TORONTO -- It's official: Teen pop has four new likable heartthrobs, and what's even better, especially now that it's Canada Day, is they're Canadian.

 Victoria, B.C., brother act The Moffatts had about 7,000 fans -- mainly female, young and hysterical -- screaming and shrieking at the tops of their lungs, standing on their seats and flooding the aisles to take pictures last night at the Molson Amphitheatre.

 In fact, before the fresh-faced foursome -- 15-year-old triplets Clint (bass), Bob (drums) and Dave (keyboards), along with 16-year-old Scott (guitar) -- even walked onto the stage, the anxious audience was chanting their names while waving cardboard signs in the air, some with unusual messages like: "You can drum on me Bob, but don't hit the hi-hats."

 But don't get the wrong idea. It's not just the Moffatts' wholesome good looks that had the hormonal crowd all flushed with excitement. Although that certainly didn't hurt, as a trio of 14- and 15-year-old girls let me know that Scott and Clint, who perform side by side at the front of the stage flanked by brothers Bob and Dave in the background, are the designated hunks.

 Their energetic hour-and-a-half show of material from last year's multi-platinum debut, Chapter 1: A New Beginning -- particularly Miss You Like Crazy and I'll Be There For You -- was reminiscent of an infectious concert given at the same venue last summer by Hanson, their blond U.S. counterparts.

 Right notes

 In other words, these guys can play their instruments, hit all the right notes, know how to interact with each other and please a crowd, even if their sound mix, limited stage banter and set design could still use some work.

 What's more, I'm optimistic these four performers can only improve with age and more time on the road. (They also scored points with me by covering Blur's Song 2.)

 Unbelievably, the Moffatts were just here at the Warehouse in April playing to a crowd about one-third the size of last night's mob.

 Their accelerated career now finds them about to star in a Hollywood movie sometime in the year 2000 after collaborating with producer Glen Ballard on their latest single, Until You Loved Me.

 The song is one of four new tracks on the U.S. version of Chapter 1: A New Beginning -- released two weeks ago -- and was used on the soundtrack for the Drew Barrymore movie Never Been Kissed.

Courtesy Toronto Sun