To many great jazz artists to count at the Village Vanguard and Slugs in NYC back in the day. I think Slugs eventually closed because one of the players was shot dead on the spot on the bandstand mid-tune (and I don't think it was the first time that happened there!). Don't even get me started on rock concerts; if the Fillmore East is considered a "small venue" by today's standards, the list would be way, way, way too long. Did I mention Cream at Hunter College during their initial US tour? That was a good one, but my hearing still hasn't recovered

First has to be Steve Goodman at the Earl of Old Town in Chicago. Lots of years ago, still my favorite.

Second is anytime I can see Wylie & the Wild West. Yahoo!

Leo Kottke-Landers Theatre-Springfield, MO

I've seen a couple of shows at the Sydney Opera House, if that qualifies as a small venue..I'm not sure of the capacity. The acoustics in there are just amazing and the location...Sydney Harbour, say no more.
My best were the John McLachlan Trio...incredible!
And Jose Feliciano, a favourite of mine since childhood!

More recently I saw the Cheiftens (with jeff White) at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney. They were great.

addendum (by request)- John Hammond played a National Duolian that I lusted for after first seeing him at the Café Au Go Go in the Village. He was kind enough to let me play my first National that night. Some years later I owned a Duolian, passed it on to the next "caretaker" and got a '34 National Style O (the flea market story from an earlier thread).

John Renbourn (Bown guitar) at the Railway Pub in South London,Pierre Bensusan (Lowden) at a quaint church in Epernay, France (the reception afterwards had suberb local food and cases of Gevrey-Chambertin!!), Michael Hedges (D28) at the Caravan of Dreams, Richard Thompson (Lowden)same place (we talked about vintage motorcycles), Doc Watson (Gallagher) at Poor David's Pub, Renaissance at a small bar(maybe 50 people), Duck Baker (Takamine!!)at Boulevard Music in LA,and too many others. One small concert I'll always remember, but for negative reasons, was John Renbourn and Stefan Grossman who were going on to Austin the next day for a gig and Stefan jammed his right-hand thumb badly in the tailgate of my pickup. Dang.

The late Gamble Rogers at the Beef and Bottle, Gainesville,Fla. mid 70's and several other similar small halls in Florida. A creative genius and genuine hero.

Wow, where to start.
In that older "other" life of mine, Pat Metheny at the Tampa Theater. OLD school bas-relief carvings in the ceiling etc. Plus the sound.

Now in this re born acoustic life,
LJ, from 5 feet away in a little room at Dreamcatchers. Bensusan maybe 10 feet away in the "back room" at the King Center. Pete Huttlinger singing happy birthday to me last March, after jammin with a buddy of mine as well.

Way too many to list at once.

A couple of great performances come to mind for me. The first, Eric Taylor at the UU Dome (Unitarian Church) in Tampa with an audience of about 30 people. The second, Bonnie Raitt and Little Feat in Pittsburgh (circa 1972) at a nightclub with a capacity of about 300 people. Can't honestly think of two evenings I've enjoyed more!

Jaco, I was at that HIC Hendrix concert, either very late 69 or very early 70. Saw Joplin there soon after. With months, they were both dead. Best HIC show I was was donovan: no band, no chair, sitting on a rug in a semi lotus position playing songs for an hour and a half. Just amazing.

Funny thing you should ask I was listening to "Somewhere USA" just last night.Saw Mr Lightfoot at Tampa College about fifteen years ago,a night to remember.Other memorable small venue gigs would be JJ Cale,Roger Mcguinn,Steve Miller,Poco,Special EFX,Metheny,1972 Eagles w/Bernie Leadon.Man Im getin'old someone order me up another Collings !

1. Chet Atkins at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA in 1992.
2. Laurence Juber at Freight and Salvage in Berkley, CA.
3. Pete Huttlinger - Boulevard Music in Culver City, CA.
4. Tuck Andress at Yoshi's in Oakland, CA
5. Earl Klugh at Maestro's in Bay Area, CA
6. Large and small stages at the Chet Atkins Society conference (every year - this week) - Tommy E, Muriel Anderson, Pat Bergeson, Doyle Dykes, Stephen Bennett, etc.

RickS - I remember Pete singing for you. My brother was there!!!!

Ace
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