Frontman Stephen Pearcy glanced at the thin row of headbangers leaning over the balcony of New York's Irving Plaza; next he inspected the sparse crowd on the floor. "Next year, let's have a bigger party," he remarked with abashed cynicism. A Caligula-like throw-down Ratt's Tuesday night concert wasn't, but the band hasn't commanded that kind of standing-room-only visceral abandonment since it crawled out of the cellar 14 years ago. And rather than prove it still could to the few who still care, the upper-echelon '80s metal group seemed content performing with the slovenly energy level of an act that didn't.

\\Even before the first riff of the opener, "Wanted Man," it was obvious Ratt weren't working at full strength. Gone were original bassist Juan Croucier, replaced by Robbie Crane, and guitarist Robbin Crosby, replaced by no one. Then the song began and -- although it was plenty loud -- it lacked the searing guitar blend that allowed Ratt to achieve their full-metal erection. Pearcy valiantly and somewhat successfully attempted to fill Crosby's shoes on "Back For More" and the new song "Ratt Madness," but on songs like the linear "You're In Love" and the rampaging "Body Talk," the guitarless Pearcy's shredded baritone was the only reminder of days gone by.

\\Ratt was all for drumming up the past, performing only two songs from their first new album in seven years, "Collage." The dated, bland and uninspired Bobby Blotzer drum solo tacked onto the end of "Lack of Communication" confirmed Ratt's faulty allegiance to the decline of Western civilization.

\\There is something, however, to be said for a band that doesn't kid itself. Whereas Motley Crue decided to perform several songs from their comeback album, "Generation Swine," Ratt seemed at home with their waned popularity. Facilitating this reality, the group performed six songs from its debut "Out of the Cellar" and none from their last on Atlantic Records, "Detonator."

\\During the band's biggest hit and show closer, "Round and Round," Pearcy got his biggest and cheapest thrill. Jutting the microphone stand into the audience, the singer let the Ratt & Rollers sing most of the song's first and second verse. The hobbling Pearcy, who lost his right knee-cap during a performance this summer, smiled