OTTAWA -- What's this? Matt Good demonstrates good behaviour for the young'uns during Ottawa Bluesfest's so-called Youth Day?

 "For the record, we are not a f---ing blues band. Sorry to f---ing disappoint you," the normally bespectacled Vancouverite told the 11,260 adoring fans, crowd-surfers and anyone who could withstand the Matthew Good Band's sonic wall of feedback last night at Lebreton Flats.

 Er, that's the Matt Good I know. Thanks for the ever-so-eloquent words.

 But if you recall how, um, good the B.C. alt-rockers' Fresh Festival gig held up nearly a year ago, all the right conditions were in place for a mirror performance. Ominous clouds let loose a massive rain dump prior to the nighttime festivities, clearing up by the time Good, guitarist/keyboardist Dave Genn, bassist Rich Priske and drummer Ian Browne hit the stage. And Good once again showed he was no angel by setting afire a doll -- the "victim" being a packaged Justin Timberlake figure -- to the delight of his equally vicious-minded public.

 All systems were go as opening numbers Giant and Everything Is Automatic fired up the band, with Good in fine voice and spastic body motions. He was even touched when the aforementioned package arrived at his feet.

 "Fans that give us gifts are good fans," Good told the crowd before some naughty soul tossed an empty water bottle.

 From there, the spark seemed to dissipate as quickly as the fire set to the Justin Timberlake doll box.

 It could've been the new songs in the band's 75-minute set (Life Beyond The Minimum Safe Distance, from the latest EP Loser Anthems, along with Under The Influence and The Fall of Man, supposedly from MGB's forthcoming September release The Audio of Being) though Good maintained his knack of melodically holding on to words before being swallowed up by the group's sonic wormhole.

 It might've been Good's cryptic between-song bantering. "This is the end of the road for us," he tiredly declared after a fairly blistering Hello Time Bomb. Or, "I've come to the end at this point and I don't f---in' care," he said before unleashing a couple of jean-clad dancing gals with devil's horns for The Future Is X-Rated, followed by more "don't care" remarks later on. What kind of trip was he on?

 Backstage reports speculated Good was suffering from a recent injury and this was his first show without painkillers.

 Some energetic sparks did emerge during an in-jest tribute to the band's soundman (Jenny's Song) and all the familiar favourites (Load Me Up, Strange Days and Apparitions).

 "We need some riots here," Good quipped before catching a glimpse of some stage-right visitors: "Cops are here."

 Yet none of the chaotic fanfare of last year's show erupted last night. With a "rock-bland" opening act -- Copyright -- Matt and pals only managed to simply live up to their leader's last name. Good. (More on: Matthew Good Band).

JAM! Rating: 3 out of 5