I too am an aficionado of great music played in small places! One of the most magical evenings I had came a couple of decades ago. I had a friend visiting from Michigan who was scheduled to leave LA that afternoon, but I received an email from a band I was following named ‘eastmountainsouth’ that they would be playing that night at Tangier in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles. The club was owned by Stephen Stills, and his daughter was going to be playing as well. The rumor was that the great man himself might make an appearance. I called my friend and suggested that he postpone his flight, which he did. We arrived early enough to get our choice of seats, and there was a couch that was mere feet in front of a very small stage that we claimed.

Not only did Stephen Stills show up, but he played an entire solo set of music, and it was very literally just like having him sing for us in a living room. Pure magic to be so close to one of my idols!!!

I also got to see the Shins play before they became famous. It was a standing room only club in either Seattle or Washington, D.C., and I, as is my wont, was standing directly in front of singer James Mercer as they played on a floor level stage!