BEASTIES BURROW DEEP INTO THEIR HITS.

Byline: Evan Pondel Staff Writer

The Beastie Boys used the word ``fresh'' approximately 35 times Monday night at the Universal Amphitheatre.

Variations of the word ``check'' - including ``ch-ch-check,'' ``microphone check one-two,'' ``check it out,'' ``check your head'' and ``just check it'' - cropped up more than 40 times.

And then there was ``schnitzel.'' Oh, that succulent word. It's German for deep-fried breaded veal cutlets. And I'm sure it tastes as good as it sounded during the Beasties' hour-and-a-half set to a sold-out crowd.

After a five-year hiatus, the boys from Brooklyn are back in full effect, yo. They are still scrawny, and ever-so wired when rocking the mic. Perhaps the only noticeable difference is the gray hair sprouting from their noggins.

The show opened with a live video feed of Mix Master Mike (a k a Michael Schwartz) arriving at the Amphitheatre in a Universal Studios tour bus. He was carrying a piece of vinyl with ``Get Ready'' penned on the label. A camera followed the DJ through a backstage tunnel and when he finally hit the stage, a surge of ``whoops'' started bellowing in all directions. Now standing atop a Frankenstein-esque turntable stage, the Mix Master proceeded to cut the records back and forth like a true surgeon of hip-hop.

A scratch here, a scratch there, and then ``are you ready to rumble'' bled from the deafening sound system. (Note: My ears still feel like they're stuffed with cotton.)

All three boys arrived on stage wearing relatively muted clothing - gray sweat shirts and denim. But they kicked it for ``Root Down,'' the opening number, dropping bombastic beats that made my innards quiver.

The Beastie Boys weaved rhymes that spanned their decades-long career. From ``Eggman'' to ``Brass Monkey,'' a crowd of 20- and 30-somethings bobbed their heads, lip-syncing to the lyrics of nearly 22 tracks. The dynamic trio also visited several cuts from their new album, ``To the 5 Boroughs.''

``Triple Trouble'' was among those tunes, with Adam (Adrock) Horovitz boasting that he walks ``like Jabba the Hutt, with the style so new y'all be, like, what?''

The boys' punk roots still show through a thick veneer of hip-hop. In the middle of the show, the Beasties dressed in powder blue tuxedos to deliver a series of funky instrumentals. The organ was a bit heavy, drowning out Adam (MCA) Yauch's fingering on stand-up bass. But his fellow bandmates were able to maintain a groove, proving their abilities to play instruments as well as speak dope rhymes.

The fortunate few who arrived early to the concert were entertained by a dog show replete with canines jumping through hoops. After several bow-wows, rapper Talib Kweli warmed up the audience, accompanied by old-school baller DJ Quick.

Though neither the pooches nor Kweli performed an encore, the Beasties busted a stealth return to the stage at the end of the show.

The houselights had already gone up, and the aisles were filled with exiting audience members. A fuss could be heard behind the curtains and then, just like stagehands razing a set, the Beasties emerged once more for a final message to President George W. Bush: ``You're scheming on a thing that's a mirage/I'm trying to tell you now it's sabotage.''

And the moshing ensued.

Evan Pondel, [phone]

evan.pondel(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

The Beastie Boys - Adam (Adrock) Horovitz, left, Michael (Mike D) Diamond and Adam (MCA) Yauch - revisited their repertoire of mad hits at Universal Amphitheatre on Monday.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer