BY ELOISE MARIE VALADEZ Staff writer

Not many musicians can make a guitar whine, growl and reverberate like Eddie Van Halen.

So it was no surprise the Grammy-winning guitarist and his band Van Halen - with lead singer David Lee Roth at the helm for the first time since 1984 - proved Tuesday night they still have the goods to rock any house. The boisterous crowd that filled Rosemont's Allstate Arena was glad to demonstrate their enthusiastic response during the 2 1/2-hour show.

From the searing opening chords of The Kink's "You Really Got Me" to the wildly received last tune "Jump," the foursome (Eddie's 16-year-old son Wolfgang filled in for original band bassist Michael Anthony) dug into its diverse collection of hits and albums for a varied selection of crowd- pleasers.

Despite the arena's bad acoustics, which occasionally drowned out Roth's vocals, Van Halen gave a scorching performance that boasted high energy, wild yet intricate guitar work and plenty of "brotherly" love. The band mates, which also included Alex Van Halen on drums, appeared to be having a great time as they shared hugs, handshakes and high-fives.

The evening was clearly about the music, with the stage stripped down to focus on the instruments. No lavish costumes - other than Roth's trademark top hats - ensemble dancers or massive decorations are needed with this group.

On the crystal clear video screen set up behind the stage, fans were treated to up-close and personal views of the musicians. Even the veins in Eddie's hands popped out on screen during his extended solos. Performing shirtless, Eddie, a cancer survivor, appeared buff and in good health.

While Roth's wild antics of the past were a toned down a bit, the man known as "Diamond Dave" was in good form as he joked with the audience and occasionally showed his flamboyant side. His trademark kicks, though, were absent until the very end of the show.

Included on the play list were revved-up renditions of "Runnin' with the Devil," "Dance the Night Away," "Everybody Wants Some" and "Unchained."

Eddie's driving/whining guitar was on fire for "And the Cradle Will Rock," "Hot for Teacher" and "Pretty Woman."

The guitar interplay between Eddie and his son proved a nice combination as they occasionally ran around one another and exchanged cordial glances. Though Wolfgang (his mother is actress Valerie Bertinelli) doesn't command the stage like his dad yet, it's obvious this young talent is becoming comfortable in the limelight.

Among other show highlights were Roth's performance of "Ice Cream Man," the crowd-pleaser "Panama," a frenzied/powerful drum solo by Alex, Eddie's extended guitar solo near the concert's end, and the hard-hitting rocker "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love."

Throughout the concert, it was difficult not to be amazed that two guitars, a drum kit and one kickin' vocalist/entertainer could be so powerful. This was definitely one time you couldn't hear the planes flying overhead as they headed into O'hare Airport.

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