Blue Rodeo came out of the starting gate like chuckwagon racers and showed no signs of slowing down at the JLC last night. (MIKE HENSEN, LFP)

LONDON -- The two best co-frontmen in Canadian rock played like champions at the John Labatt Centre last night.

Over more than two hours of prime Blue Rodeo, those two -- forever-young-looking Jim Cuddy and white-haired pal Greg Keelor sporting an Old Testament prophet's beard -- and their bandmates had 2,800 fans singing and yelling along.

In a lovely mid-encore version of Lost Together, one of many great love songs of the night, Cuddy sang about "a faceless crowd." But that wasn't a problem last night, when hundreds of faces in the intimate RBC Theatre format were beaming back at their heroes.

Two hours before, Blue Rodeo had started with a terrific run through Heart Like Mine, from 1987's Outskirts album.

Most bands build to the kind of energy Blue Rodeo, with years of roadwork in the tank, uses to start.

Heart Like Mine had all the Blue Rodeo trademarks perfected over more than 20 years -- blazing Cuddy guitar, Keelor's hopping dance steps, heartbreaking lyrics about lost love and great singing, swapping solo parts and then combining for soulful duos -- from the co-leaders.

The band was so revved up, it almost didn't stop Heart Like Mine in time for the next number.

"That was close," Keelor joked after just catching his guitar before it bounced off the stage during the switch from the driving opener to the acoustic touch of What Am I Doing Here?

"It must have been the reflexes of the London Knights . . . I can feel it here," he said to cheers.

About 90 minutes later, the crowd was in amazing voice. Picking up on Keelor's cue that it was their turn to sing after he walked to a darkened corner of the stage, the fans took over the lyrics of Hasn't Hit Me Yet. They carried it most of the way before Keelor edged his way back and the band came on to blaze to the finish.

Sometimes, the rapport between fans and their Blue men was a lot funnier. Some fans wanted Diamond Mine, a chance for the whole band to shine, and didn't mind requesting it when there was a lull between songs.

"Diamond Mine? There's two guys up here with acoustic guitars," Keelor cracked before he and Cuddy launched into a lovely, unplugged Homeward Bound Angel.

Cuddy dedicated another unplugged tune, Bad Timing, to "the good people of Strathroy," his late father's hometown.

Soon enough, Diamond Mine was called for again.

"Now might be a better time for it because the band's here. It's a good idea, lady," Keelor grunted. A terrific version, with everybody pulling up gems, followed.

Founding members Keelor, Cuddy and bassist Bazil Donovan, who had a chance to sing late in the show and obviously enjoyed the moment, have an understanding that if one of them leaves, Blue Rodeo ends its run.

Last night, Blue Rodeo was in no danger of hitting the wall. But for steel guitarist Bob Egan, drummer Glenn Milchem and keyboard player Bob Packwood and the three original members, the new and old material in the show must have been a chance for the past and the future to share space on the stage and in the soul.

Packwood, of New York, is the newest in the Rodeo lineup and was all over his keyboards on Diamond Mine. He may be bringing a little of jazz giant McCoy Tyner's piano style to the Blue band. Egan added plenty of hurtin' country steel to an early set gem, What Am I Doing Here? He was fine on a number of guitars all night long.

That could be said of all six members of Blue Rodeo, whatever the setup or instruments. Among the Keelor-Cuddy classics that had the extra energy of a great live show were Til I am Myself Again and Rose-Coloured Glasses. But so was a new one, I Will, a poppy tune from the 2005 album, Are You Ready, that shows Blue Rodeo is far from done.

Last night, Toronto singer-songwriter Justin Rutledge opened. Donovan is among the guests on Rutledge's debut, No Never Alone (Six Shooter Records). Donovan played bass in Rutledge's backup band last night and Egan joined the opener for most of his set. That was good because it helped drown out the chatterboxes who love to talk through opening acts.

It's sad to report that even the Blue Rodeo community has its share of conversation fools who will try to talk over songs as fine as Rutledge's Too Sober to Sleep.

Also helping keep the chat at bay was Toronto guitar ace David Baxter, a roots music star who was a member of London roots/ traditional country band the Rizdales.

Blue Rodeo will make its annual trek to the Stratford Festival Theatre Jan. 13 and 14. Tickets are $44.50 plus applicable service charges and go on sale tomorrow at www.bluerodeo.com.

The public sale, at the festival box office, begins Saturday.