TORONTO -- On any given night in the music mecca that is Toronto, you can attend a CD release party.

Possibly several.

However, it's not usually the current cover boy of Rolling Stone -- that would be Jakob Dylan of the L.A.-based roots-rock outfit The Wallflowers -- doing the hosting.

But host away Dylan and his four-man band (plus a fifth touring musician) did last night at The Guvernment where they whipped through a fast-paced hour-and-10-minute set that included selections from their new album, Breach, which hit stores yesterday.

Much like his 1997 performance at the Molson Amphitheatre, where the Wallflowers found themselves headlining at the last minute when Counting Crows singer Adam Duritz came down with vocal chord problems, the 30-year-old Dylan proved to be a relaxed, chatty and charismatic frontman.

He was playful, too, often teasing the sold-out crowd when he wasn't trying on someone's knit tuque or organizing a birthday singalong to two different audience members.

"Have you guys met?" he wondered out loud, gazing down at the birthday celebrators.

Meanwhile, Dylan's bandmates -- keyboardist Rami Jaffee, harmonizing guitarist Michael Ward, bassist Greg Richling and drummer Mario Calire -- provided a solid musical backdrop that most often recalled Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers or even The Band.

As for the new songs, the biggest response came to the lively Murder 101, with Dylan scoring big points when he mentioned Elvis Costello sings backup on the album.

The greatest response was saved, however, for such older hits as 6th Avenue Heartache, Three Marlenas, One Headlight and The Difference from the group's 1996 breakthrough album, Bringing Down The Horse, which sold millions worldwide and won two Grammys.

The crowd also went wild for The Wallflowers cover of David Bowie's Heroes, which was included on the Godzilla soundtrack, and their encore-ending rendition of The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again. (What's going on? This is the second time in a week that a modern rock band has ended their show with a Who cover. Pearl Jam did it last Thursday night at the Air Canada Centre with Baba O'Riley. )

The Wallflowers landed in our city after a series of East Coast warmup dates preceding an official tour that begins in November.

Judging from the reaction to last night's gig, they should consider a return engagement.

JAM! Rating: 4 out of 5