CALGARY - Even when they're a little stale, Peas are pretty good.

At least they are when we're talking about the Black Eyed Peas, the foursome from L.A. that has been milking their 2005 release Monkey Business ad nauseam in recent months.

The Peas, collectively made up of William (will.i.am) Adams, Allan (apl.de.ap) Pineda, Taboo and Stacy (Fergie) Ferguson, took the stage a little early last night at the 'Dome.

Rihanna, the 18-year-old pop-star opener apparently fell ill and was unable to play.

Which was too bad, given the large amount of fans asking for their money back when they heard the news.

(Filed under N.C. for no class, they still sold her merchandise.)

When the Peas played Calgary last in July 2005, they tore the roof off the 'Dome with their energetic funk.

This time around, there's no new album to show off (aside from Fergie's solo effort, The Dutchess, from which she sang her single London Bridge), so the pressure was on to somehow not seem greedy.

You know, the band that comes rolling through town just because they can, asking for your money, giving you the same performance they did a year ago.

They leave town waving a big sign that says: "Suckers!"

Though they were nothing close to the Peas that played here last summer, they were far from phoning it in last night, in front of a near-capacity crowd.

Starting things off with familiar hits Hands Up and Disco Club, the Peas rolled out the funk.

When Fergie is given a chance to let her voice shine, such as on the hit Don't Lie and a brief solo version of Sweet Child of Mine, it's simply breathtaking.

It's no wonder she's got a solo career in the works.

By the time they hit Let's Get Retarded, the group was in full stride.

The Peas' show was far from terrific, but by no means a waste of time or money.

But if they stroll into town again without any new material, I wouldn't count on the reception being quite so warm.

Tight, crisp and loud, Vancouver's Swollen Members started the show.

The boys are touring to promote their much-hyped new album, Black Magic, and judging by the performance they gave last night, the hype is well deserved.

Swollen Members proved hip-hop is alive and well in Canada.

Fresh beats pumped as the crew spit out rhymes with more flavour than Thai curry.

Playing a selection of old hits with a smattering of tracks from Black Magic, it was clear the group is past the point of finding its sound and is now at the stage of perfecting it.