I usually "connect" to a song or not within the first few bars. Something inside just clicks when it's right for me. This phenomenon crosses all musical categories as I get the same feeling with all types of music - church, blues, classical, folk, rock, gospel, bluegrass... Some songs just seem to have that hook. When that song is new to me, it is paticularly enjoyable - even making the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. After some number of listens, I seem to get used to the song. I still love it, but it's more like putting on a comfortable pair of old shoes. The chance of a live performance of all new material simultaneously connecting to the entire audience is just not realistic. In that light, I think most audiences prefer songs that they know sprinkled with some new material.