to translate the track to this very different time and age. As expected, "Jump" closed out the night, and it was a fine jolt -- although it was disappointing the band chose to play to tracked synths instead of a live keyboard.

A massively wide screen stretched the width of the stage and provided the crowd with tasty close-ups of Eddie Van Halen's ridiculous fret work and drummer Alex Van Halen's mastery of an very large drum kit. The gigantic screen gave the show a welcomed sense of intimacy -- especially because the Pepsi Center, while the perfect place to see Van Halen, is a cavernous concert venue.

Singer David Lee Roth waves a flag above drummer Alex Van Halen and guitarist Eddie Van Halen at the Pepsi Center on Friday night. They sounded as tight and reckless as ever. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

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