CONCERT REVIEW: Material Issue, Live in New York City, October 23, 1994
- Bob Gajarsky
The three piece unit from Chicago known as Material Issue is on tour across America opening up for the Pretenders and recently pulled into midtown New York City at the Beacon.
The twelve song set, as opening act, captured most of the group's bigger alternative rock hits, including "What Girls Want", "Diane", "Valerie Loves Me" and their cover of the Green Pajamas song, "Kim The Waitress". Snazzy guitar licks combined with a pounding drum beat to yield irresistible hooks.
Unfortunately, they *are* just an opening act on this tour. Because of that, even after three songs into the set, there were not more than two hundred people in the three thousand seat arena. Lead singer Jim Ellison was more than a bit miffed at the crowd's lack of response to his performance. His solos were closed by a quick turn of the back to the audience, as if he was pissed off at them. Finally, in introducing the final song, "Valerie Loves Me", he said "You've been a lovely but boring audience".
Ignoring the indifferent comments of Ellison, Material Issue put on a quality show. But, unfortunately, his actions and words put a damper on an evening of great music by a band with some of the catchiest songs around.
