However, there was a fresh enthusiasm apparent within the Wollongong venue for a travelling bill featuring three international headliners; a mammoth undertaking in these COVID times.

The crowd were visibly enthusiastic for this show - despite the decidedly un-rock 'n' roll slot of a Tuesday night - which had already been delayed more than once.

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Two of the main acts - Stone Temple Pilots and Bush - were derided as grunge wannabes by critics in the '90s. However, both have carved long-lasting careers. And their elder statesmen, classic rockers Cheap Trick, have long reinforced that while musical trends come and go, great songs endure. All three had hour-long sets to showcase their wares. It was the hits the audience craved, and there were plenty of those on offer.

Before that though, American garage rockers Black Rebel Motorcycle Club lent a psychedelic and bluesy touch to proceedings. Playing to a largely uninterested early crowd, their fare lacked a certain dynamic, while the band members didn't appear terribly keen on the prospect of playing at 6pm either.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Cheap Trick long ago mastered the art of the sing-a-long anthem; Dream Police, power ballad favourite The Flame, If You Want My Love and I Want You To Want Me were custom-built for arenas. Guitarist Rick Nielsen had a demeanour not unlike that quirky, yet engaging relative you only see at Christmas, but devotees wouldn't have had it any other way.

Nielsen's son Daxx on drums, and vocalist Robin Zander's son Robin Taylor Zander didn't just lower the band members' median age either, injecting energy and proficiency into proceedings.

For some time he was more famous for his personal life and the tabloid headlines it attracted, but nowadays Bush's Gavin Rossdale seemingly revelled in just being able to front a rock band.

A veteran outfit airing a recent song can often be the excuse for punters to visit the bar, bathroom or merch desk. However, recent tracks like Bullet Holes connected with punters too; they didn't possess the same cache as Glycerine or closer Comedown, but weren't misplaced alongside the early catalogue smashes either. Rossdale's energy and likeable banter, as well as an efficient band aided the cause, even if his vocals were lost in the mix at times.

Jeff Gutt had an enormous legacy to live up to. The late Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland's swagger left a lasting impression on rock fans, while his successor, the late Chester Bennington ably substituted. And Gutt's reality show pedigree was likely a strike against him in the eyes of some grizzled rockers present.

But those concerns were pretty swiftly dismissed by the US act's set, which eschewed new material in favour of a Spotify "best of"-esque set-list. Gutt, for his part, faithfully replicated the material without imposing himself on it, and had sufficient stage presence. Plush (dedicated to Weiland) garnered one of the night's biggest responses, and was among the highlights of a crowd-pleasing display littered with '90s rock staples like Interstate Love Song and closer Sex Type Thing.

The modest turnout was likely attributable to a number of factors, including some perhaps not wanting to attend during a pandemic, the previous rescheduling, or the gig taking place on a Tuesday night. But those who did venture out likely left with grins you'd have required a sand-blaster to remove.