By JANE STEVENSON -- Sun Media

TORONTO - So This Is Love?, to quote one of many Van Halen classics played last night at the Air Canada Centre.

The late-'70s early-'80s hard rockers were all smiles (even hugs and head rubs) last night on stage at the hockey hangar during the first of two sold-out shows.

Mind you, their highly touted reunion trek, featuring brothers Eddie on guitar and Alex on drums touring with original singer David Lee Roth for the first time in 22 years, only began about a week ago in Charlotte, N.C.

And the foursome, rounded out by Eddie's 16-year-old son Wolfgang on bass (in place of original bassist Michael Anthony) still have a long way to go.

They're scheduled to wrap things up at the end of December in Las Vegas with more dates added after the previously Canadian end to the tour -- Vancouver (Dec. 5), Calgary (Dec. 7) and Edmonton (Dec. 9).

Just like at the Charlotte launch, which Sun Media attended, a shirtless and sinewy Eddie began the evening playing on stage alone -- a cigarette dangling from his mouth -- before launching into the band's rocking cover of The Kinks' You Really Got Me.

Roth, meanwhile, initially appeared at the top of an S-shaped catwalk -- which could have gotten better use given its size and proximity to the audience -- waving a large red flag before heading down towards Eddie, where he gave him a hug mid-song. ("Diamond Dave" later rubbed the back of the guitarist's head during Little Guitars.)

Decked out in the same skin-tight black leather pants as at the Charlotte show, Roth even managed one or two more high kicks than at the launch.

And when Van Halen stopped the second tune, I'm the One, midway through, the audience's sustained roar caused Roth to yell, "Look at all the people here tonight," just as he did a week ago.

So maybe it's all very rehearsed right down to the same set list and stage banter -- Eddie and Dave engaged again in a motorcycle sound making contest during Everybody Wants Some -- but that doesn't mean it wasn't an enjoyable two-hour-plus show with a large video backdrop, green laser lights and confetti pumping up the evening.

Ultimately, it was all about classic rock that has aged well, along with Dave's voice, and set highlights proved to be Runnin' With the Devil, Dance the Night Away, Unchained, And the Cradle Will Rock, Hot For Teacher, Jamie's Cryin', Panama, Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love and Jump.

Wolfgang, meanwhile, acquitted himself nicely on bass with Eddie down on his knees in front of him during Romeo Delight, and And the Cradle Will Rock, and Wolfie even managed to take his own catwalk turn during Atomic Punk.

Thankfully, Wolfgang quickly discarded the shades he wore off the top of the show.

His Uncle Alex, meanwhile, happily bashed away on a monster-size drum kit, including his moment in the spotlight during a long solo, making for a skilled if somewhat in-the-background rhythm section.

All eyes really were on the guys with short hair -- guitar virtuoso Eddie, the evening's undisputed star with a staggering solo moment that included Eruption, and the ever-grinning "Diamond Dave," who once again trotted out Cat In The Hat-like top hats, sparkly jackets of many colours and wielded his twirling microphone stand like a head cheerleader.

Eddie even hung out on the side of the stage hacking a butt while Roth told stories and handled Ice Cream Man by himself on acoustic guitar before the entire band joined in.

The second T.O. show is Friday night after a trip down to Cleveland on Wednesday night, the latter coinciding with Roth's 52nd birthday.

Sun Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5

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