For vintage rock bands, announcing from the stage that they're about to play a new song inevitably results in many fans using those few minutes as an opportunity to head to the bar or bathroom.
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It's a scenario Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen is familiar with, and likely to face again when the band tours in support of new studio album, In Another World, due on April 9.
"No matter who you go see, I saw McCartney and The Who last year, and that was the time to go buy a shirt, I know that," he said.
"But it seems like they get into some more sensitive stuff. Our stuff's not that sensitive, we're going to knock it out of the ballpark.
"Plus they're only three minutes long (each), so that's not enough time to go mess around out in the hallway."
Given the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the live music industry during the past 12 months, Nielsen is mainly just enthusiastic about getting back on a stage in front of a live audience.
"I've been playing for a long time - since the '60s - and I always played as much as I could," he said.
"I travelled with my father, who was an opera singer, before I was out of grade school.
"So I kinda liked the idea of touring, and still do. I totally miss it, because that's the best 60 or 90 minutes of the day.
"The travelling blows, but that goes with the territory."
The US band will visit Australia as part of the Under The Southern Stars concert series, which they will co-headline with Bush and Stone Temple Pilots.
The promoters recently announced a COVID-safe event plan for the tour, as part of a "test case" for future live music events.
Measures include all three acts travelling with essential band members only, and being COVID tested before leaving Los Angeles for Australia.
The bands will be quarantined in Australia at an isolated compound with a rehearsal studio, for 14 days.
Also, there will be segregated sections on flights and '"military-style" transfers between Australian cities for the bands and crew, temperature checks and social distancing measures at the gig, and shows will be capped at 70 per cent of total capacity.
"We're one of the first (bands to tour internationally again), and so it's good to be number one," Nielsen laughed.
"I think a lot of people are looking forward to having a supply of music in their life again - me as a player, and the audience too.
"I hear from people all the time about how much they miss this.
"I think it might be a new beginning for a lot of this stuff."
The popular rockers, renowned for hits such as Dream Police, Surrender and I Want You To Want Me, now feature Nielsen's son Daxx on drums.
"He gets our median age a little lower than 100," the guitarist laughed.
Under The Southern Stars will visit WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong on Friday, April 30.
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Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
