TORONTO - Good thing the lads don't get paid by the hour. They'd be broke.

Instead, it was the fans who got short-changed Thursday as Brit-pop poster boys Oasis dropped by Maple Leaf Gardens for a sold-out show.

The Manchester fivesome whipped through a 16-song set - including a pseudo-encore of one song - in 90 minutes and then it was back into the crappy weather for fans, many wondering, "Who were those guys with the English accents that just stole my wallet?"

It was the band's first Canadian date since opening for Neil Young in August 1996 at Molson Park in Barrie.

For most of the opening six tunes, one got the distinct feeling lead singer Liam Gallagher, guitarist brother Noel, bassist Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan, rhythm axeman Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs and drummer Alan White would rather be watching Manchester City play soccer on the telly than give fans a good show.

You'd think the band would've had more energy. After all, its Montreal gig scheduled for Wednesday was postponed because of the ice storm that has ravaged Quebec and Eastern Ontario.

Oasis started the North American leg of their current world tour in support of 1997's Be Here Now - their third album - last week in Philadelphia.

Despite the rock anthem "The Boys Are Back In Town" to usher them on stage, the boys came out flat.

Liam was his characteristic pouty self, sashaying around the stage with tambourine in hand and sneering his lyrics into the microphone with his arms clasped behind his back. He was wearing a plain beige untucked dress shirt and pants.

The opening third of the show consisted of Be Here Now, Stand By Me, Supersonic, Roll With It, D'You Know What I Mean and Cigarettes and Alcohol, which were competently done, but this is real time, baby. Hey, Noel, the sound check is over. You're not a roadie for Inspiral Carpets anymore. Gimme some passion! Well, Liam did punch the microphone into the crowd at the end of Cigarettes and Alcohol, but it was slim pickings.

Noel Gallagher played a four-song acoustic set in the middle of the show unaccompanied by the rest of the band.

Don't Go Away, Talk Tonight and the plaintive To Be Someone by The Jam played well acoustically as did Whatever, which faded into the Beatles' classic Octopus's Garden.The Jam tune was easily the acoustic highlight of the night.

The band was tight and earned their keep in the final five-song segment of the show, despite the perfunctory "Cheers!" which was about all fans got in terms of witty banter after each song.

An electric version of Wonderwall was superb and Noel finally said to hell with his manicured hands and got some blisters testing his chops on a searing sonic wall called Champagne Supernova.

The band left the stage and promptly came back, but only did one tune, Acquiesce, as a sort of clipped encore.

If you wanna be the biggest band in the world, you better put out. Oasis did a half-assed job and it showed, despite moments of brilliance. Cornershop opened the show.

Set List

Be Here Now

Stand By Me

Supersonic

Roll With It

D'You Know What I Mean

Cigarettes and Alcohol

Don't Go Away (acoustic, Noel)

Talk Tonight (acoustic, Noel)

To Be Someone (acoustic, Noel)

Whatever, Octopus's Garden (acoustic, Noel)

Don't Look Back in Anger

Wonderwall

Live Forever

It's Getting Better, Man

Champagne Supernova

Encore

Acquiesce

JAM! Rating: 3 out of 5