Still jumping (sort of): Van Halen

It took them a few songs to get their engines revved up, but once they got going, the newly reunited Van Halen roared like the fine rock machine they were in their heyday 30-plus years ago, Monday night at a sold-out KeyArena.

Eddie Van Halen was stunning on guitar, presenting a master class in speed, technique, variety and creativity, complete with detailed close-ups of his fingering on a huge, Cinerama-like video screen. His several long solo turns were riveting, and he brought fire and intensity to every song.

David Lee Roth has been away from the band for a quarter century but it seemed like he never left. He made you forget about Sammy Hagar (his replacement), every time he let loose his full-throated, full-on vocalizing. And he reminded the fans that he's 10 times the showman Hagar could ever hope to be.

The power behind it all was drummer Alex Van Halen, who hasn't lost a bit of his energy or stamina. His drum solo was one of those rare ones that was actually worth paying attention to.

And 16-year-old Wolfgang Van Halen, son of Eddie, replacing original band member Michael Anthony, held his own admirably on bass and harmony vocals, which was awe-inspiring, given that he looked like he was out past his bedtime (he still has his baby fat).

Speaking of fat, shirtless Eddie Van Halen, who turns 53 next month, and Roth, 52, both showed lots of skin, because they're in great shape, with flat stomachs and plenty of definition. Roth can still execute those high, roundhouse kicks, but he didn't do much jumping, even during "Jump."

As always with Van Halen, the show was big, with mammoth lighting and sound systems, a semi-circular catwalk for Diamond Dave to strut around — and, boy, does he love to strut — and lots of stage business. Roth had a thing for top hats — red and black ones — which he twirled, juggled and even made a dirty joke with, and he tossed and spun his microphone stand like a majorette.

The band more than made up for all that time apart by playing a long set of some two dozen songs, mixing crowd favorites with less-familiar, even obscure gems, like the scat-filled "I'm the One" and the guitar-drenched "Mean Street."

Everything started to click five songs into the set, during the bluesy "Someone Get Me A Doctor," with Eddie Van Halen playing sweet blues licks and Roth vocally improvising. Then they tore into "Dance the Night Away," and never let up. The explosive "Everybody Wants Some" electrified the crowd, as did "Pretty Woman," "Unchained," "And the Cradle Will Rock," "Hot For Teacher," "Panama" and "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love." The big finale of "Jump" concluded with a snowstorm of confetti.

Whether the Van Halen reunion will last is hard to tell. But for this one night, the band was together again in all its glory.

Patrick MacDonald: 206-464-2312 or pmacdonald@seattletimes.com