Bands Should Only Be Allowed to Perform Four Songs From “Their New Album” on Tour

There's nothing worse than paying big bucks to see your favorite band in concert, only to hear them say, "Here's another song from our new album" over and over again.

Of course, it's always from the album you haven't heard.  And even if they sound great, they're not the songs you came to see. Sure, it's different with new bands. They only have a few albums of material to play. But when a band has been around for over 25 years, they owe it the audience to play the classics. Even if the guys in the band are sick of playing 'em.

Of course, there is a flip side to that coin. As fans, it's always great when a band has a few surprises up their sleeves. Extended guitar solos, obscure tracks from their early days or a well placed cover are always fun to see. But when it comes to "the new album", the great groups don't overdo it.

Yes, there is a portion of the audience who wants to hear the new stuff.  And certainly, the band wants to expose their fans to their latest work. But there should be a limit. And that limit should be "four songs". Four songs from your new album; no more, no less.

And don't play them all in a row. Mix up a classic track or two in between those new songs. And, if your band has a signature song that fans have enjoyed for generations, play it. We may have heard them a million times, but in a live setting, they never get old.

There is a reason why classic rock groups like the Steve Miller Band and Journey are still on the road.  It's because they give the fans what they want. And the fans want to hear 'The Joker' and 'Don't Stop Believin', not some song they've never heard before.