EDMONTON -- Admit it. Alabama was half Ala-sleep last night.

  Now before you start writing your "RE: The Sun's biased review of Alabama" letters, let me assure you that I like the band. So do a lot of people, judging by their record sales and continued existence on the globe. So, sure, they were true gentlemen on stage over the ice where the Oil usually skates, 11,500 sets of eyes generally looking their way.

 But donning a local hockey jersey and waving a local football team flag does not a good concert make. And, as nice and heartfelt as their 20 years of simple sentiments of love and devotion can be when played in the living room, the crowd was, for more than an hour into the show, starved for any hint of real pulse whatsoever. I had more fun on the LRT ride over, and I even got gum on my pants (I think it was gum, but that's another tale, Jack).

  Indeed, despite the fact they played two vintage cuts early on, Tennessee River and If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band), the loudest cheer was homered past the bleachers when Randy Owen pulled an Oilers jersey over his head. What are we, a town of 500? I mean, come on. It's a nice sentiment (there's that "nice" word again), but one of the oldest tricks since prostitution, if not more than a little similar.

  See, concerts are the place you go where you want to hear your favourite songs, loud, hard and played a little differently, unlike on your stereo. But it was screwy. As Owen opened with the new I'm in That Kind of Mood off Twentieth Century, somehow the record version had a little more spunk. Shania did this last time through, too. A lot of meet-and-greet and not enough rocking, especially from a band that prides itself on riding the line between rock and country like a bronco. This ain't FanFair, thank God.

  Speaking of God, it was all ballads for more than half the show, including the maddening 'N Sync song God Must Have Spent Twenty More Bucks on You, or whatever it's called. Like that ballad? OK, here's three more.

  But back to the charm, because these guys, specifically Owen, were pretty hilarious from time to time. "What is it the bar across the street?" he challenged the crowd as a clap session failed to get off the ground. He also, and who's gonna blame the bearded Alabaman, joked about forgetting what song he was doing as a gal came up for a kiss.

  "It's too bright up there for your pretty eyes," one woman yelled at the singer after giving him a pair of shades. The feeling was warm, if full of anticipation, that finally, finally got settled a bit as the night wore on. I'm in a Hurry was of course huge. And, like their openers, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, they came out for more. And more.

  Speaking of the Dirt band, it was interesting to see the breadth of the original country-rock band's career strewn across 40 minutes. Shades of Wilco and Son Volt, but that's a whole other story. They did a great job. Fishin' in the Dark and Will the Circle Be Unbroken were much appreciated, as was their psychedelic monkey dance.

  Makes you wonder if, in 15 years' time, Alabama won't be opening for the Mavericks or Blackhawk. If the quartet keeps this up, it just might be less time. What can I say? A "nice" time, I admit it. But I think more than a few of us wanted a real party.

  As Neil Young put it, Alabama, you've got the weight on your shoulder that's breaking your back.

  Let loose a little more next time, and fast, you hairy balladeers..!