After the eyerolling, he explained to me that they were a band that pretended to be cutting edge, but were really bubblegum.
Apparently, in the young adult world, you cannot stake a claim to being hip and with-it and like Nickleback.
"You like Nickleback" is something of a social media insult.
I suppose this young man is gearing his guerrilla campaign towards younger voters, who will instantly get what he is saying.
Wow. Interesting.