TORONTO -- If Oklahoma power pop band The All-American Rejects ever became orphaned back home, it appears they'd be quickly adopted north of the 49th.

At least that was the case for the group's hour-long set at The Mod Club during an early show Saturday night, part of a tour leading up to the band's Dec. 16 album release When The Word Comes Down.

But while the group, led by the at times humorous and always talkative singer/bassist Tyson Ritter, only offered up a few off the forthcoming record, they delivered their singles with pretty much note-for-note perfection before a loud, youthful sold-out crowd.

Part of the band's allure is the fact most of the band's songs are too radio-friendly to ignore and too catchy to outright mock. And it was this formula the group stuck to often beginning with Swing, Swing from 2003's self-titled album.

Although briefly knocking fans in front for the deluge of flashes from digital cameras, Ritter mentioned how the up-tempo and tight Dirty Little Secret was from "page 69 of my diary." He also knelt in front of guitarist Nick Wheeler during the tune before blowing him a kiss prior to Top Of The World, a number the group momentarily took down a notch before picking things back up.

Another large part of the band's success thus far is drummer Chris Gaylor. The bare-chested Gaylor fuelled Stab My Back despite Ritter removing his bass (often hanging around his knees) and tossing it to the floor during the song's closing.

After jokingly stating he was dreading playing Detroit, Ritter and his band mates changed gears with Gives You Hell, the lead single from the new album which was a noticeable departure. The slower, mellower number wasn't the highlight by any means but featured some decent harmonies throughout.

As some groups are wont to do for some reason in short sets, The All-American Rejects brought out the acoustic guitars for Mona Lisa, with the roots-meets-power pop combination lacking. It Ends Tonight fared much better although the "unplugged" set up continued with both Wheeler and guitarist Mike Kennerty seated for some unknown reason while strumming.

Fortunately the band hit the homestretch with the sound and style that has got them this far with the solid, Midwestern rock flavored I Wanna. The momentum continued for I'm Waiting which the group stretched out to jam on as Kennerty, Ritter and Wheeler hovered around Gaylor's drum kit.

Quickly leaving the stage, and perhaps leaving some people wondering if that was all they were doing on this night, The All-American Rejects came back for The Last Song in the encore, getting much the same response as their other crowd pleasers.

Openers The City Lives and Jet Lag Gemini were okay during their 20-minute and 30-minute sets, respectively. But Jet Lag Gemini's vocalist Misha Safonov pipes were raspy at times, the result of having some sort of flu bug.