I was here for the Goo Goo Dolls, honest! But Material Issue made the serious mistake of putting themselves on the stage before those Dolls. Material Issue already have made the gigantic mistake of thinking they’re the second coming of power pop. Wrong. Oh how pitifully wrong. Reworking clichés on top of clichés, they succeeded in boring me silly, insulting my ears and worst of all insulting a friend I was with by heckling her justified lack of interest in their inane antics. Bad move, assholes. They just made all the wrong moves in the worst way. And they’re from Chicago? Maybe we can arrange a meeting with Alain J. and Co. in a dark alley some night.

Luckily the Goo Goo Dolls came on to save the night, proving that yes, there are still amazing power trios out there having fun while beating the air silly with fast ‘n furious music, without attitude and overweening self-importance. Unlike those other losers. But those Dolls are a long story for another issue ...