I've been to probably 1000 shows, most all being in nightclubs. Saw Stevie Ray Vaughan 3 times in clubs before any of his records came out. For sheer amazement, they were tough to beat. The best performer, if you count showmanship and stage presence, probably Brian Setzer, 9:30 Club Christmas show. Another standout was a band I've seen a lot, but the one in an old opera house in West Virginia was a barn-burner. Southern Culture On The Skids had the crowd in a frenzy, they played two sets and a 45 minute encore. Rick Miller must of been trippin'. There's been so many, including U2 in a rec center, BB King, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Roy Buchanan, Rory Gallagher, and on and on. I can't remember being blown away by anyone at big venues, the lack of intimacy cuts my enjoyment level back by a huge percentage.