Great Acts & x-tremely small venues:
If you know Lexington, there's a building between High and Vine. It used to be a dive bar. I think they tore it down years ago and for a long time there was a Kinkos there. Anyway, it was a dive in 70 and Blue Oyster Cult played there before they got known. I'm not sure if their first album had even been released. Audience of 50. Tops. Here's an example of how old timers can remember stuff from 50 years ago and can't remember what they had for breakfast: I remember they played a cover of the Stones' It's Not Easy and the Yardbirds' I Ain't Got You.
A few years ago, there was a restaurant just off Southland that wanted to host music. The Blasters played there. I don't know how many of the patrons had paid to see them. 75 people in the place. That includes staff. Great show. You have to be of a certain age to have heard of them. Around 1980 they were one of the first Americana bands.
Nellie McKay played a set at Natasha's near the Kentucky Theater. She was a 9 day wonder back in 2004. Even won a Grammy. We saw her around (guess) 7 or 8 years later. Maybe more.
YES !! Small venues with independent artists on the way up provide many opportunities to enjoy very memorable shows. Shows I've seen with less than 100 folks are too numerous to mention, but include:
Silvertide, Monte Montgomery, Sturgill Simpson, Maktub, Jompson Brothers, Nektar, Caravan, Glenn Tilbrook, Los Lonely Boys, Charlie Hunter, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Marbin, Dex Romweber, Umphrey's Magee, Snarky Puppy, J D Simo ... just to name a few off the top of my head.